Bill > H2916

This bill expands the existing "bottle bill" by requiring deposits on certain non-carbonated beverage containers, including flavored and unflavored water, spring water, vitamin water, and other similar water-based drinks, in addition to existing requirements for carbonated soft drinks and beer. The bill redefines "beverage" to encompass these new categories and adjusts the size range of containers subject to the deposit, now covering those from four ounces up to 128 ounces, replacing the previous range of sixteen ounces or more but less than five gallons. Importantly, bottlers and distributors will now be required to maintain a separate "Deposit Transaction Fund" for all non-reusable beverage containers and a new "Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Fund" specifically for non-carbonated water beverages. Funds collected for the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Fund will be used for maintaining and replacing water and wastewater infrastructure, administered by the Department of Revenue's Division of Local Services, while other collected deposit amounts will go into the Clean Environment Fund. This legislation is set to take effect on December 31, 2015.