Product stewardship is an approach to environmental protection in which manufacturers, retailers, and consumers are encouraged or required to assume responsibility for reducing a product's impact on the environment. An example of this approach is a requirement that a manufacturer take back its product when it reaches the end of its useful life. In the United States, product stewardship primarily consists of voluntary initiatives rather than legal requirements. However, most states, including Connecticut, make vehicle battery retailers and manufacturers responsible for recycling the batteries. Six states have similar requirements for nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) and other rechargeable batteries. While not necessarily product stewardship initiatives, Connecticut and nine other states have “bottle bills.” These laws require (1) consumers to pay a deposit when purchasing certain beverage containers and (2) distributors to accept these containers and refund the deposit. In addition, Massachusetts has developed a program to promote the recycling of cathode ray tubes, which are used in televisions and personal computers. Florida and Wisconsin have similar, although less comprehensive, programs. States in several parts of the country, including New England, are working with industry on a regional basis to promote product stewardship. While there is no federal law mandating product stewardship, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a program to promote this approach. Several other nations have more extensive laws regarding product stewardship. There have also been several initiatives in the private sector, notably in the consumer electronics industry.