Bill > S1850

This bill, known as the "Smart Container Act," aims to reduce litter and promote recycling by establishing a deposit and refund system for beverage containers sold in New Jersey. It mandates that all beverage containers, excluding specific items like milk, infant formula, and alcoholic beverages (except beer, malt beverages, and wine products), must have a refund value, with a 10-cent refund for containers between 8 and 24 ounces and a 20-cent refund for containers between 24 ounces and one gallon. These containers must also be clearly marked with "New Jersey" or "N.J." and a "smart container bar code," which is a universal product code (UPC) used to identify the product. Distributors are required to register and pay an initial deposit on beverage containers, which is then deposited into a "Smart Container Fund" administered by the State Treasurer. Retailers and redemption centers, which are places that accept empty containers for recycling and pay back the refund value, must also register and report redeemed containers. The fund will be used to reimburse retailers and redemption centers for redeemed containers, with a portion of unclaimed deposits allocated to cover handling costs for retailers and redemption centers and the remainder to the Department of Environmental Protection for administration, public education, and environmental grants. Retailers are obligated to accept empty containers and provide the refund value, though they can limit the number of containers accepted per day and may be exempt from accepting certain alcoholic beverage containers if they don't sell them. The bill also establishes a public education program and a nine-member "Smart Container Act Public Advisory Council" composed of representatives from environmental organizations, distributors, retailers, county or municipal recycling coordinators, and redemption center operators to advise on the act's implementation. Violations of the act can result in penalties of up to $500 per day. The act will take effect 12 months after enactment, with provisions for adopting rules and regulations taking effect immediately.