relative to creating the New Hampshire container deposit, refund, recycle, and reuse system.

This bill establishes a new beverage container recycling program in New Hampshire that requires producers and importers to pay a deposit on containers, which consumers can redeem for cash when returning empty bottles and cans. The refund amount is set at ten cents for containers of 24 fluid ounces or less and fifteen cents for larger containers, with the state Department of Environmental Services authorized to adjust these rates based on recycling performance. Large retail stores must provide space and equipment to process these returns, while the collected containers are owned by the responsible organization and can be sold for recycling or reused. The legislation defines specific rules for what counts as a recyclable container and outlines how facilities must handle materials to ensure they are recycled rather than burned or landfilled.