In this episode of The Reloop Brief, Shraddha Kumar speaks with Susan Collins, President of the Container Recycling Institute, about bottle bill modernization in the United States.

The conversation begins with the state of Connecticut, where the beverage container redemption rate rose from 44% in 2023 to 92% in 2025 following a series of program changes, including expanded beverage coverage, a higher deposit value, and more redemption access.

Susan explains why these updates matter, what they reveal about the importance of convenience and system design, and how policymakers should understand concerns around under-reporting, cross-border returns, and free-riding without losing sight of the broader gains.

The episode also looks at modernization efforts in other U.S. bottle bill states, including Maine, Vermont, and Califo ...