Section 22a-244 - (Formerly Sec. 22a-78). Beverage containers: Refund value; exceptions; labeling and design requirements(a)(1) Every beverage container containing a carbonated beverage sold or offered for sale in this state, except for any such beverage containers sold or offered for sale for consumption on an interstate passenger carrier, shall have a refund value. Such refund value shall not be less than ten cents and shall be a uniform amount throughout the distribution process in this state.(2) Every beverage container containing a noncarbonated beverage sold or offered for sale in this state shall have a refund value, except for beverage containers containing a noncarbonated beverage that are (A) sold or offered for sale for consumption on an interstate passenger carrier, or (B) that comprise any dealer's existing inventory as of March 31, 2009. Such refund value shall not be less than ten cents and shall be a uniform amount throughout the distribution process in this state.(b) Every beverage container sold or offered for sale in this state, that has a refund value pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall clearly indicate by embossing or by a stamp or by a label or other method securely affixed to the beverage container (1) either the refund value of the container or the words "return for deposit" or "return for refund" or other words as approved by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and (2) either the word "Connecticut" or the abbreviation "Ct.", provided this subdivision shall not apply to glass beverage containers permanently marked or embossed with a brand name. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any beverage container that comprises any dealer's inventory as of December 31, 2022, provided such beverage container was not required to have a refund value as of such date pursuant to the provisions of section 22a-243 and this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the sale or offering for sale of any beverage container that is embossed, stamped, labeled or otherwise affixed with a refund value of five cents, provided such beverage container comprises any dealer's or distributor's inventory as of December 31, 2023.(c) No person shall sell or offer for sale in this state any metal beverage container (1) a part of which is designed to be detached in order to open such container, or (2) that is connected to another beverage container by a device constructed of a material which does not decompose by photodegradation, chemical degradation or biodegradation within a reasonable time after exposure to the elements.(d) On and after January 1, 2024, each beverage container sold or offered for sale in this state that has a refund value pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall include a Universal Product Code and barcode. Each deposit initiator shall provide such Universal Product Code and barcode, with packaging information, to the reverse vending machine system administrators and other system operators, not less than thirty days prior to placement of any such beverage container on the market.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-244
(P.A. 78-16, S. 2, 6, 7, 10; P.A. 79-139, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-95, S. 3; P.A. 84-30; 84-121, S. 2; P.A. 97-124 , S. 12 , 16 ; P.A. 09-2 , S. 18 ; P.A. 11-80 , S. 1 .)
Amended by P.A. 23-0076,S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 1/1/2024.Amended by P.A. 22-0001, S. 9 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Special Session, eff. 1/1/2024.Amended by P.A. 21-0058, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 1/1/2024.Amended by P.A. 09-0002, S. 18 of the the 2009 Regular Session, eff. 4/1/2009. Plaintiffs did not have a vested property interest in unclaimed deposits attributable to the period from December 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009, and, accordingly, the provision in P.A. 09-1 that all unclaimed deposits accruing during that period must be paid to the state does not rise to the level of an unconstitutional taking of property. 309 C. 810 .