Canton's 'Nip' Bottle Revenue Exceeds $7.1K

CANTON, CT — Connecticut’s “nickel-per-nip” environmental stewardship program has generated $6.6 million cities and towns in its first year and a half, including revenue for Canton.

So-called "nips" are those tiny bottles of alcoholic beverages that are common on airplanes and hotel room bars, but they're also sold at package stores as well.

And, sadly, these little bottles are causing big headaches for town's looking to keep their streets litter free.

Under the 18-month-old program, a nickel surcharge is placed on the sale of each 50 ml “nip” container at the point of sale.

Every April and October, each municipality receives 5 cents for each nip sold within its borders during the preceding six months.

The first week of May, checks amounting to $2.4 million were sent to Connecticut municipalities representing nip sales from October 1, 2022, to March 31.

Canton's Share

Canton's share, according to program officials, was $7,116.70 for the 142,334 "nips" sold from Oct. 1, 2022 to March 31.

Since the program started in October 2021, Canton has collected $18,964 in "nip" money.

“This $6 million program is making a big difference and is performing beyond our expectations,” said Lawrence F. Cafero, Jr., president and treasurer of Three Tiers for Connecticut and executive director of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc.

“This is our strongest six-month period yet, and we just delivered $2.4 million in eco fees into the hands of our cities and towns, many of which are using those dollars to keep their roadsides, waterways and public spaces litter-free.”

Cafero also delved into how "nip" litter happens and how it's addressed.

“Studies show that most litter from nips happens very close to where the containers are purchased,” Cafero said. “This is why when legislators came to us looking for a solution, we built an eco-fee program to keep it local—because we make sure that the fees collected in each town stay in that town, with no hidden handling charges or ‘sweeps’ of money into the general fund like other programs.

“In just 18 months, this local solution has become a national model,” Cafero said.

Cafero said some towns used the funding to support recycling coordinator positions, while others have partnered with local non-profit organizations on litter cleanups.

Proposed by the nonprofit Three Tiers for Connecticut and passed by the General Assembly in 2021, the program is designed to help cities and towns provide for the collection and proper disposal of 50 ml “nip” bottles.

For more information on Three Tiers for Connecticut, click on this link.

From Nov. 10, 2022: 'Berlin Claims $25K In Nip Bottle Bucks'