Press Releases
06/29/2023
DEEP Announces $1.6 Million in Beverage Container Recycling Grant Awards in Urban Centers and Environmental Justice Communities
Beverage Container Redemption Facilities to Receive Support to Improve Equitable Access to Services for CT Residents; Second Grant Round Now Open for Priority Areas on Rolling Basis Through Oct. 31
(HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the first round of grant awards for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant program. The grant program supports the establishment and expansion of beverage container redemption centers in urban centers and environmental justice communities.
With container deposits scheduled to increase to 10 cents on January 1, 2024, and the expansion of new items covered by the bottle bill, the State anticipates a significant increase in demand for redemption center services. Many communities, particularly those in urban centers and environmental justice communities, lack reliable and convenient access to beverage container redemption locations. In this first round of funding, eight redemption facility operators have been notified of the DEEP’s intent to award funds totaling $1.6 million to improve services at existing facilities, and to support the establishment of one new facility.
Existing facilities receiving an award are located in East Haven, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Vernon, West Haven, and Woodstock. In addition, one grant has been awarded to a new redemption center to open in Middletown.
“We are pleased to support the redemption facility operators who provide this important container recycling service for all residents of Connecticut,”said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Equitable access to beverage container recycling is important and will become even more important when the container deposit increases in 2024. I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly for authorizing funding for this necessary service to Connecticut communities.”
Connecticut is one of 11 states in the U.S. that are "bottle bill" states. Bottle bill programs, also known as beverage container redemption programs, may have slightly different provisions in each state, but they work by charging a small deposit on a container at the time of purchase which is then returned to the consumer when the empty container is returned. Connecticut law requires that certain beverage containers be sold with a deposit – currently set at 5 cents, but set to increase to 10 cents on January 1, 2024 – that consumers can redeem at various locations such as redemption centers or stores where deposit beverage containers are sold.
In 2021 and 2022, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized DEEP to implement a beverage container recycling grant program. Proceeds received pursuant to this grant program may be used for infrastructure, technology, and costs associated with the establishment of a beverage container redemption center and for initial operational expenses of such redemption center. In December 2022, DEEP entered into an agreement with Hartford-based HEDCO to administer the grant program.
"With the expansion of the bottle deposit to new items and the upcoming increase to a dime, customers need locations to redeem their products," saidEnvironment Committee Co-Chair Rep. Joe Gresko. "Increasing the entrepreneurial opportunity, especially in urban areas, was one of the goals of modernizing the bottle bill."
DEEP is initiating a second round of grant-making effective immediately. Similar to the first round, the second round will provide funding for new beverage container redemption centers that are located in communities that lack reliable and convenient access to beverage container redemption locations. A priority will be given to remaining, qualified round one applicants, first-time redemption center owners and those that are locally-owned, minority-owned and women-owned, and applicants located in environmental justice communities and the following urban centers with a population greater than 25,000 (which are currently not served by a redemption facility): Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, Enfield, Groton, Meriden, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Norwich, Stamford, and Torrington.Grants will be made to priority areas on a rolling basis until October 31, 2023, at which time any remaining grant funds will be awarded to other qualified applicants.
More information:Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program (ct.gov)
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110