An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Returnable Beverage Containers
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0544
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: PLOWMAN, COURTNEY, PERRY, CUSHING, PRATT
Amends: 32 MRSA §1863-A

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th MAl E LEGISLATURE 
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Legislative' Documen t 
No. 544 
S.P.204 
In Senate, February 12, 2009 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Returnable Beverage 
Containers 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator PLOWMAN of Penobscot. 
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JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Senators: COURTNEY of York, McCORMICK of Kennebec, PERRY of 
Penobscot, Representatives: CUSHING of Hampden, PRATT of Eddington. 
Printed on recycled puper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1863-A, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 819, §3, is amended to 
read: 
§1863-A. Refund value 
To encourage container reuse and recycling, every beverage container sold or offered 
for sale to a consumer in this State must have a deposit and refund value. The deposit 
and refund value are determined according to the provisions of this section. 
1. RefIllable containers~For refillable beverage containers, except wine and spirits 
containers, the manufacturer shall determine the deposit and refund vulue according to 
the type, kind and size of the bev:erage container. The deposit and refund value may not 
be less than is 5¢. 
2. Nonrefillable containers; exclusive distributorships. For nonrefillable beverage 
containers, except wine and spirits containers, sold through geographically exclusive 
distributorships, the distributor shall determine and initiate the deposit and refund'~;alue 
according to the type, kind and size of the beverage container. The deposit and refund 
value must not be less than is 5¢. 
3. 
NonrefIllable containers; nonexclusive distributorships. 
For nonrefillable 
beverage containers, except wine and spirits containers, not sold through geographically 
exclusive distributorships, the deposit and refund value may not belessthan is5¢. 
24. 
4. Wine and spirits containers. For wine and spirits containers of greater than 50 
milliliters, the refund value may not b.e less than 15¢ k.2i. On January 1, 1993, the 
department shall issue a finding on the percentages of wine containers and spirits 
containers returned for deposit. If the department fmds the return rate of vline containers 
WaS less than 60% during the year ending September 1992, then, on July 1, 1993, the 
refund value on wine containers may not be less than 25¢. If the department finds tlfe 
return rate of spirits containers was less than 60% during the year ending September 
1992, then, on July 1, 1993, the refuHd value of spirits containers may not be less than 
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SUMMARY 
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,'Thisbill requires that the refund value of all returnable beverage containers is 5¢. 
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Page I - 124LR1423(Ol)-1 
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