Major Redemption Center Closes For Good In East Haven

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – The bottle redemption center on Foxon Road that handled 16 million bottles and cans annually shut down on Friday, Sept. 29th

It was the fourth redemption center in the state to close in the past few years, a trend that many see no sign of stopping since Connecticut has not increased its handling fees on more than three decades.

Some hadn’t heard that the redemption center was closed – and shook their heads with frustration on Saturday when they approached the center only to see a sign in front saying it was closed – and the door locked.

A man who would only give his name as “Joe,” disgustedly walked away, dragging bags of bottles with him.

When asked where he would take the bottles, Joe shrugged and said, “Stop & Shop, I guess.”

The redemption centers are operated by SARAH, Inc. The group tried to get legislation passed this year to increase the handling fee for redemption centers, but the legislature failed to act.

Connecticut’s redemption rate of 1.5 cents for beer and malt beverage containers and 2 cents for water and soft drink containers hasn’t been updated since it was first implemented in the late 1970s.

A bill that would have raised handling fees to 2.5 cents and 3 cents, respectively, moving closer to the 3.5-cent and 4-cent rates required in other states, never made it to a vote in the House. A bill supported by the beverage industry that would have eliminated the bottle bill and would have created a 4 cent bottle recycling fee never made it to a vote in the Senate.

SARAH officials are stressing that while the East Haven redemption center is closed that the overall recycling effort is still in business.

“We turn every nickel into jobs,” said SARAH Executive Director Pat Bourne. “Please don’t confuse the closing of the redemption center with SARAH Recycles. SARAH Recycles has grown tremendously since its humble beginning and the support of our local communities has been outstanding.”

SARAH officials added that all those who worked at the East Haven redemption center will be given jobs elsewhere in the recycling program.

Photos by Jack Kramer/Patch