CT Seeks Public's Input For Bottle Bill Implementation

CONNECTICUT — The state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is seeking public input on the implementation of a new law that updates Connecticut's container redemption program, or "Bottle Bill."

New laws have set the stage for significant update of the Bottle Bill, which places a deposit on a bottle or other container at the time of purchase and returns that deposit to the consumer when the empty bottle is returned. The program was first implemented in 1980.

Public Act 21-58 provides for increased handling fees for containers, a broader list of acceptable container types, a higher deposit, and other features intended at making redemption of containers more convenient for consumers

DEEP has responsibility for several Bottle Bill-related actions, and is convening a stakeholder engagement process to identify overall objectives, process, timeline, and other components of this implementation that it should consider.

A public meeting on this process will be held virtually on August 9, fro 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Interested participants must register online in advance.

Written comments may be submitted to chris.nelson@ct.gov with the subject line "Bottle Bill Modernization." Comments should be submitted in PDF form by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 27.

More information on Connecticut’s Bottle Bill Modernization Stakeholder Process can be found online here. Residents who wish to add their name to the distribution list for the Bottle Bill Modernization Stakeholder Process should go to this website.