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HR 4343 102th Congress House

National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act of 1992

Official title: To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require a refund value for certain beverage containers, and to provide resources for State pollution prevention and recycling programs, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 27, 1992 Introduced by: Markey, Edward J. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Administrative procedureBeverage containersFines (Penalties)Labeling
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
LandfillsLocal taxationPollution controlRecycling of waste productsRefuse and refuse disposalSales taxState taxationTaxation
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 13, 1992
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials.
Feb 27, 1992
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 27, 1992
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 13, 1992

Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act of 1992 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit the sale of beer, mineral water, soda water, wine coolers, or carbonated soft drinks in beverage containers by retailers and distributors unless such containers carry a refund value of ten cents. Requires distributors to collect from retailers the refund value for each beverage sold to such retailers. Directs retailers to collect from consumers the refund value for each beverage sold to such consumers. Requires retailers and distributors to pay the refund on returned containers of brands (in the same kind and size of container) sold by such retailers or distributors.

Directs distributors to pay annually to a State unclaimed refund amounts (the amount by which the total refund value of all containers sold by such distributors exceeds the amount paid by distributors to persons in that State). Makes unclaimed refunds available to a State for carrying out pollution prevention and recycling programs.

Prohibits distributors and retailers from: (1) selling beverages in metal beverage containers with detachable openings; and (2) disposing of containers subject to this Act or any metal, glass, or plastic from such containers (other than the top or seal) in landfills or solid waste disposal facilities.

Makes this Act inapplicable to States that have adopted requirements identical to those under this Act or that have demonstrated achievement of a recycling or reuse rate for beverage containers of at least 70 percent. Makes States that fail to maintain such rate for a consecutive 12-month period subject to this Act's requirements.

Prohibits States or political subdivisions that impose taxes on the sale of beverage containers from imposing any tax on the amount attributable to the refund value of such containers.

Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to provide for the adjustment for inflation of the ten-cent refund amount at ten-year intervals.

Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4343: National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act of 1992. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4343/
MLA
"H.R. 4343: National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act of 1992." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4343/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4343, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4343/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4343: National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act of 1992](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4343/)
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