An Act Regarding the Labeling of Returnable Containers
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1351
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: ADAMS, BROMLEY, DAVIS, EDER, GROSE, O'BRIEN, PELLON, SMITH, SULLIVAN
Amends: 32 MRSA §1865

Legislative Document 
No. 1351 
H.P.993 
House of Representatives, March 13,2003 
An Act Regarding the Labeling of Returnable Containers 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative ADAMS of Portland. 
Cosponsored by Senator BROMLEY of Cumberland and 
17/~ 
/h.7lbc~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: DAVIS of Falmouth, EDER of Portland, GROSE of Woolwich, O'BRIEN of 
Lewiston, PELLON of Machias, SMITH of Monmouth, SULLIVAN of Biddeford. 
Prinr.:o on rer.::yded paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1865, sub-§I, as amended by PL 1991, c. 491, 
§l, is further amended to read: 
1. 
Labels. 
Except as provided under subsections I-A and 2, 
the refund value and the word "Maine" or the abbreviation "ME" 
must be clearly indicated in letters, numerals and symbols no 
less than 1/8 inch high in clear and prominent typeface and color 
on every refundable beverage container sold or offered for sale 
by a dealer in this State, by embossing, stamping, labeling or 
other method of secure attachment to the beverage container. 
The 
refund 
value 
may 
not 
be 
indicated 
on 
the 
bottom 
of 
the 
container. 
Metal beverage containers must be embossed or stamped 
on the top of the container. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRS A §1865, sub-§I-A, as amended by PL 1991, c. 
819, §4, is further amended to read: 
I-A. 
Labels; 
nonrefillable 
containers; 
nonexclusive 
distributorships. 
With 
respect 
to 
nonrefillable 
beverage 
containers the deposits 
for which 
are initiated pursuant to 
section 1863-A, 
SUbsection 3, 
the refund value and the word 
"Maine" or the abbreviation "ME" must be clearly indicated in 
letters, numerals and symbols no less than 1/8 inch high in clear 
and prominent typeface and prominent or contrasting color on 
every refundable beverage container sold or offered for sale by a 
dealer in this State, by permanently embossing or permanently 
stamping the beverage containers, except in instances when the 
initiator 
of 
the 
deposit 
has 
specific 
permission 
from 
the 
department to use stickers or similar devices. 
The refund value 
may not be indicated on the bottom of the container. 
Metal 
beverage containers must be permanently embossed or permanently 
stamped on the tops of the containers. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1865, sub-§I-B, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 
437, §1, is amended to read: 
I-B. 
Labels; 
nonrefillable 
containers; 
exclusive 
distributorships. 
Notwithstanding subsection 1 and with respect 
to nonrefillable beverage containers, for the deposits that are 
ini tiated pursuant to section l863-A, subsection 2, the refund 
value and the word 
"Maine" or the abbreviation 
"ME" 
may 
be 
clearly indicated in letters, numerals and symbols no less than 
1/8 inch high in clear and prominent typeface and color on 
refundable beverage containers sold or offered for sale by a 
dealer in this State by use of stickers or similar devices if 
those containers are not otherwise marked in accordance with 
subsection 
1. 
A 
redemption 
center 
shall 
accept 
containers 
identified by stickers in accordance with this subsection or by 
embossing or stamping in accordance with subsection 1. 
Page l-LR1261(1) 
Sec. 4. Effective date. 
This Act takes effect 270 days after 
adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill ensures that the type size of refund information 
on refundable beverage containers is at least 1/8 inch high so 
that it can be read by the consumer 
The bill takes effect 270 
days after adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 121st 
Legislature.