Bottle Bill Massachusetts
The Bottle Bill in Massachusetts, officially known as the “Beverage Container Recovery Law,” was enacted in 1983, when most beverages on store shelves were sodas or carbonated drinks, and there was no such thing as bottled water or sports drinks.
Under the law, a 5-cent deposit is added to the price of carbonated beverage containers, including beer and soda, that are sold in Massachusetts. When consumers return these containers to a redemption center or participating retailer, they can receive the deposit back. Retailers are required to accept and redeem containers up to 50 at a time and can charge a handling fee of up to 3.5 cents per container. Redemption centers are also required to accept containers and pay back deposits, but they may set their own handling fees.
This deposit worth a mere nickel has remained the same for the past 40 years and is not in line with the economic growth and inflation in our society. To find greater success with the public, increasing the deposit from 5¢ to 10¢ and by including more types of beverage containers, we can reduce waste, clean up litter, and improve recycling in Massachusetts.
Despite projecting a liberal image, Massachusetts is currently behind other states in terms of its bottle bill. The state’s bottle deposit law, which was first introduced in 1983, only applies to carbonated beverages and water bottles. This means that containers for other types of beverages, such as juice, sports drinks, and iced tea, are not included in the program. Many other states, including Oregon, California, and Connecticut, have expanded their bottle deposit laws to include a wider range of containers. In addition, Massachusetts has not increased the deposit amount since the law was first introduced, which means that the incentive for consumers to recycle is relatively low compared to other states. Efforts to update and expand the bottle bill have faced significant opposition from beverage companies and other business groups, which has slowed progress on this issue.
Click here to learn more about Massachusetts’ Bottle Bill.
Legislation in the Works in MA
Recently, legislation has been proposed banning the sale of miniature alcohol bottles, colloquially known as nips or shooters, in Boston and across many municipalities in Massachusetts. These small single use plastic bottles currently have no deposit on them and can be found littered across city streets and on our beaches. Read more about it here.
Additionally, movement for a Better Bottle Bill has been on the rise, but failed to be enacted at the last state senate meeting. The Better Bottle Bill has been introduced in the Massachusetts legislature several times over the past decade, but has yet to be passed into law. Supporters of the bill argue that it would bring Massachusetts in line with other states that have updated their deposit laws, such as Connecticut and New York, and that it would help to reduce waste and protect the environment. Learn more about the proposed bill here.
Additional Sources/References:
Deposit and Can Recycling – MA
Newest Better Bottle Bill Proposal – 193rd Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts