Connecticut: Is there a bottle deposit?
Connecticut puts a refundable 10-cent deposit on most beverage containers, including soda, beer, water, juice and sports drinks.
The deposit doubled from 5 to 10 cents on January 1, 2024. Since January 1, 2023, the law also covers hard seltzer, hard cider, juice, tea, coffee, kombucha, sports drinks and energy drinks. Wine and liquor are not covered, and containers under 150 milliliters or over 3 liters (2.5 liters for noncarbonated drinks) are excluded. A 2026 law temporarily trims the handling fee paid to redemption centers but does not change the deposit.
Conditions
- 10 cents per container (since Jan. 1, 2024)
- Covers beer, malt drinks, hard seltzer, hard cider, soda, mineral and other water, juice, tea, coffee, kombucha, sports and energy drinks
- Wine and liquor excluded
- Containers 150 ml to 3 liters (carbonated) or 2.5 liters (noncarbonated)
What the law says
Every beverage container containing a carbonated beverage sold or offered for sale in this state, except for any such beverage containers sold or offered for sale for consumption on an interstate passenger carrier, shall have a refund value. Such refund value shall not be less than ten cents and shall be a uniform amount throughout the distribution process in this state. ... Every beverage container containing a noncarbonated beverage sold or offered for sale in this state shall have a refund value, except for beverage containers containing a noncarbonated beverage that are (A) sold or offered for sale for consumption on an interstate passenger carrier, or (B) that comprise any dealer's existing inventory as of March 31, 2009. Such refund value shall not be less than ten cents and shall be a uniform amount throughout the distribution process in this state.
Sources
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-244 (Connecticut General Assembly) Official · cga.ct.gov
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-244 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-243 definitions (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- CT DEEP: Connecticut Bottle Bill Official · portal.ct.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
- Phone
- 860-424-3000
- Website
- portal.ct.gov
How bordering states compare
- Massachusetts Bottle deposit lawMassachusetts requires a refundable deposit of at least 5 cents on soda, carbonated water, mineral water, and beer containers.
- New York Bottle deposit lawYes. New York's Bottle Bill puts a deposit of at least 5 cents on soda, beer, sparkling and unsweetened water, and wine coolers.
- Rhode Island No bottle depositRhode Island has no bottle deposit law. The state is studying a possible 10-cent deposit system, but none has passed.
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