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.

Resources:

• Vermont Bottle Bill home page
• 10 V.S.A. § 1521 Beverage Containers; Deposit-Redemption System
• Bottle Bill Rules – effective Sept. 14, 2010
• Bottle Bill Fact Sheet for Manufacturers
• 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. As of January 1, 1990 “beverage” also shall mean liquor.
• “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; that contains not more than 16% ABV; or other similar product marketed as a wine cooler.
• “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.

4) “Container” means the individual, separate, bottle, can, jar, or carton composed of glass, metal, paper, plastic ,or any combination of those materials containing a consumer product. This definition shall not include containers made of biodegradable material.

Are wine containers included in the bottle bill?

• No

Are wine product beverage containers included in the bottle bill?

• Yes

Definition:

• “Container” means the individual, separate, bottle, can, jar, or carton composed of glass, metal, paper, plastic ,or any combination of those materials containing a consumer product. This definition shall not include containers made of biodegradable material.

• 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 or imprinting on the normal product label, or in the case of a metal beverage container on the top of 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. 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.

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?

• 4¢ for brand-sorted containers
• 3.5¢ for commingled brands

Resources:

• Commingling Fact Sheet