2M+ Nips Sold In New Haven In 6 Months, Top In CT, City Gets $103K

NEW HAVEN, CT — Since, the fall of 2021, the state's “nickel-per-nip” environmental stewardship program has generated millions for Connecticut cities and towns.

A nickel surcharge is placed on the sale of each 50 ml “nip” container at the point of sale. The surcharge is passed on to the retailer and then the consumer by alcohol wholesalers. And they in turn hand that money over to towns to mitigate the environmental, and aesthetic, havoc wreaked by the little bottles.

The most recent payout is for the six-month period from April 1 to Sept. 30.

And once again, New Haven is number one.

In this period, 2,064,369 nip bottle were sold in the city, which translates to a payout of $103,218.45.

The law requires that each town use the money for environmental measures intended to reduce litter from improperly discarded nips bottles and the generated solid waste. Suggestions include hiring a recycling coordinator, installing storm drain filters designed to block solid waste and beverage container debris, buying a mechanical street sweeper, vacuum, or broom that removes litter.