Bottle Bill – Vermont

Manufacturers and/or Distributors are required to register all brands to be sold in Vermont prior to sale in Vermont. As part of the registration process, the manufacturer or distributor must identify the pick-up agent who will pick up redeemed containers from retail stores and certified redemption centers. Every beverage container sold in Vermont must be labeled with deposit information, as required by 10 V.S.A. Chapter 53

Beginning October 2019, Manufacturers and/or Distributors are required to report quarterly to the VT Dept of Taxes and to remit any unclaimed deposits from the previous quarter.

Key Dates -Transition to PRO under Act 158 of 2026: 

January 1, 2027 –  Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to Form. On or before this date, deposit initiators shall apply to ANR to form a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to fulfill the requirements of this chapter. (Does not apply to liquor managed by DLL). §1531(b).

July 1, 2027 –  No deposit initiator shall sell or distribute a covered beverage container without participating in an ANR-approved producer responsibility organization. §1531(a).

April 1, 2028 – On or before this date an approved PRO shall submit a stewardship plan to ANR for no greater than 5 years. §1532(a).

March 9, 2029 –

• Beverage registration with ANR is repealed. Beverages are required to participate in an ANR-approved PRO. §1528. (Section 8 of Act 158).
• Retailers or redemption centers shall be reimbursed by the PRO for beverage containers according to the fair compensation requirements of the stewardship plan approved by ANR. §1522(b).
• The PRO (no longer manufacturer or distributor) must pick up and pay the refund value to the point of redemption included in the stewardship plan for every covered beverage container.

Resources:

• Vermont Bottle Bill home page
• 10 V.S.A. § 1521 Beverage Containers; Deposit-Redemption System
• Vermont Act 158 (2026), regarding changes to 10 V.S.A. Chapter 53
• Bottle Bill Rules – effective Sept. 14, 2010
• Bottle Bill Fact Sheet for Manufacturers – issued 2023, not yet updated to reflect changes in Act 158 of 2026
• How the Money Flows: What Happens to a 5 Cent Bottle Deposit
• Commingling Fact Sheet

Is wine included in the bottle bill?

• No

Are wine (coolers) products or wine-based ready-to-drink beverages included in the bottle bill?

• Yes – mixed wine drink beverages are included in the the bottle deposit program.

Definitions:

• “Beverage” means beer or other malt beverages and mineral waters, mixed wine drink, soda water and carbonated soft drinks in liquid form and intended for human consumption. “Beverage” also means liquor and ready-to-drink spirits beverage. (effective July 1, 2026)
• “Mixed wine drink” means a beverage containing wine and more than 15% added plain, carbonated, or sparkling water; and that contains added natural or artificial blended material, such as fruit juices, flavors, flavoring, adjuncts, coloring, or preservatives; a beverage that contains not more than 16% ABV; or another similar product marketed as a wine cooler. (effective July 1, 2026)
• “Liquor” means spirits as defined in 7 V.S.A. § 2.
• “Spirits” means beverages that contain more than one percent alcohol obtained by distillation, by chemical synthesis, or through concentration by freezing; vinous beverages containing more than 23 percent alcohol; and malt beverages containing more than 16 percent alcohol by volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. “Spirits” also means a ready-to-drink spirits beverage that contains more than 12 percent alcohol by volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit or is packaged in containers greater than 24 fluid ounces in volume.
• “Container” means the individual, and separate, bottle, can, or jar composed of glass, aluminum or other metal, polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, or any combination of those materials, and containing a beverage. This definition does not include beverage containers with a volume greater than three liters. (effective July 1, 2026)

Are wine containers included in the bottle bill?

• No

Are wine product beverage containers included in the bottle bill?

• Yes.  Mixed Wine Beverage containers are included.

Definition:

• “Container” means the individual, and separate, bottle, can, or jar composed of glass, aluminum or other metal, polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, or any combination of those materials, and containing a beverage. This definition does not include beverage containers with a volume greater than three liters. (effective July 1, 2026)

• Not Applicable as wine containers are excluded from the bottle program.

Covered beverage containers, including mixed wine drink cooler containers, labeling requirements:

• Every beverage container sold or offered for sale at retail in this State shall clearly indicate by embossing on the normal product label, imprinting on the normal product label, or other approved method secured to the container, the word “Vermont” or the letters “VT” and the refund value of the container in not less than one-eighth inch type size or such other alternate indications as may be approved by the Secretary.
• The label shall be on the top lid of the beverage container, the side of the beverage container, or in a clearly visible location on the beverage
  container. This subsection does not prohibit including names or abbreviations of other states with deposit legislation comparable to this chapter.
• The Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery may allow, in the case of liquor bottles, a conspicuous, adhesive sticker to be attached to indicate the deposit information required in subsection (a) of this section, provided that the size, placement, and adhesive qualities of the sticker are as approved by the Commissioner. The stickers shall be affixed to the bottles by the manufacturer, except that liquor that is sold in the State in quantities less than 100 cases per year may have stickers affixed by personnel employed by the Division of Liquor Control.
• Effective July 1, 2027, Every beverage container sold or offered for sale in the State shall contain a Universal Product Code and a barcode displayed on the container.

What are the CRV fees?

• a 5¢ deposit on all non liquor beverage containers (Beer, wine coolers, other malt beverages, and pre-mixed spirits cocktails)
• a 5¢ deposit on all carbonated non-alcoholic beverages, including sodas, sparkling waters and juices, and carbonated sports and energy drinks
• Note that effective July 1, 2022, spirits-based ready-to-drink beverages are moved from a 15¢ to a 5¢ deposit.

What is the handling fee?

• 5¢ for non-commingled brands, effective July 1, 2026
• 4.5¢ for commingled brands, effective July 1, 2026

Resources:

• Commingling Fact Sheet