Home 
Public Works, Energy & Utilities MMA supports bottle bill expansion
On Oct. 7, the MMA testified in favor of legislation that would expand the bottle bill to include containers for non-carbonated beverages such as water, iced tea, juices and sports drinks.
The bill would generate an estimated $20 million in additional state revenue from unclaimed deposits while reducing the amount of solid waste that must be collected by cities and towns.
More than 100 communities have signed a resolution calling for the expansion of the bottle deposit law, which was enacted in 1983 but only covers carbonated beverages. While virtually non-existent when the law was enacted, non-carbonated beverages now account for about a third of the total beverage market in Massachusetts.
The proposed bottle bill expansion, H. 3515, would also raise the fee that distributors pay to redemption centers and retailers as compensation for handling the returned containers.
The hearing was held by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
• MMA letter urging legislative support for expansion of bottle bill
Public Works, Energy & Utilities MMA supports bottle bill expansion
MMA supports bottle bill expansion
On Oct. 7, the MMA testified in favor of legislation that would expand the bottle bill to include containers for non-carbonated beverages such as water, iced tea, juices and sports drinks.
The bill would generate an estimated $20 million in additional state revenue from unclaimed deposits while reducing the amount of solid waste that must be collected by cities and towns.
More than 100 communities have signed a resolution calling for the expansion of the bottle deposit law, which was enacted in 1983 but only covers carbonated beverages. While virtually non-existent when the law was enacted, non-carbonated beverages now account for about a third of the total beverage market in Massachusetts.
The proposed bottle bill expansion, H. 3515, would also raise the fee that distributors pay to redemption centers and retailers as compensation for handling the returned containers.
The hearing was held by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
• MMA letter urging legislative support for expansion of bottle bill
Written by MMA Senior Legislative Analyst Tom Philbin
