Redeemable beverage containers.

Requires that all beverage containers, as defined in the bill, sold in Virginia have a redemption value of five cents. Dealers and redemption centers are required to pay redeemers who return such containers to them the five-cent redemption value. Distributors are required to accept these redeemed containers from dealers and redemption centers and pay them the five-cent redemption value plus a handling fee of two cents per container. By March 1, 2019, and by March 1 of each year thereafter, distributors are required to (i) file annual reports with the Department of Taxation indicating the total value of redemption fees collected and the total amount of redemptions paid out during the previous calendar year and (ii) forward to the Department of Taxation that amount of money by which redemption fees collected exceeded redemptions paid out. After deducting the expenses incurred in administering the reporting and collecting procedures of this program, the Department of Taxation is required to pay the remaining revenues collected into the state treasury to the credit of the newly established Unredeemed Container Fund. The bill requires the revenues remaining in the Unredeemed Container Fund minus expenses incurred by the Department of Taxation in monitoring the redemption fee reports of distributors to be released annually and deposited in the existing Litter Control and Recycling Fund. Violations of the bill's provisions are punishable by civil penalties of not less than $100 or more than $1,000. All civil penalties collected are to be placed in the Litter Control and Recycling Fund. The bill also allows the recycled beverage containers to be included in the localities' calculation of their state-mandated recycling rate. The provisions of the bill become effective January 1, 2018.