08/20/2025
Vermont’s Bottle Bill, officially known as the Beverage Container and Redemption Law, has not seen a major modernization or expansion since its inception in 1972, despite several legislative attempts in recent years. The most significant recent update was in 2022, when Act 177 reduced the deposit on ready-to-drink spirit beverages from 15 cents to 5 cents, effective July 1, 2022. Additionally, a 2018 law (S.285) mandated that unclaimed deposits for non-liquor containers be directed to the state for clean water programs starting October 1, 2019, generating approximately $6.8 million through December 2021.
Efforts to broaden the Bottle Bill to include non-carbonated beverages like water, juice, sports drinks, and wine, and to establish a producer responsibility organization (PRO), have repeatedly stalled. In 2021, the Vermont House passed H.175, which aimed to expand the program to cover these beverages, but it did not reach a final vote before the legislative session ended in 2022. In 2023, a more comprehensive bill, H.158, passed both the House (115-29) and Senate (19-11) with amendments to include most beverages (excluding dairy, plant-based beverages, infant formula, meal replacements, and nonalcoholic cider) and to increase redemption center access. It also proposed raising handling fees and potentially increasing deposits to 10 cents (20 cents for wine) if redemption targets were not met. However, Governor Phil Scott vetoed H.158 on June 29, 2023, citing concerns over increased costs to consumers and a preference for improving single-stream (zero-sort) recycling. The House voted to override the veto on January 4, 2024 (112-32), but the Senate fell three votes short of the required two-thirds majority (17-13) on January 23, 2024, leaving the bill dead.
Proponents, including the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and Just Zero, argue that modernization would boost recycling rates (currently 75% for covered containers versus 36% for non-covered ones), reduce litter, and support a circular economy. They note that Vermont’s program covers only 46% of beverage containers sold, compared to over 90% in states like Maine. Opponents, such as Casella Waste Systems, argue that expanding the Bottle Bill would disrupt existing recycling streams, potentially increasing costs by about 7% and undermining single-stream recycling efforts. Governor Scott and some legislators, like Sen. Westman, also express concerns about the labor-intensive nature of the redemption system and the state’s limited landfill capacity, suggesting a broader waste management conversation is needed.
As of August 19, 2025, no major modernization has been enacted, and the Bottle Bill remains limited to beer, malt beverages, carbonated soft drinks, and liquor, with deposits at 5 cents (most containers) and 15 cents (liquor). Public support for expansion remains strong, with polls showing 83% of Vermonters in favor, but legislative and executive hurdles have so far prevented significant updates.
