Redemption

One of the many differences between Maine and New Hampshire is that Maine is one of the few (10) states in the nation with a Returnable Beverage Container Program, or "Bottle Bill". This State Legislation (which includes glass, metal, and plastic beverage containers) is designed to reduce litter, conserve resources, and save energy.

The way it works is that consumers pay 5 cents extra for each container they purchase. That 5 cents goes to the retailer, who gives it to the manufacturer, who gives it to the redemption center, who gives it back to the consumer when the bottle is returned. It's like the leave a penny take a penny deal. That 5 cents just keeps going round and round, and no one actually makes any money from it.

EXCEPT, for the redemption centers which receive a 4 cent "handling fee" from the manufacturers - which helps cover the cost of sorting the containers, I suppose.

The other side benefit to the bottle bill (besides the whole helping the environment thing) is that every time I go to the grocery store and see people stuffing garbage bags full of used beverage containers into the redemption receptacles, I get to enjoy the funky/sweet smell of old beer and soda fermenting together in the pores of the machine.

Which is nice.