An act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 9 mixed.
More local return points for buyers
The plan due April 1, 2028, must provide at least three return points per county, including one paying deposits immediately. Each municipality with at least 7,000 residents needs an immediate-payment point, unless the Secretary finds that this impedes effective returns. Single-feed return machines or mobile points count toward county minimums only with proof that they adequately serve local needs. Plans must maintain capacity and minimum site counts; the Secretary can require more sites based on location, shopping patterns, and convenience. State return goals are 75% beginning July 1, 2030, and 80% beginning July 1, 2033. If the producer group misses the non-liquor goal, the Secretary can require more education, sites, or return opportunities.
Small stores can stop accepting returns
Beginning March 1, 2029, retailers in buildings smaller than 5,000 square feet may refuse container returns. This exemption applies once the producer group implements a qualifying collection plan. Manufacturers selling directly to consumers may also refuse returns at retail locations smaller than 5,000 square feet.
Grants help build container return infrastructure
Beginning July 1, 2029, the Secretary must enter a four-year grant agreement with the approved producer group. Grants repay documented equipment and infrastructure improvement costs in its approved plan. Annual caps are $1 million in fiscal years 2030 and 2031, then $750,000 in 2032 and 2033. The Secretary may transfer unclaimed beverage deposits from the Clean Water Fund to the Solid Waste Management Assistance Account at those same annual caps. These transfers support implementation grants, and the grant provision ends October 1, 2033.
Return sites get payments and pickups
Before March 1, 2029, operators receive 4.5 cents per container for brands collected together, or five cents otherwise. Beginning March 1, 2029, approved plans govern fair compensation; the producer group pays 4.5 cents unless sites negotiate another amount. Negotiation disputes go to binding resolution by a neutral third party chosen by both sides under Secretary-developed guidelines. The group must also collect empty, properly labeled containers from sites in its plan and pay their refund value. Beginning July 1, 2030, each site or group of sites must negotiate compensation; the law sets no payment amount.
Hazardous-product groups pay state oversight costs
Beginning July 1, 2026, household hazardous-product stewardship groups must reimburse state oversight costs approved through the State budget process. The Secretary must estimate these costs each year. Groups have 30 days after receiving the budget to comment, and the Agency must respond. Groups do not have to reimburse costs that lack budget approval.
Broader returns but strict container checks
Retailers must accept empty, properly labeled containers of the kinds, sizes, and brands they sell and pay the refund. Manufacturers and distributors must make required pickups and refund payments to retailers and certified return centers. Beginning March 1, 2029, retailers cannot reject containers just because they do not sell that brand, type, or size. Return sites and the producer group must reject dirty, broken, improperly labeled, already redeemed, or unregistered containers. They must also reject containers known to have been bought outside Vermont; separate retailer and liquor exceptions still apply.
Deposits and refunds for beverage buyers
Beginning July 1, 2026, covered beverages include liquor and ready-to-drink spirits. Covered containers are glass, metal, PET plastic, or HDPE plastic bottles, cans, and jars no larger than three liters. Non-liquor deposits are exactly five cents, replacing the earlier minimum of five cents; liquor containers over 50 milliliters carry 15-cent deposits. You recover the deposit when you return an eligible empty container to a return site or producer group. Retailers must refund covered liquor containers, except those that are dirty, broken, or covered by a Secretary-issued exemption. The Department of Liquor and Lottery must make required pickups and pay refund values and handling fees to retailers and return centers.
New return hours and safety standards
The law removes the old requirement to accept returns for at least 40 hours each week. Fixed return sites must instead accept containers at least 35 hours weekly, including six consecutive Saturday hours. Mobile sites must accept them at least 15 hours weekly, including four consecutive Saturday hours. Sites must provide timely service, stay secure and well lit, and follow recycling collection, transport, and disposal laws.
Beverage suppliers must fund producer groups
Deposit initiators—the first businesses collecting deposits—must apply to form a producer group by January 1, 2027. Beginning July 1, 2027, they cannot sell or distribute covered containers without joining a state-approved group. The group must be a capable nonprofit, consider small manufacturers, and avoid unreasonable joining barriers. Members must pay required program fees and supply required data, or the group may remove them. Beginning July 1, 2026, necessary coordination under an approved plan has limited state antitrust protection, excluding agreements affecting prices, sales areas, or customers.
Hazardous-product groups gain flexible collection plans
Household hazardous-product collection plans can cover enrolled products instead of every manufacturer's products, while explaining compliance with the law. Beginning July 1, 2027, manufacturers may register a group for each product class when products and packages are collected together. Only one group is allowed per class, though multiple programs may operate. Approved class groups may submit transition plans; the Secretary has 120 days to approve or reject them, and approved plans must start by July 1, 2030. Annual registration renewals start July 1, 2028, instead of July 1, 2026, and require manufacturer, brand, product, contact, organization, and nonmember contact information.
Return centers lose old certification rules
Until March 1, 2029, return-center operators must obtain state certification identifying the facility's name and location. The Secretary may attach reporting, recordkeeping, inspection, and other conditions. On March 1, 2029, the law repeals that certification requirement and the separate beverage registration requirement. The law also repeals the chapter's specific fine of up to $1,000 per violation; this does not remove other enforcement powers.
Separate fees and rules for liquor
Liquor manufacturers and distributors are exempt from producer-group membership and collection-plan duties. Distributors must pay return points 4.5 cents for each redeemed liquor container holding more than 50 milliliters. The Department of Liquor and Lottery may pay the producer group to collect liquor containers at sites in its plan. Those coordinated collections are exempt from the 4.5-cent handling fee; the law sets no replacement payment amount.
State-run returns add supplier costs
If no producer group forms, the Secretary must require one to form or adopt and run a qualifying plan. If the Secretary runs the plan, deposit initiators pay plan administration and Agency oversight costs. They also face a recycling-market assessment equal to 25% of the plan's total cost. Assessment money goes to the Solid Waste Management Assistance Account for recycling-market development grants.
Clearer refund labels on beverage containers
Beverage containers sold in Vermont must show “Vermont” or “VT” and the refund value in type at least 1/8 inch tall. The information must be clearly visible on the product label or another approved method secured to the container. The Secretary may approve alternate markings. Beginning July 1, 2027, containers sold or offered for sale must also have a product code and barcode.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
House message: Governor approved bill on June 17, 2026
5/29/2026HouseSigned by Governor on June 17, 2026
5/29/2026HouseDelivered to Governor on June 11, 2026
5/29/2026HouseHouse message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
5/28/2026HouseSenate proposal of amendment concurred in
5/27/2026HouseRules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/27/2026HouseNotice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/27/2026HouseSenate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/26/2026SenateRules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/26/2026SenateRead 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/26/2026SenateNew Business/Third Reading
5/26/2026Senate3rd reading ordered
5/22/2026SenateProposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy agreed to
5/22/2026SenateReported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on Appropriations
5/22/2026SenateReported favorably by Senator Hardy for Committee on Finance
5/22/2026SenateRead 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Beck for Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
5/22/2026SenateFavorable report by Committee on Appropriations
5/22/2026SenateFavorable report by Committee on Finance
5/22/2026SenateFavorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
5/22/2026SenateNew Business/Second Reading
5/22/2026SenateFavorable report by Committee on Appropriations
5/21/2026SenateFavorable report by Committee on Finance
5/21/2026SenateFavorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
5/21/2026SenateSecond Reading
5/21/2026SenateEntered on Notice Calendar
5/21/2026Senate
Bill Text
As Enacted (ACT 158)Opens in a new window
6/19/2026
As Passed by Both Chambers
6/9/2026
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
6/9/2026
Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/28/2026
Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
5/28/2026
As Passed by the House
3/31/2026
As Passed by the House (Unofficial)
3/31/2026
As Introduced
2/24/2026
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