NC H671

Establishes a beverage container deposit and refund system requiring consumers to pay a deposit (5¢ for most beverages, 10¢ for malt beverages and spirits over 50ml) when purchasing beverages in containers that can be returned for refunds.

Requires beverage containers to be labeled with "North Carolina" or "N.C." and the refund value, and mandates containers be made of recyclable or recycled materials.

Imposes duties on retailers to accept and refund empty beverage containers from consumers, and on distributors to accept containers from retailers and redemption centers, plus pay a 5¢ handling fee per container.

Creates the Unredeemed Beverage Container Deposits Fund to be administered by the Department, funded by abandoned deposits from distributors, with remaining funds credited to the Inactive Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

Allows private redemption centers to be approved by the Secretary to accept returns from consumers on behalf of retailers, and imposes civil penalties up to $1,000 for violations including selling unlabeled containers or refusing to accept returns.