A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to reDUCE ROADSIDE AND OTHER LITTERING AND TO ENCOURAGE RECYCLING BY REQUIRING A DEPOSIT ON BEVERAGE CONTAINERS AND REQUIRING REDEMPTION CENTERS TO ACCEPT RETURNED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS AND REFUND THE DEPOSITS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 2G. Beverage Container Deposits and Refunds.
"§ 130A‑309.130.  Findings; intent.
(a)	The General Assembly finds that:
(1)	Beverage containers constitute a major source of nondegradable litter and solid waste in this State.
(2)	Litter remains a large problem in North Carolina despite other efforts to discourage littering and to establish criminal penalties under G.S. 14‑399 for first‑time and subsequent offenses of littering.
(3)	The collection and disposal of litter imposes a great financial burden on the citizens of North Carolina.
(4)	A more concerted effort to reduce litter is needed in North Carolina.
(5)	Beverage containers should be reused or recycled.
(6)	Other states' experience shows that beverage container deposit legislation is successful in reducing litter and increasing recycling of discarded beverage containers.
(7)	Beverage container deposit legislation is consistent with the State's policy, set forth in G.S. 130A‑309.04, to promote methods of solid waste management that are alternatives to disposal in landfills.
(8)	The program under this Part will contribute significantly to the reduction of the beverage container component of the litter in this State.
(b)	It is the intent of the General Assembly to address the blight that litter imposes on the highways and lands of this State, while creating incentives for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers of beverages in beverage containers to recycle and reuse beverage containers."§ 130A‑309.131.  Definitions.
Unless a different meaning is required by the context, the following definitions apply throughout this Part:
(1)	'Beverage' means any ready‑to‑drink liquid intended for human consumption. Beverage includes any malt beverage; spirituous liquor; fortified wine; unfortified wine; wine cooler; soda or noncarbonated water; and any nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drink in liquid form.
(2)	'Beverage container' means the individual, separate bottle, can, jar, carton, or other receptacle that has been sealed by a manufacturer, contains a beverage, and is made of glass, metal, plastic, or other material, or any combination of these materials. Beverage container does not include cups or other similar open or loosely sealed receptacles.
(3)	'Consumer' means an individual who purchases a beverage in a beverage container for his or her use or consumption. Consumer includes a lodging, eating, or drinking establishment. 
(4)	'Convenience zone' means a zone designated by the Department under G.S. 130A‑309.135.
(5)	'Curbside program' means a recycling program that meets all of the following criteria:
a.	The program picks up recyclables from individual residences.
b.	The program is operated by, or pursuant to a contract with, a city, county, or other public agency.
c.	The program accepts empty beverage containers from consumers with the intent to recycle them.
(6)	'Distributor' means a person who engages in the sale of beverages in beverage containers to a retailer in this State, including any person who imports beverages from outside the State for sale to retailers or consumers in this State.
(7)	'Drop‑off or collection program' means any person, association, nonprofit corporation, church, club, or other organization that meets the requirements of the Department for a drop‑off or collection program and that accepts or collects empty beverage containers from consumers with the intent to recycle them, but is not certified by the Department as a redemption center and does not pay the refund value to consumers. Drop‑off or collection program does not include a nonprofit drop‑off program or a curbside program.
(8)	'Empty beverage container' means a beverage container that meets all of the following requirements:
a.	Has the seal or closure installed by the manufacturer broken or removed.
b.	Does not contain foreign materials other than the residue of the beverage originally packaged in the beverage container by the manufacturer.
c.	Bears the message required under G.S. 130A‑309.133 or is a refillable beverage container.
d.	Has a refund value established under G.S. 130A‑309.133.
(9)	'Nonprofit drop‑off program' means a recycling program that meets all of the following criteria:
a.	The program is organized under section 501(c) or section 501(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 501(c), § 501(d)), or operated by, or caused to be operated by, a city, county, or other public agency.
b.	The program is certified by the Department as a redemption center under G.S. 130A‑309.136.
c.	The program accepts empty beverage containers from consumers with the intent to recycle them.
(10)	'Operator of a vending machine' means its owner, the person who refills it, or the owner or lessor of the property upon which it is located.
(11)	'Redemption center' means an operation that is certified by the Department and that accepts empty beverage containers from consumers and pays, or provides the refund value, for empty beverage containers.
(12)	'Redemption location' means a place, mobile unit, reverse vending machine, or other device where a certified redemption center accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers from consumers, and pays, or provides the refund value, for one or more types of empty beverage containers. 
(13)	'Retailer' means a person who sells or offers for sale in this State to consumers a beverage in a beverage container, including an operator of a vending machine containing a beverage in a beverage container.
(14)	'Reverse vending machine' means a mechanical device that accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers and issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container's refund value.
(15)	'Supermarket' means a full‑line, self‑service retail store with gross annual sales of two million dollars ($2,000,000) or more that sells a line of dry goods, canned goods, or nonfood items and some perishable items.(16)	'Use or consumption' means the exercise of any right or power over a beverage incident to the ownership thereof, other than the sale, storage, or retention for the purposes of sale of a beverage.
"§ 130A‑309.132. Department to administer program; adoption of rules; scope of Part.
(a)	The Department shall administer this Part.
(b)	The Department and the Commission for Health Services may adopt any rules necessary or useful to implement this Part, and the Department may adopt any rules necessary or useful to carry out any of its duties imposed under this Part. The Department shall determine, by rule, whether any refund value applies to, or shall be paid for, a refillable beverage container under this Part. The Department may establish, by rule, criteria prescribing an obligation for the pickup or transfer of empty, unbroken, and reasonably clean beverage containers from redemption centers. The obligation may be fulfilled through a contracted agent. Any rules adopted under this subsection shall allocate the burdens associated with the handling, storage, and transportation of empty containers to prevent unreasonable financial or other hardship. These rules may require a redemption center to transport all returned containers to a material recovery facility or a recycling firm for sale at market or scrap value.
"§ 130A‑309.133.  Deposit and refund value; requirements concerning beverage containers.
(a)	Every consumer who purchases a beverage in a beverage container shall pay a deposit equal to the refund value under subsection (b) of this section.
(b)	Subject to subsection (e) of this section, every beverage container sold or offered for sale to a consumer in this State that contains no more than four liters and no less than 50 milliliters of a beverage shall have a refund value of ten cents (10¢).
(c)	Every beverage container that contains a beverage that is sold or offered for sale in this State shall clearly indicate by embossing or imprinting on the normal product label, or in the case of metal beverage containers, on the top of the container the words 'North Carolina' or the initials 'N.C.' and the refund value of the container in not less than one‑quarter inch type size. This subsection does not apply to any permanently labeled glass beverage container having a refund value of not less than ten cents (10¢) prior to the effective date of this Part and having a brand name permanently marked thereon, unless the glass beverage container contains spirituous liquors, fortified or unfortified wines, or malt beverages.
(d)	Every beverage container that contains a beverage that is sold or offered for sale in this State shall be made of materials that are recyclable or made of recycled materials.(e)	Every five years, the Department shall determine the percentages of each category of beverage containers, based on the composition of the container: aluminum, nonaluminum metal, glass, plastic, or other materials or combination of materials, that are being returned. If the Department finds that the return rate for any category is less than seventy‑five percent (75%), the Department may increase the refund rate for that category of beverage containers by five cents (5¢).
"§ 130A‑309.134.  Duties of retailers.
(a)	Every retailer shall pay to the distributor deposits equal to the value of the refunds under G.S. 130A‑309.133 when the retailer purchases beverages from a distributor and shall receive deposits from consumers at the time of sale.
(b)	Every retailer shall identify, by a clear and conspicuous sign at the retailer's place of business, the address of at least the redemption center or redemption location nearest to the retailer that redeems all types of empty beverage containers at one location during at least 30 hours per week with a minimum of five hours of operation occurring during periods other than from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
"§ 130A‑309.135.  Redemption centers duties; additional duties of Department.
(a)	There shall be at least one certified redemption center or redemption location within every convenience zone. The redemption center and redemption location shall accept from any consumer and shall pay to the consumer the refund value in cash at one location for all types of empty beverage containers during at least 30 hours per week with a minimum of five hours of operation occurring during periods other than from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The redemption center may pay the refund value based on the weight of the empty beverage containers.
(b)	The redemption center and redemption location shall accept from any drop‑off or collection program and shall pay to the drop‑off or collection program the refund value for all types of empty beverage containers. The redemption center may pay the refund value based on the weight of the empty beverage containers. No drop‑off or collection program shall pay any refund to the consumer.
(c)	The Department shall, on a statewide basis, designate all convenience zones, including convenience zones in underserved areas, and shall prepare a map showing these convenience zones. The Department shall update convenience zone designations and maps as necessary. The Department shall develop and maintain a list of supermarkets and shall identify supermarket locations only for the purpose of providing a reference point in the establishment of convenience zones. The Department shall not designate more than one convenience zone per 10,000 residents in nonrural underserved areas or more than one convenience zone per 7,000 residents in rural underserved areas. The redemption location in underserved areas shall be located within one mile of a retailer. The Department shall not designate a convenience zone in an underserved area that would require establishing a redemption center or a redemption location in an area adjacent to, or conveniently accessible to, an established convenience zone.
(d)	The Department shall attempt to enter into agreements with established recycling centers to provide redemption centers or redemption locations that satisfy the requirements under subsection (a) of this section in each convenience zone.
(e)	If the Department determines that subsection (a) of this section cannot be fulfilled in a particular convenience zone due to factors beyond the control of the Department, the Department may establish by rule an alternative minimum convenience requirement for that convenience zone that shall not conflict with the purposes of this Part.
(f)	The Secretary may grant an exemption to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if all of the following conditions exist:
(1)	The Secretary may grant an exemption only for individual convenience zones. The Secretary shall not grant a blanket exemption to areas larger than a single convenience zone.
(2)	An exemption may be granted only to further the purposes of this Part.
(3)	An exemption may be granted only after the Department holds a public hearing.
(4)	An exemption may only be granted to prevent the creation of excessive redemption locations resulting in severe adverse local market conditions for recycled materials or if, after a public hearing, a city, county, or city and county request an exemption for an existing nonprofit recycling center for its location.
(5)	The total number of exemptions shall not be more than ten percent (10%) of all redemption locations that would otherwise be created under this Part, as calculated by the Department.
(6)	The Secretary shall not grant an exemption that would significantly decrease the ability of consumers to conveniently return empty beverage containers and receive payments for the refund value.
(7)	In areas where curbside programs collect and recycle beverage containers, the Secretary shall not grant an exemption for the benefit of the curbside program unless the local agency administering the program requests the Department to grant an exemption and the program collects and recycles all types of beverage containers from households at least weekly.
"§ 130A‑309.136.  Redemption centers; certification process.
(a)	The Department shall certify redemption centers pursuant to this section. The Department shall certify any nonprofit drop‑off program that meets the requirements established by the Department and the purposes of this Part. The Department shall not certify any drop‑off or collection program as a redemption program. The Secretary shall adopt by rule a procedure for the self‑certification of redemption centers, including standards for certification. These rules shall require that all information be submitted to the Department under penalty of perjury. These rules shall require that at least all of the following conditions be satisfied for certification:
(1)	The operator of the redemption center demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that the operator will operate in accordance with this Part and any rules adopted under this Part.
(2)	The operator of the redemption center shall not knowingly pay a refund for any food or packaging material or any beverage container or other product that does not have a refund value under G.S. 130A‑309.133.
(3)	The operator of the redemption center shall take those actions that satisfy the Department to prevent the payment of a refund for any food or packaging material or any beverage container or other product that does not have a refund value under G.S. 130A‑309.133.
(4)	The operator of the redemption center shall accept all empty beverage containers, regardless of type, from consumers and from drop‑off or collection programs and shall pay the refund value for all empty beverage containers, regardless of type.
(5)	The operator of the redemption center shall notify the Department promptly of any change in the nature of its operations that conflicts with information submitted in the operator's application for certification.
(6)	The operator of the redemption center shall be subject to an audit of empty beverage container redemptions by the Department, in a manner determined by the Department, to ensure that the operator is complying with this Part and any rules adopted under this Part.
(b)	The Department may review and verify all applications for certification of redemption centers and may conduct an investigation of any applicant in any manner that the Department deems necessary to promote the purposes of this Part.
(c)	After notice and hearing, the Department may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a certificate granted under this section or may impose a civil penalty on the operator holding the certificate for any one or more of the following reasons:
(1)	The operator is convicted of any crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of an operator of a redemption center.
(2)	The operator engaged in fraud or deceit to obtain a certificate for a redemption center.
(3)	The operator engaged in dishonesty and substantial incompetence or fraud performing the functions and duties of an operator of a redemption center.
(4)	The operator willfully violated G.S. 130A‑309.135(a), 130A‑309.135(b), or 130A‑309.143(c).
(d)	In making a determination under subsection (c) of this section, the Department may do any of the following:
(1)	Immediately revoke the certificate.
(2)	Immediately suspend the certificate for a specified period of time.
(3)	Permit the operator to continue operation as a certified redemption center until a specified date, at which time the revocation or suspension shall become effective.
(4)	Permit the operator to continue operation as a certified redemption center on condition of complying with any conditions that the Department determines would further the purposes of this Part.
(5)	Impose a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) per violation. Each day that a violation occurs shall be considered a separate violation.
"§ 130A‑309.137. Reimbursement to redemption centers and other programs.
(a)	The Department shall reimburse the redemption center the refund value for every empty beverage container received by the redemption center from consumers and from drop‑off or collection programs, plus two percent (2%) of the refund value for administrative costs.
(b)	The Department shall reimburse the nonprofit drop‑off program the refund value for every empty beverage container received by the drop‑off program from consumers. A nonprofit drop‑off program may pay refunds to the consumers, and, if it does, the Department shall also pay to the nonprofit drop‑off two percent (2%) of the refund value for administrative costs.
(c)	The Department shall reimburse the curbside program the refund value for every empty beverage container received by the curbside program from consumers. No curbside program shall pay any refund to the consumer, and no curbside program is eligible to receive any sum for administrative costs.
"§ 130A‑309.138.  Duties of distributors.
Within 10 days of the end of each month and in a form and manner to be determined by the Department, a distributor shall pay to the Department the refund value of every beverage container sold or transferred to a retailer, less one percent (1%) for the distributor's administrative costs.
"§ 130A‑309.139.  Retailer acting as distributor.
Whenever any retailer or group of retailers receives a shipment or consignment of, or in any other manner acquires, beverage containers outside the State for sale to consumers in the State, such retailer shall comply with this Part as if the retailer were a distributor, as well as a retailer.
"§ 130A‑309.140.  Redemption arrangements for vending machines.
Any operator of a vending machine may elect to arrange with a certified redemption center, within five miles of the location of the vending machine, to redeem beverage containers from the vending machine. The vending machine operator shall post on each vending machine the name and address of the redeeming redemption center.
"§ 130A‑309.141.  Beverage Container Litter Reduction Account.
(a)	The Beverage Container Litter Reduction Account is created in the Department, to be administered by the Department. The Beverage Container Litter Reduction Account is a nonreverting fund that consists of refund values remitted by distributors to the Department under G.S. 130A‑309.138 and credited to the Account. Interest earned shall accrue to the Account.
(b)	The Beverage Container Litter Reduction Account shall be used to fund the following:
(1)	The costs to the Department for administering this Part.
(2)	Payments by the Department to certified redemption centers, nonprofit drop‑off programs, and curbside programs as reimbursement for refund values and for any administrative costs required under G.S. 130A‑309.137.
(3)	A reserve for contingencies in the following amount:
a.	A reasonable and prudent amount determined by the Department, not to exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000).
b.	During any calendar year, the reserve shall not be greater than an amount equal to one‑fourth of the total amount paid as reimbursements under subdivision (2) of this subsection during the preceding calendar year, plus any interest on that amount.
(c)	The Unredeemed Beverage Container Deposits Account is created in the Department, to be administered by the Department. After all expenditures under subsection (b) of this section have been made, the balance remaining in the Beverage Container Litter Reduction Account shall be credited to the Unredeemed Beverage Container Deposits Account. The Unredeemed Beverage Container Deposits Account may be used for all of the following purposes:
(1)	For urban, rural, and recreational litter abatement and recycling activities or grants.
(2)	For recycling information, education, and promotion.
(3)	For incentive payments to encourage the establishment of certified redemption centers in convenience zones in underserved or rural areas.
(4)	For public education programs directed at reducing litter.
"§ 130A‑309.142.  Additional penalties.
(a)	A person may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation if the person does any of the following:
(1)	Sells or offers for sale beverages in containers not labeled in accordance with G.S. 130A‑309.133.
(2)	Operates a redemption center without obtaining a certificate under G.S. 130A‑309.136. 
(3)	Makes a report pursuant to G.S. 130A‑309.143 that is false.
(b)	The Department may examine the accounts and records of distributors and may assess a penalty of ten percent (10%) per year, plus interest, for underpayments of the refund value for beverage containers to be credited to the Beverage Container Litter Reduction Account. The Department may also impose a civil penalty of fifteen percent (15%) of the amount due for payments up to a month late and a five percent (5%) additional penalty for each month the payments continue to be unremitted.
"§ 130A‑309.143. Reports.
(a)	Every distributor who sells or offers for sale in this State beverages in beverage containers shall report to the Department no later than April 15, 2010, and quarterly thereafter, the number of beverages in beverage containers sold, by material type and size and weight, and by any other manner prescribed by the Department.
(b)	No later than July 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, the Department shall determine and shall include in its report all of the following: 
(1)	A summary of the information contained in the distributors' reports under subsection (a) of this section.
(2)	The status of beverage container recycling opportunities throughout the State, together with any recommendations on methods to enhance the opportunities for all consumers in every region of the State to return empty beverage containers conveniently, efficiently, and economically.
(3)	An analysis of the total amount of funds used for program administration and for reimbursement payments to redemption centers, nonprofit drop‑off programs, and curbside programs and an analysis of how funds in the Unredeemed Beverage Containers Deposit Account are distributed and used under G.S. 130A‑309.141(c).
(4)	The economic impact of this Part on North Carolina retailers, distributors, and manufacturers of beverages and their containers.
(5)	The problems, if any, incurred in the distribution, sale, and return of beverage containers attributed to the enactment of this Part.
(6)	The effectiveness of this Part in reducing the proportion of empty beverage containers in litter found along the State's roads and highways and along its streams and rivers.
(7)	The effectiveness of this Part in increasing recycling or reuse of beverage containers.
(8)	The costs incurred in the administration of this Part.
(9)	Any recommendations or administrative or legislative proposals considered appropriate to improving the effectiveness of this Part in achieving its purposes.
(10)	Any other information the Department determines is pertinent to achieving the purposes of this Part.
(c)	The Department may require any retailer, distributor, or certified redemption center to provide that information concerning its compliance with this Part that will enable the Department to prepare its report under this section."
SECTION 2.  In order to be assured that sufficient funds have accrued in the Beverage Container Litter Reduction Account created in G.S. 130A‑309.141, as enacted in Section 1 of this act, for the payment of refunds for beverage containers under Part 2E of Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes, as enacted in Section 1 of this act, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall establish the date, no later than July 1, 2010, for redemptions of beverage containers to commence.
SECTION 3. G.S. 130A‑309.135(a), 130A‑309.135(b), 130A‑309.137, and 130A‑309.141(b), as enacted in Section 1 of this act, become effective April 1, 2010. The remainder of this act becomes effective January 1, 2010, and applies to beverage containers sold or offered for sale on or after that date.