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An Act To Allow Flexibility in the Deposit Labeling of Metal Returnable Beverage Containers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §3105, sub-§§1 and 2, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 166, §14, are amended to read:
 
1. Labels.   Except as provided under subsections 2 and 4, the refund value and the word "Maine" or the abbreviation "ME" must be clearly indicated on every refundable beverage container sold or offered for sale by a dealer in this State, by embossing, stamping, labeling or other method of secure attachment to the beverage container. The refund value may not be indicated on the bottom of the container. Metal beverage containers must be embossed or stamped on the top of the container.
 
2. Labels; nonrefillable containers; nonexclusive distributorships.   With respect to nonrefillable beverage containers the deposits for which are initiated pursuant to section 3103, subsection 3, the refund value and the word "Maine" or the abbreviation "ME" must be clearly indicated on every refundable beverage container sold or offered for sale by a dealer in this State, by permanently embossing or permanently stamping the beverage containers, except in instances when the initiator of the deposit has specific permission from the department to use stickers or similar devices. The refund value may not be indicated on the bottom of the container. Metal beverage containers must be permanently embossed or permanently stamped on the tops of the containers.
 
SUMMARY
Current law requires that returnable metal beverage containers be labeled with the refund value and the word "Maine" or "ME" embossed or stamped on the tops of the containers. This bill allows that information to appear anywhere except on the bottom of the container.