Redemption Deserts · Connecticut
Connecticut redemption deserts and unclaimed deposits
Can people in Connecticut get their deposit back? It depends on where they live. Here is how far people live from a place to return bottles and cans.
How sure are we? Medium. We list grocery stores because the law says they must take returns. Some may not, so real access may be worse than shown.
Key findings for Connecticut
- About 0 of 3,605,944 people live in a redemption desert.
- 0 people live more than 10 miles from the closest return spot.
- The typical trip is 0.9 miles in a straight line. 54.2% of people live within 1 mile.
- $46.7 million in deposits went unclaimed in 2024 (four quarters ending Dec 31).
Unclaimed money and return rate
- Unclaimed deposits: $46.7 million (2024 (four quarters ending Dec 31)). Source: CT DEEP, Bottle Bill Advisory Group meeting slides (Apr 2026), estimated escheats. DEEP calls this an estimate. It is built from Dept. of Revenue Services data. The deposit went to 10 cents on Jan 1, 2024.
- Return rate: 64.5% (2024), the redemption rate. Source: CT DEEP, same slides (rolling four-quarter rate, calendar year 2024).
- Deposit: 10¢.
Map of Connecticut counties
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Worst counties
No county in Connecticut has people in a redemption desert by our measure.
Best-served places
| County | People | In a desert | Share | Typical trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County | 957,419 | 0 | 0% | 0.8 mi |
| Hartford County | 899,498 | 0 | 0% | 0.8 mi |
| New Haven County | 864,835 | 0 | 0% | 0.9 mi |
| Middlesex County | 164,245 | 0 | 0% | 1.1 mi |
| New London County | 268,555 | 0 | 0% | 1.5 mi |
| Litchfield County | 185,186 | 0 | 0% | 1.6 mi |
| Windham County | 116,418 | 0 | 0% | 1.9 mi |
| Tolland County | 149,788 | 0 | 0% | 2 mi |
| Town or place | People | In a desert | Share | Typical trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport town | 148,654 | 0 | 0% | 0.4 mi |
| New Britain town | 74,135 | 0 | 0% | 0.5 mi |
| Wethersfield town | 27,298 | 0 | 0% | 0.5 mi |
| New Haven town | 132,113 | 0 | 0% | 0.5 mi |
| East Haven town | 27,923 | 0 | 0% | 0.6 mi |
| Windham town | 24,425 | 0 | 0% | 0.6 mi |
| Greenwich town | 63,518 | 0 | 0% | 0.6 mi |
| Manchester town | 59,713 | 0 | 0% | 0.6 mi |
Where to return bottles in rural Connecticut counties
These are the most rural counties. We list the closest return spots to where most people live. Distances are straight-line. Call ahead.
| County | Typical trip | Closest return spots |
|---|---|---|
| Tolland County | 2 mi | Big Y (Tolland, 1.4 mi) · Coventry Public Market (Coventry, 3.1 mi) · Vernon Bottle Return (Vernon, 4.8 mi) |
| Windham County | 1.9 mi | Brooklyn Market (Brooklyn, 2.4 mi) · Walmart Supercenter (Brooklyn, 4.1 mi) · Sweet Peas Farm Market (Brooklyn, 4.6 mi) |
| Litchfield County | 1.6 mi | Stop & Shop (Litchfield, 1.3 mi) · Bantam Market (Litchfield, 2.4 mi) · Stop & Shop (Torrington, 6 mi) |
| New London County | 1.5 mi | Best in Fresh Foods (Montville, 0.4 mi) · Stop & Shop (Uncasville, 2.5 mi) · 金桥什货 (Montville, 3.1 mi) |
| Middlesex County | 1.1 mi | Higganum Village Market (Higganum, 1.4 mi) · Haddam Bottle & Can Return (Haddam, 2.9 mi) · Indian Grocery Store (Middletown, 4.6 mi) |
See all 512 Connecticut return spots · Download county data (CSV)
How we did this
We used 2020 Census data on where people live. We found the closest return spot on our Connecticut list in a straight line. A desert is more than 10 miles away, or more than 3 miles in a crowded area. Read the full method.