Vermont: Is there a bottle deposit?
Vermont has a bottle deposit: 5 cents on beer, soda and similar drinks, and 15 cents on liquor bottles.
The deposit covers beer and other malt drinks, wine coolers, ready-to-drink cocktails (5 cents unless over 12% alcohol or in containers over 24 ounces, which count as liquor at 15 cents), sodas and other carbonated drinks, and liquor. Wine, hard cider, and non-carbonated drinks such as still water and juice are not covered. Act 158 of 2026 overhauls the program: it narrowed the container definition and raised handling fees on July 1, 2026, and moves the system to a producer-run organization starting in 2027. From March 1, 2029, large stores and redemption centers must take back any covered container.
Conditions
- 5-cent deposit on beer, malt drinks, wine coolers, ready-to-drink cocktails, sodas and other carbonated drinks
- 15-cent deposit on liquor containers over 50 ml
- Wine, hard cider, and non-carbonated drinks are not covered
- Deposit applies only to drinks bought in Vermont
What the law says
Except with respect to beverage containers that contain liquor, a deposit of five cents shall be paid by the consumer on each beverage container sold at the retail level and refunded to the consumer upon return of the empty beverage container. With respect to beverage containers of volume greater than 50 ml that contain liquor, a deposit of 15 cents shall be paid by the consumer on each beverage container sold at the retail level and refunded to the consumer upon return of the empty beverage container.
Sources
- 10 V.S.A. § 1522 Official · legislature.vermont.gov
- 10 V.S.A. § 1521 (definitions) Official · legislature.vermont.gov
- Vermont DEC: Bottle Bill Official · dec.vermont.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Waste Management and Prevention Division
- Phone
- 802-828-1138
- Website
- dec.vermont.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 Hampshire No bottle depositNew Hampshire has no bottle deposit law; drink containers carry no refundable deposit.
- 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.