Bill
HB 344
Implements a statewide deposit-refund system for beverage containers to reduce litter and boost recycling.
Status and procedural posture
- Introduced: November 12, 2024.
- Most recent recorded actions: Passed first reading and referred to committee; later listed as “Currently Indefinitely Postponed” (05/06/2025) in the legislative activity log.
- Bill creates a new Part 2K in Article 9 of Chapter 130A (solid waste & environmental protection statutes).
Purpose and intent
- The bill’s stated goal is to reduce roadside and other litter and increase recycling by establishing a deposit-and-refund system for beverage containers. It is intended to (1) reduce the volume of disposable beverage containers in litter and landfills, (2) incentivize recycling and reuse, and (3) shift some disposal costs away from taxpayers.
Key provisions (major elements)
- New deposit/refund program: Establishes a statewide refundable deposit system for “beverage containers” (prepackaged containers made of glass, plastic, metal). The program requires deposits to be collected at point of sale and refunded when consumers return empty containers.
- Definitions and scope: Detailed definitions clarify terms such as “beverage,” “beverage container” (excludes cartons/pouches/aseptic packaging), “consumer,” “dealer,” “distributor,” “deposit initiator,” “redeemer,” “redemption center,” “curbside recycling program,” and “recyclable.”
- Coverage and exclusions:
- Dealers: retail sellers of beverage containers are covered; exemptions include establishments that sell fewer than 250,000 beverage containers per calendar year and premises that serve beverages for on‑site consumption (restaurants, bars, hotels).
- Some packaging types (cartons, pouches, aseptic packaging) are explicitly excluded.
- Redemption infrastructure:
- Requires establishment/certification of “redemption centers” that accept returned beverage containers from consumers and provide refunds (or other refund mechanisms such as reverse vending machines/mobile units).
- Authorizes certification and oversight by the responsible Department (the bill delegates program administration to the Department).
- Producer responsibility and operations:
- Anticipates role for a producer responsibility organization (PRO) — a nonprofit formed by distributors/producers to fulfill obligations under the program.
- Establishes concept of a “processing payment” to compensate curbside recycling program entities that deliver collected containers for processing, with amount to be set by the Department.
- Recycling standards and exclusions: Defines “recycle/recycling” and excludes downcycling, energy recovery (incineration, gasification), and some chemical/advanced recycling processes from counting as recycling for program metrics.
- Environmental justice consideration: Directs the Department to consider and define “environmental justice community” for program implementation/prioritization.
Who would be affected
- Consumers: pay a refundable deposit when purchasing covered beverages and receive refunds when returning empties.
- Retailers/dealers: required to collect deposits at point of sale, accept returns (subject to exemptions), and coordinate with distributors/PROs and redemption centers.
- Distributors/producers: new administrative and financial obligations (deposit collection/remittance, formation of PROs, financing redemption and processing payments).
- Local recycling programs and redemption centers: potential new revenue stream (processing payments) and new certification/operational roles.
- State agencies: responsibility for administering/certifying redemption centers, setting processing payments, and enforcing program rules.
Potential impacts (expected)
- Environmental: Likely reduction in litter from beverage containers and higher recycling rates (consistent with experience in other states with bottle-deposit laws).
- Fiscal/administrative: Increased administrative duties and costs for distributors, retailers, and the state agency administering the program; potential savings for municipalities from reduced litter cleanup and landfill inputs.
- Market/operational: Redistribution of collection activity (more returns to redemption centers and curbside programs), possible compliance costs for businesses; excluded packaging and small sellers reduce burden for some entities.
Notes and caveats
- The publicly supplied bill excerpts are truncated and do not show deposit amounts, precise refund mechanics, enforcement/penalty details, timing for implementation, or the Department’s rulemaking authorities. Those details would materially affect program costs and operations.
- Legislative activity indicates the bill’s status changed over time; interested readers should check the jurisdiction’s official legislative website for the current status and final text (including any committee substitute or amendments).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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