Why Vermont Has a Bottle Deposit Law (The Bottle Bill)

Enacted in 1973, Vermont's Beverage Container Redemption Law (the "Bottle Bill") places a 5¢ deposit on carbonated beverage containers (excluding ≥1 gallon). The goals:

• Reduce Litter: Financial incentive to return containers keeps roadsides, parks, and waterways clean.
• Conserve Resources: Recycling aluminum, glass, and plastic saves energy and raw materials vs. virgin production.
• Promote Recycling Culture: Normalizes circular economy habits.

Results

• Redemption rate: over 85% (2021), among the highest in the U.S.
• Significant litter reduction documented.
• Economic activity: ~$10M+ annually from handling fees, processing, and material sales.
• Job creation in collection, sorting, and recycling sectors.

The system is funded by unredeemed deposits (escheats) and handling fees paid by distributors to redemption centers.