Bottle deposit states — where to return cans and bottles for cash
Ten states put a refundable deposit on bottles and cans: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont. In those states every eligible container is worth 5 to 15 cents back at a store or redemption center. Everywhere else, empty cans are ordinary recycling, though aluminum still has scrap value.
Short answer
- Deposit state? Return empties to a store that sells that drink or to a redemption center for the deposit back.
- 10¢ states: Connecticut, Michigan and Oregon, plus California's large containers.
- Keep containers whole and clean. Return machines and counters are picky.
- No deposit where you live? Put cans in curbside recycling or take them to a free drop-off.
Bottle deposit by state (2026)
Amounts and coverage from each state's own program page:
| State | Deposit | What's covered |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5¢ under 24 oz; 10¢ for 24 oz and up; 25¢ for wine and spirits in boxes, pouches and cartons | Most beverages except milk, infant formula and medical food |
| Connecticut | 10¢ (typically) | Beverages covered by the state bottle bill |
| Hawaii | 5¢ | Eligible containers, refunded at certified redemption centers |
| Iowa | 5¢ | Carbonated and alcoholic beverages |
| Maine | 5¢; 15¢ for wine and spirits | Beer, hard cider, wine coolers, soda, water and other drinks |
| Massachusetts | 5¢ | Carbonated soft drinks, beer, malt beverages and sparkling water |
| Michigan | 10¢ | Eligible drink containers; stores refund up to $25 a person a day |
| New York | 5¢ (at least) | Soda, beer, mineral and soda water, wine coolers and unsweetened water, under 1 gallon |
| Oregon | 10¢ | Redeemable beverage containers, at stores and redemption centers |
| Vermont | 5¢; 15¢ for liquor | Bottles, cans and jars of glass, metal or #1 and #2 plastic |
How returning works
- Stores and redemption centers both pay refunds in most deposit states. In Massachusetts, retailers have to pay the full deposit, while redemption centers may deduct a processing fee.
- Daily limits exist. Michigan stores must refund up to $25 a person a day, and it's a violation to set a lower limit or refuse returns for lack of space. In California, you can ask to be paid per container for up to 50 of each material per visit, or be paid by weight, with daily caps of 100 pounds each of aluminum and plastic and 1,000 pounds of glass.
- Containers have to be whole and clean. California asks for whole containers free of dirt and liquid, and only eligible containers in a load paid by weight, so don't crush cans you plan to return.
- Rules are changing in Vermont. Under Act 158 of 2026, the deposit now covers bottles, cans and jars of glass, metal or #1 and #2 plastic; pouches and cartons are being phased out of the program through 2027.
No deposit in your state?
In the other forty states, bottles and cans are ordinary recycling. Put them in your curbside bin, or use a free drop-off: San Juan County, New Mexico recycles bagged aluminum cans free at all 12 county stations, and Edmond, Oklahoma runs a free aluminum and plastic drop-off for its trash customers. Aluminum cans also have scrap value at recycling centers that buy metal by weight; prices change daily, so call first. In Texas, aluminum cans and beverage containers aren't regulated metal, so a scrap yard doesn't have to log your ID to buy them. Our scrap metal guide covers the rest.
Find a recycling drop-off near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest recycling sites. For deposit refunds, start with your state's program page linked in the table above.