The South Carolina Beverage Container Recycling Act establishes a comprehensive program for recycling beverage containers within the state. It requires beverage distributors to register with the Department of Revenue and pay deposits on containers collected from consumers, with certain exceptions. A Deposit Beverage Container Fund will be created to reimburse refund values for redeemed containers and oversee the program's implementation. The act mandates the operation of certified redemption centers for collecting and processing containers, and it includes penalties for non-compliance, along with the right to challenge these penalties through administrative hearings. Key provisions include a five-cent deposit on each beverage container sold, which must be clearly indicated on sales receipts, and the requirement that all deposit beverage containers have a fixed refund value of five cents.

Additionally, the bill outlines regulations for certified redemption centers, which must accept all eligible containers, comply with applicable laws, and securely process redeemed containers. It mandates detailed transaction logs and annual activity summaries to be submitted to the bureau, along with penalties for violations, including civil penalties and potential certification withdrawal. New provisions for mobile redemption centers are introduced, allowing curbside collection services, while clarifications are made regarding the refusal of refunds for damaged or improperly marked containers. Overall, the legislation aims to improve the efficiency and accountability of the beverage container recycling program in South Carolina, with a full rollout scheduled for April 1, 2027.