Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

DEEP headquarters at 79 Elm Street in Hartford has partially re-opened to staff and members of the public as of Tuesday, February 3. The DEEP records room has re-opened. The DEEP Central Permit Processing Unit (CPPU) will be open to the public starting on Wednesday, Feb. 4. For updates, click here

Plastic Beverage Container Recycled Content Law

Connecticut General Statutes Section 22a-246d established post-consumer recycled content requirements for certain plastic beverage containers sold, offered for sale or distributed in Connecticut. The law requires producers to register and report (on two separate forms) to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) by April 1, 2026. 

Please note the definitions for "plastic beverage containers," "carbonated beverage," and "noncarbonated beverage" under this law refer to definitions in Section 22a-243 of the Connecticut General Statutes. This means the law applies to plastic beverage containers, as defined in the state's bottle bill, that are made of plastic. 

Registration 

On or before April 1, 2026, each producer that offered for sale, sold, or distributed plastic beverage containers in or into the state in the previous calendar year must register with the commissioner individually, or through a third-party representative that registers with the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection on behalf of a group of producers, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner. 

Note: each producer must pay a $500 fee, unless the producer sold, offered for sale or distributed less than ten thousand plastic beverage containers or, in the aggregate, less than two hundred pounds of plastic that is not post-consumer recycled plastic. 

Link to the Beverage Container Recycled Content Registration Form. 

Completed registration forms must be submitted to both DEEP.CentralPermits@ct.gov and DEEP.MMCAPlanning@ct.gov. Information on payment options can be found on the form. 

Reporting 

On or before April 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, each producer must submit a report to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on a form prescribed by the commissioner. 

Link to the Beverage Container Recycled Content Reporting Form. 

Completed reporting forms must be submitted to DEEP.MMCAPlanning@ct.gov. 

Recycled Content Requirements

By January 1, 2027, plastic beverage containers sold, offered for sale or distributed in this state by each producer shall contain, on average and in the aggregate, not less than twenty-five percent post-consumer recycled content. 

By January 1, 2032, plastic beverage containers sold, offered for sale or distributed in this state must contain, on average and in the aggregate, not less than thirty percent post-consumer recycled content. 

Waiver

Not more than once per year, a producer may seek a waiver from the requirements of this section by filing a written request on a form prescribed by the commissioner. In seeking any such waiver, the producer shall set forth the specific basis upon which the waiver is claimed, indicate any applicable timeframe for such waiver request, submit such proof as the commissioner determines to be necessary and provide any other information specified by the commissioner. 

Waivers for the 2027 recycled content requirement must be submitted between September 1, 2026, and October 1, 2026, and any approved waiver will take effect the first day of January of the following year. 

Questions may be submitted to DEEP.MMCAPlanning@ct.gov.

Content last updated February 23, 2026.