Maine passes emergency bill to help redemption centers

Maine lawmakers passed an emergency bill to provide immediate financial relief to struggling redemption centers in the state, and Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed it into law May 5.

According to a news release from the Natural Resources Council of Maine, LD 134 increases the handling fee paid to local redemption centers. The Natural Resources Council of Maine reports the fee, which is paid to the centers by beverage companies, was last increased in 2019.

“The reason we need a handling fee increase is in order to support redemption centers statewide,” says Peter Welch, who owns a redemption center in Portland, Maine. “Many have closed over the last year or two by virtue of the fact that costs are spiraling.”

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A report from the Portland Press Herald states nearly 50 redemption centers have closed in Maine since 2020.

The emergency measure increases the handling fee from 4.5 cents to 5.5 cents per container redeemed starting May 1, then increasing to 6 cents per container Sept. 1.

“Local redemption centers across the state have been losing money, forced to close or work on the margins due to inflation and labor shortages, leaving many Mainers without places to redeem their bottles and cans,” says Sarah Nichols, director of the Sustainable Maine program at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “These hardworking local businesses can barely afford to operate and pay their employees because the handling fee has remained stagnant while big beverage companies continue to reap profits.”