MELD-1909Enacted

An Act To Modernize Maine'S Beverage Container Redemption Law

Jurisdiction:: Maine
Type:: Deposit Return
Last action:: Jul 27, 2023

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What this law has produced

$16 million/year

in unclaimed bottle deposits redirected each year to support the redemption system instead of being kept by beverage companies

LD 1909 modernized Maine's bottle bill by ending brand-level sorting, creating a 'commingling cooperative,' and—its most concrete financial change—redirecting unredeemed container deposits away from beverage companies and into the redemption program. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection estimates about $16 million a year in unclaimed redemptions, which under the law now help fund the state's redemption system rather than being pocketed by beverage manufacturers. Notably, the broader program's redemption rate has not improved over the same window (74% in 2024, down from 78% in 2022), as the law's operational reforms were still being implemented through 2025–2026.

Directly produced by the lawAs of Apr 5, 2026Source: Maine Public ↗

Next steps for producers

No producer action is triggered yet — track this measure

Applies toInitiator of deposit — the entity that initiates a deposit on a beverage container sold or offered for sale in Maine; includes brand owners, manufacturers, and importers acting as initiators of deposit. The State…

Obligations under this law

·Register the container label of any beverage offered for sale in Maine on which a deposit is initiated, including the universal product code for each combination of beverage and container manufactured.
·Renew label registration annually and whenever the label is revised by altering the UPC or whenever the container changes in size, composition, or glass color.
·Include in registration: method of collection for that container type, identification of a collection agent, identification of all parties to any applicable commingling agreement, and proof of the collection agreement.

Program page →

No designated program action is recorded for this measure yet — treat the above as the general obligation and verify against the source text.

Maine's beverage container redemption law modernization directly addresses deposit return schemes, a key circular economy instrument for beverage containers; bill designation suggests legislative advancement.

Covered Products

·Refundable beverage containers sold or offered for sale in Maine subject to deposit under 38 MRSA §3103
·Carbonated beverage containers (including refillable glass)
·Containers of spirits, wine, and malt liquor (explicitly excluded from refillable glass label exemption)
·All beverage containers subject to Maine's bottle bill redemption requirements

Producer Obligations

·Register the container label of any beverage offered for sale in Maine on which a deposit is initiated, including the universal product code for each combination of beverage and container manufactured.
·Renew label registration annually and whenever the label is revised by altering the UPC or whenever the container changes in size, composition, or glass color.
·Include in registration: method of collection for that container type, identification of a collection agent, identification of all parties to any applicable commingling agreement, and proof of the collection agreement.
·Beginning January 15, 2025, register labels with the cooperative (not the department) using forms or electronic format provided by the cooperative.
·If participating in a commingling group, ensure accurate and up-to-date label registration information is provided to the cooperative, including all updates.
·Ensure every refundable beverage container sold or offered for sale in Maine clearly indicates the refund value (or 'refund value'/'RV') and 'Maine'/'ME' by embossing, stamping, labeling, or other secure attachment method (refund value may not appear on the bottom of the container).
·Obtain specific department permission to use stickers or similar devices for labeling.
·Participate in or establish a commingling agreement approved by the department if operating as part of a commingling group.
·As a commingling group or its agent, accept from any dealer or redemption center any empty, unbroken, and reasonably clean beverage container or any container processed through an approved reverse vending machine or account-based bulk processing program of the kind, size, and brand sold.
·As a commingling group or its agent, pay the refund value of returned beverage containers to dealers and redemption centers.
·As a commingling group or its agent, may refuse to accept or pay refund value and handling costs for containers processed in a way that has reduced recycling value below current market value.

Exemptions

·Refillable glass beverage containers of carbonated beverages with a refund value of not less than 5¢ and a brand name permanently marked on the container are exempt from the standard label marking requirements of subsection 1.
·The refillable glass container label exemption does not apply to glass beverage containers containing spirits, wine, or malt liquor as defined by Title 28-A, section 2.
·Operators of vending machines are not required to maintain a person to accept returned beverage containers on the premises where the vending machine is located.
·Dealers operating retail spaces of 5,000 square feet or more are exempt from in-store redemption obligations if they have a written agreement with a redemption center located within 10 miles (or, if none within 10 miles, the closest redemption center).
·Unregistered label bounty payment is not made if the cooperative has already made a payment to another person with respect to the same unregistered label.

Key Deadlines

Jan 15, 2025compliance: Label registration must be submitted to the cooperative (not the department) beginning January 15, 2025.

Jan 15, 2025compliance: Department may no longer charge a fee for label registration and registration renewals beginning January 15, 2025.

Jan 15, 2025compliance: Commingling groups must ensure all participating initiators of deposit provide accurate and up-to-date label registration information to the cooperative beginning January 15, 2025.

Jan 15, 2025compliance: Cooperative must ensure accurate label registration information is shared with entities using or administering reverse vending machine and account-based bulk processing programs and is made available on its publicly accessible website beginning January 15, 2025.

Jan 15, 2025compliance: Cooperative must provide payment of not less than $100 per unregistered label upon valid notification and determination that a beverage container is sold or offered for sale in Maine with an unregistered label, beginning January 15, 2025.

Producer Definition

Initiator of deposit — the entity that initiates a deposit on a beverage container sold or offered for sale in Maine; includes brand owners, manufacturers, and importers acting as initiators of deposit. The State (through the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations) is deemed an initiator of deposit for containers on which it initiates deposits.

Fee Structure

Flat: Prior to January 15, 2025, the department may charge a fee for label registration and registration renewals. Beginning January 15, 2025, the department may not charge a fee for registration and registration renewals. Specific fee amounts are not specified in the bill. A bounty payment of not less than $100 per unregistered label is payable by the cooperative to persons who notify the cooperative of an unregistered label sold or offered for sale in Maine (beginning January 15, 2025).

Enforcement

Maine Department of Environmental Protection (department); Maine Revenue Services (assessor) for reports and payments under 38 MRSA §3108: Not specified in the excerpted bill text.

Preemption Notes

This bill amends Maine's existing bottle bill (38 MRSA Chapter 33). No explicit preemption of local laws is referenced in the excerpted text. Maine's bottle bill operates as a state-level deposit system; no federal preemption provisions are noted.

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Full bill text

New Search Summary Actions Bill Text and Other Docs Committee Info Title & Section Amendments Sponsors Roll-calls Subjects State of Maine Legislature Subjects for LD 1909 Bill Info LD 1909 (HP 1225) "An Act to Modernize Maine's Beverage Container Redemption Law" Sponsored by Representative Allison Hepler Major Subject Minor Subject Detail Subject CONTAINERS - RETURNABLE BOTTLES REDEMPTION Related Links House Senate Legislature Other Home Calendar Debate Members House Rules E-Mail Webmaster Home Calendar Debate Members Senate Rules E-Mail Webmaster Home Calendar Joint Rules E-Mail Webmaster State of Maine Home Session Information Glossary of Terms

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