An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bottle Redemption and To Establish the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources as the Agent in the State for the Purposes of Bottle Redemption
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0397
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SULLIVAN, CASAVANT, DIAMOND, NUTTING, SCHNEIDER, CLEARY
Amends: 32 MRSA §1866

Legislative Document 
No. 397 
S.P.139 
In Senate, February 5, 2009 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bottle Redemption and To 
Establish the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources 
as the Agent in the State for the Purposes of Bottle Redemption 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator SULLIVAN of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative CASAVANT of Biddeford and 
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JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
SenatOrs: BRYANT of Oxford, DIAMOND of Cumberland, NUTTING of Androscoggin, 
SCHNEIDER of Penobscot, Representatives: CLEARY of Houlton; WRIGHT of Berwick. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec.!. 32 MRSA §1866, sub~§4, ~A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 499, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
A. 
In addition to the payment of the refund value, the initiator of the deposit under 
section 1863-A, subsections 1,2 and 4 shall reimburse the dealer or local redemption 
center for the cost of handling beverage containers subject to section 1863-A, in an 
amount that equals at least 3 ¢ per returned container for containers picked up by the 
initiator before March 1, 2004 and at least 3 1/2¢ for containers picked up on or after 
March 1, 2004 and at least 4 1/2¢ for containers picked up on or after October 1, 
2009. The initiator of the deposit may reimburse the dealer or local redemption 
center directly or indirectly through a party with which it has entered into a 
commingling agreement. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1866, sub-§4, ,-B, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 1, §34, is 
further amended to read: 
B. 
In addition to the payment of the refund value, the initiator of the deposit UIlder 
section 1863-A, subsection 3 shall reimburse the dealer or local redemption center for 
the cost of handling beverage containers subject to section 1863-A in an amount that 
equals at least 3¢ per returned container for containers picked up by the initiator 
before March 1, 2004 and at least 3 1/2¢ for containers picked up on or after March 1, 
2004 and at least 4 1/2¢ for containers picked up on or after October 1, 2009. The 
initiator of the deposit may reimburse the dealer or local redemption center directly or 
indirectly through a contracted agent or through a party with which it has entered into 
a commingling agreement. 
. 
Sec. 3. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources established 
as the agent of the State for purposes of administering the laws governing 
manufacturers, distributors and dealers of beverage containers. 
Effective 
September 1, 2010, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources is 
established as the agent of the State for purposes of administering the laws governing 
manufacturers, distributors and dealers of beverage containers and is responsible for 
initiating all deposits on beverage containers sold or offered for sale in this State, as well 
as the reimbursement of costs associated with handling beverage containers. 
The 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall submit draft legislation to 
implement this section to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and 
Economic Development by December 1, 2009. 
The joint standing committee is 
authorized to submit legislation to accomplish the objectives of this section to the Second 
Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill increases the handling fee for beverage containers by one cent to at least 4 
1/2¢ for containers picked up on or after October 1, 2009. This bill also provides that, 
effective September 1, 2010, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources is 
established as the agent of the State for purposes of administering the laws governing 
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manufacturers, distributors and dealers of beverage containers and will be responsible for 
initiating all deposits on beverage containers sold or offered for sale in this State, as well 
as the reimbursement of costs associated with handling beverage containers. This bill 
directs the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to submit draft 
legislation to implement this provision to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, 
Research and Economic Development by December 1, 2009. It also authorizes the joint 
standing committee to submit legislation to accomplish the objectives of this provision to 
the Second Regular Session ofthe 124th Legislature.