Text to be removed highlighted in red.
1 New Chapter; Beverage Container Redemption Program. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 149-R the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 149-S
BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION PROGRAM
149-S:1 Definitions. In this chapter:
I. "Beverage" means water, carbonated soft drinks, beer, malt beverages, hard cider, and other non-dairy, non-alcoholic beverages intended for human consumption.
II. "Beverage container" means any individually-sealed glass, metal, or plastic bottle, can, or jar containing a beverage.
III. "Distributor" means any person or entity that sells beverages in containers to a retailer in New Hampshire.
IV. "Redemption center" means a facility registered with the department of environmental services to accept empty beverage containers from consumers and issue refunds.
V. "Retailer" means any person who sells or offers for sale beverages in containers to consumers.
VI. "Consumer" means an individual who purchases a beverage in a container for personal use.
149-S:2 Beverage Container Deposit.
I. A distributor shall charge a $0.10 refundable deposit on each eligible beverage container sold in New Hampshire.
II. A consumer shall receive a refund of the deposit upon returning the empty container to a redemption center or retailer.
III. The following containers shall be exempt from the deposit requirement:
(a) Containers larger than 3 liters.
(b) Milk, plant-based milk alternatives, infant formula, and medically prescribed beverages.
(c) Beverage containers sold for consumption on airline or train services.
149-S:3 Duties.
I. Distributors shall:
(a) Collect the deposit from retailers.
(b) Reimburse redemption centers or retailers for refunded deposits, plus a handling fee of $0.035 per container, rounded up to the nearest cent.
II. Retailers shall:
(a) Accept eligible empty containers for redemption if the retailer sells that type or brand of beverage in an eligible container.
(b) Return deposits to consumers.
(c) Receive reimbursement from distributors.
III. Redemption centers shall:
(a) Register with the department of environmental services.
(b) Comply with all handling, sanitation, and reporting requirements.
IV. Redemption centers may accept and redeem containers regardless of where purchased.
149-S:4 Unclaimed Deposits. Unclaimed deposits remaining after one year shall be remitted to the beverage container recycling fund established in RSA 149-S:7. Such funds may be used for expanding recycling infrastructure, litter prevention programs, and the administrative costs of the beverage container redemption program.
149-S:5 Penalties.
I. The department of environmental services shall enforce this chapter.
II. A person who knowingly violates this chapter may be subject to:
(a) Civil penalties up to $500 per violation per day.
(b) Suspension of redemption center or distributor registration.
149-S:6 Rulemaking. The department of environmental services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A necessary to implement this chapter including:
I. Registration procedures.
II. Record keeping and reporting requirements.
III. Procedures for deposit refunds and reimbursement.
149-S:7 Beverage Container Recycling Fund. There is hereby established a special fund to be known as the beverage container deposit fund. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of environmental services. All unclaimed deposits on recycled beverage containers under RSA 149-S:4 shall be deposited into the fund. The state treasurer shall invest the fund and any interest earned shall be credited to the fund. The fund may be used for expanding recycling infrastructure, litter prevention programs, and the administrative costs of the beverage container redemption program.
2 New Subparagraph; Beverage Container Deposit Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (410) the following new subparagraph:
(411) Moneys deposited into the beverage container deposit fund established in RSA 149-S:7.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Chapter; Beverage Container Redemption Program. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 149-R the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 149-S
BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION PROGRAM
149-S:1 Definitions. In this chapter:
I. "Beverage" means water, carbonated soft drinks, beer, malt beverages, hard cider, and other non-dairy, non-alcoholic beverages intended for human consumption.
II. "Beverage container" means any individually-sealed glass, metal, or plastic bottle, can, or jar containing a beverage.
III. "Distributor" means any person or entity that sells beverages in containers to a retailer in New Hampshire.
IV. "Redemption center" means a facility registered with the department of environmental services to accept empty beverage containers from consumers and issue refunds.
V. "Retailer" means any person who sells or offers for sale beverages in containers to consumers.
VI. "Consumer" means an individual who purchases a beverage in a container for personal use.
149-S:2 Beverage Container Deposit.
I. A distributor shall charge a $0.10 refundable deposit on each eligible beverage container sold in New Hampshire.
II. A consumer shall receive a refund of the deposit upon returning the empty container to a redemption center or retailer.
III. The following containers shall be exempt from the deposit requirement:
(a) Containers larger than 3 liters.
(b) Milk, plant-based milk alternatives, infant formula, and medically prescribed beverages.
(c) Beverage containers sold for consumption on airline or train services.
149-S:3 Duties.
I. Distributors shall:
(a) Collect the deposit from retailers.
(b) Reimburse redemption centers or retailers for refunded deposits, plus a handling fee of $0.035 per container, rounded up to the nearest cent.
II. Retailers shall:
(a) Accept eligible empty containers for redemption if the retailer sells that type or brand of beverage in an eligible container.
(b) Return deposits to consumers.
(c) Receive reimbursement from distributors.
III. Redemption centers shall:
(a) Register with the department of environmental services.
(b) Comply with all handling, sanitation, and reporting requirements.
IV. Redemption centers may accept and redeem containers regardless of where purchased.
149-S:4 Unclaimed Deposits. Unclaimed deposits remaining after one year shall be remitted to the beverage container recycling fund established in RSA 149-S:7. Such funds may be used for expanding recycling infrastructure, litter prevention programs, and the administrative costs of the beverage container redemption program.
149-S:5 Penalties.
I. The department of environmental services shall enforce this chapter.
II. A person who knowingly violates this chapter may be subject to:
(a) Civil penalties up to $500 per violation per day.
(b) Suspension of redemption center or distributor registration.
149-S:6 Rulemaking. The department of environmental services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A necessary to implement this chapter including:
I. Registration procedures.
II. Record keeping and reporting requirements.
III. Procedures for deposit refunds and reimbursement.
149-S:7 Beverage Container Recycling Fund. There is hereby established a special fund to be known as the beverage container deposit fund. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of environmental services. All unclaimed deposits on recycled beverage containers under RSA 149-S:4 shall be deposited into the fund. The state treasurer shall invest the fund and any interest earned shall be credited to the fund. The fund may be used for expanding recycling infrastructure, litter prevention programs, and the administrative costs of the beverage container redemption program.
2 New Subparagraph; Beverage Container Deposit Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (410) the following new subparagraph:
(411) Moneys deposited into the beverage container deposit fund established in RSA 149-S:7.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.