An act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers
This bill creates an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers, aiming to reduce waste and encourage recycling. It mandates that producers take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products.
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H 915 — An act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers
Last action — House message: Governor approved bill on June 17, 2026
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 25, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on May 29, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill establishes a program for managing beverage container waste.
This bill creates an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers, aiming to reduce waste and encourage recycling. It mandates that producers take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products.
What this means for you
- Environment: This bill promotes recycling and environmental sustainability by requiring producers to manage beverage container waste.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
570 added · 588 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Bill H.915 clarified the definition of beverage containers, specifying that containers made from biodegradable materials are not included. Additionally, it ensured that manufacturers or distributors cannot refuse to pick up empty containers from retailers or redemption centers. These changes are significant because they help to clarify what types of containers are covered by the bill, potentially improving recycling participation and supporting better waste management practices.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 1 of 27 H.915 AnIntroduced act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers It is hereby enacted by theCommittee Generalon AssemblyEnvironment ofDate: the State of Vermont:
Subject:
Conservation and development;
beverage container redemption;
extended producer responsibility Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to require all manufacturers and distributors of covered beverage containers to participate in a producer responsibility organization that shall manage the collection and disposition of beverage containers.
An act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
DEPOSIT-REDEMPTION SYSTEM §§ 1521. 1521.
(1) “Beverage” means beer or other malt beverages and mineral waters, mixed wine drink, soda water and carbonated soft drinks in liquid form and BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 2 of 27 intended for human consumption.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 2 of 27 (4) “Distributor” means every person who engages in the sale of consumer products in containers to a dealer in this State, including any manufacturer who engages in such sales.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 3 of 27 (7) “Redemption center” means a store or other location where any person may, during normal business hours, redeem the amount of the deposit for any empty beverage container labeled or certified pursuant to section 1524 of this title.
that contains not more than 1616 percent percent alcohol by volume;
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 3 of 27 (10) “Liquor” means spirits as defined in 7 V.S.A.
The difference BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 4 of 27 between liquor bottle deposits collected and refunds made is hereby retained by the Liquor Control Enterprise Fund for administration of this subsection.
* * * VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 4 of 27 (d) Containers shall be redeemed during no fewer than 40 hours per week during the regular operating hours of the establishment.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 5 of 27 (3) Administrative penalties for the failure by a redemption center or retailer to remove beverage containers that are not labeled prior to pickup by a distributor or manufacturer.
(1) A retailer shall not refuse to accept from any person any empty beverage containers, labeled in accordance with section 1524 of this title, of the kind, size, and brand sold by the retailer, or refuse to pay to that person the VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 5 of 27 refund value of a beverage container as established by section 1522 of this title, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 6 of 27 (b)(1) A retailer, with the prior approval of the Secretary, may refuse to redeem beverage containers if a redemption center or centers are established that serve the public need stewardship plan that meets the requirements of section 1532 of this title has been implemented by the producer responsibility organization in the State and the retailer’s building is less than 5,000 square feet.
(c) A retailer or that is not exempt, a person operating a redemption center, or any other point of redemption may only refuse to redeem beverage VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 6 of 27 containers that are not clean, or are broken, and shall not redeem beverage containers that are not labeled in accordance with sectionsection 1524 1524 of this title.
LABELING (a)(1) Every beverage container sold or offered for sale at retail in this State shall clearly indicate by embossing or on the normal product label, imprinting on the normal product label, or in the case of a metal beverage container on the top of the container, other approved method secured to the container the word “Vermont” or the letters “VT” and the refund value of the BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 7 of 27 container in not less than one-eighth inch type size or such other alternate indications as may be approved by the Secretary.
The stickers shall be affixed to the bottles by the manufacturer, except that liquor that is sold in the State in quantities less than VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 7 of 27 100 cases per year may have stickers affixed by personnel employed by the Division of Liquor Control.
PENALTY REDEMPTION OF LIQUOR BOTTLES A person who violates a provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 for each violation Notwithstanding any other provision of this BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 8 of 27 chapter to the contrary, redemption of beverage containers of volume greater than 50 ml that contain liquor shall be subject to the following requirements:
A retailer shall not refuse to accept beverage containers subject to this section or refuse to pay that person the refund value established by subdivision (1) of this section for any container sold by the retailer unless the container is not clean, broken, or has an exemption issued by VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 8 of 27 the Secretary.
Containers collected at these points of BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 9 of 27 collection shall not be subject to the handling fee established by subdivision (2) of this section.
* * * VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 9 of 27 § 1529.
and BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 10 of 27 (3) Additional conditions, requirements, and restrictions as the Secretary may deem necessary to implement the requirements of this chapter.
(b) On or before January 1, 2027, manufacturers or distributors of beverage containers sold or distributed within the State shall apply to the Secretary to VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 10 of 27 form a producer responsibility organization to fulfill the requirements of manufacturers or distributors under this chapter.
§§ 501(c)(3) 501(c)(3) as a nonprofit entity;
and BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 11 of 27 (3) the producer responsibility organization does not create any unreasonable barriers to joining the producer responsibility organization and shall take into the consideration the needs of small manufacturers that do not generate a significant volume of containers.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 11 of 27 (e) If the producer responsibility organization fails to implement the requirements of this chapter, the rules adopted by the Secretary, or an approved stewardship plan, the Secretary may dissolve the producer responsibility organization.
If the Secretary administers the plan adopted under section 1532, the Secretary shall charge each manufacturer or distributor the costs of plan BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 12 of 27 administration, the Agency’s oversight costs, and a recycling market development assessment of 10 percent of the plan’s total cost to be deposited in the Solid Waste Management Assistance Account of the Waste Management Assistance Fund, for the purpose of providing grants to develop markets to recycle materials.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 12 of 27 (2) The producer responsibility organization shall provide any comments to the Secretary’s budget within 30 days following receipt.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 13 of 27 (h) Manufacturers and distributors of liquor are exempt from the requirements of this section and the requirement to implement a stewardship plan under section 1532 of this title.
§§ 1532. 1532.
The plan shall take reasonable efforts to site VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 13 of 27 points of redemption equitably across all regions of the State to allow for convenient and reasonable access of all Vermonters to redemption opportunities.
and BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 14 of 27 (iii) how sites of redemption are or will be sited in areas with high population density or located in centers designated under 24 V.S.A.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 14 of 27 (A) The plan shall describe how all locations that redeem beverage containers are fairly compensated for their participation in the collection program.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 15 of 27 (E) The plan shall maximize the use of existing infrastructure, when establishing points of collection under subdivision (1) of this subsection (a).
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 15 of 27 (4) Education to consumers.
The producer responsibility organization shall either make changes in response BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 16 of 27 to those comments or provide a written response on why the change was not made to the stakeholders and the Agency.
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VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 16 of 27 (3) the location and amount of beverage container material that was recycled and what products that beverage container material was recycled into;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 17 of 27 (7) efforts taken by or on behalf of the manufacturer or distributor to reduce environmental impacts throughout the product life cycle and to increase reusability or recyclability at the end of the life cycle by material type;
and VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 17 of 27 (10) any additional information required by the Secretary.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 18 of 27 (d) Plan implementation.
§§ 1533. 1533.
Beginning on October 1, 2033, and every five years thereafter, the producer responsibility organization shall conduct an VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 18 of 27 independent third-party program audit of the operation of the stewardship plan.
The fiscal audit shall provide a transparent BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 19 of 27 fiscal analysis of the producer responsibility organization, its expenditures, the number of beverage containers collected, and the amount of unclaimed deposits.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 19 of 27 § 1534.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 20 of 27 (A) liquor bottles;
§§ 1535. 1535.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 20 of 27 § 1536.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 21 of 27 (b) Limitations on antitrust activity.
§§ 7714 7714 is amended to read:
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 21 of 27 (1) The purpose of this section is to establish the public notice and comment requirements that the Department must follow when adopting general permits, except for general permits governed by section 7712 of this chapter, and when considering other permits listed in this section.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 22 of 27 (C) An application or request for approval of:
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 22 of 27 (v) a primary battery stewardship plan under section 7586 of this title;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 23 of 27 (d) Public meeting.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 23 of 27 Sec.
§§ 1388 1388 is amended to read:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 24 of 27 (B) in State fiscal year 2031, the Secretary may transfer up to $1,000,000.00 to the Solid Waste Management Assistance Account of the fund created pursuant to section 6618 of this title for grants pursuant to subdivision 6618(b)(11) of this title;
(C) in State fiscal year 2032, the Secretary may transfer up to $750,000.00 to the Solid Waste Management Assistance Account of the fund VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 24 of 27 created pursuant to section 6618 of this title for grants pursuant to subdivision 6618(b)(11) of this title;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 25 of 27 Sec.
§§ 6618 6618 is amended to read:
The Hazardous Waste Management Assistance Account shall consist of a VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 25 of 27 percentage of the tax on hazardous waste under the provisions of 32 V.S.A.
All balances in the Fund accounts at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward and remain a part of the Fund accounts, except as provided in subsection (e) of this BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 26 of 27 section.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 26 of 27 * * * (11) Bottle bill implementation grants.
BOTTLE BILL RECYCLING AND MATERIALS REPORTING A manufacturer or distributor collecting beverage containers subject to 1010 V.S.A V.S.A chapter 53 shall report recycling information to the Secretary of Natural Resources in the same manner as recycled materials are reported to the Secretary under 10 V.S.A.
and BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.915 Page 27 of 27 (2) the location and amount of beverage container material and what products the beverage containers were recycled into.
§§ 1529 1529 (redemption center certification) shall be repealed on March 1, 2028.
VT LEG #388306 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.915 Page 27 of 27 (1) in Sec.
§§ 1531(a) 1531(a) (prohibiting the sale or distribution without participating in the producer responsibility organization) shall take effect on March 1, 2028.
VT LEG #388306 v.1
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View plain text versions (7)
- As Passed By the House (OfficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
- As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
- As Passed by Both House and Senate (OfficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
- As Passed by Both House and Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
- As EnactedOpens in a new window View text pdf
- Act SummaryOpens in a new window View text Current pdf
- Introduced As IntroducedOpens in a new window pdf
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
The act establishes an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers, shifting responsibilities to deposit initiators and modifying handling fees and redemption processes.
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Deposit initiator means the first manufacturer or distributor to collect a deposit on a container.
Defines 'deposit initiator' to clarify who is responsible for collecting deposits.
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three and one-half cents→ four and one-half centsIncreases the handling fee for containers part of a commingling program.
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four cents→ five centsIncreases the handling fee for containers not part of a commingling program.
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a manufacturer or distributor→ the deposit initiatorShifts beverage container redemption responsibilities from manufacturers/distributors to deposit initiators.
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Beginning on July 1, 2027, a deposit initiator may not sell or distribute a beverage container in the State without participating in an ANR-approved PRO.
Mandates participation in a producer responsibility organization for deposit initiators.
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On or before January 1, 2027, deposit initiators are required to form a PRO to implement a stewardship plan for the redemption and disposition of beverage containers.
Requires deposit initiators to form a producer responsibility organization for developing a stewardship plan.
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The PRO is required to maintain a website that identifies each manufacturer participating in the PRO and the name of each beverage and container size covered by the stewardship plan.
Requires transparency regarding participating manufacturers and container details from the PRO.
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If the deposit initiators fail to form a PRO or implement a stewardship plan, the act authorizes ANR to implement the stewardship plan and charge deposit initiators the cost of the plan implementation plus a 25 percent penalty.
Empowers the ANR to step in if deposit initiators do not comply with forming a PRO.
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The act sets the State goals for minimum beverage container redemption rates: beginning on July 1, 2030, 75 percent; and beginning on July 1, 2033, 80 percent.
Establishes state targets for beverage container redemption rates.
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The act requires the stewardship plan to maximize the use of existing infrastructure when establishing points of redemption.
Encourages efficient use of infrastructure for redemption locations.
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Beginning on October 1, 2030, and annually thereafter, the act requires a fiscal audit of the PRO, its expenditures, the number of beverage containers collected, and the amount of unclaimed deposits.
Mandates annual fiscal audits for accountability in the PRO.
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Beginning on October 1, 2033, and every five years thereafter, the act requires an independent third party to conduct a program audit of the plan.
Imposes a requirement for independent audits to ensure proper implementation of the stewardship plan.
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The act requires each beverage container sold or offered for sale in the State that has a deposit to include a Universal Product Code and barcode.
Mandates labeling of beverage containers with a UPC and barcode to facilitate redemption.
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metal beverage containers must be labeled on their top→ any container to be labeled with an Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)–approved method that secures the information to the container.Repeals the specific labeling requirement for metal containers, allowing more flexibility.
Amendments
2 amendments- Senate Proposal of Amendment (OfficialOpens in a new window) Show changes
- Senate Proposal of Amendment (UnofficialOpens in a new window) Show changes
Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
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House message: Governor approved bill on June 17, 2026
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Signed by Governor on June 17, 2026
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Delivered to the Governor on June 11, 2026
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House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
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Senate proposal of amendment concurred in
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Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
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Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
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Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
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Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
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Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
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New Business/Third Reading
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3rd reading ordered
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Proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy agreed to
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Reported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on Appropriations
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Reported favorably by Senator Hardy for Committee on Finance
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Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Beck for Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
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Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations
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Favorable report by Committee on Finance
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Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
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New Business/Second Reading
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Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations
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Favorable report by Committee on Finance
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Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
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Second Reading
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Entered on Notice Calendar
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Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
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Favorable report by Committee on Finance
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Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
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Second Reading
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Entered on Notice Calendar
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Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31
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Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
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Second Reading
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Entered on Notice Calendar
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Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
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Read third time and passed
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Action Calendar: Third Reading
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Third Reading ordered
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Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
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Rep. Burkhardt of South Burlington recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
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Rep. Morris of Springfield reported for the Committee on Environment
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Read second time
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Action Calendar: Favorable
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Notice Calendar: Favorable
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Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
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Notice Calendar: Favorable
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Committee bill read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
Sponsors
- House Committee on Environment · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 189 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- House Committee on Environment
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (189)
189 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 189 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors H 915?
- H 915 is sponsored by House Committee on Environment.
- What is the current status of H 915?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 25, 2026. Enacted.
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