2014 Massachusetts Midterm Elections Information
Ballot Question #2​
What is the Bottle Bill?
The beverage container deposit law, or the bottle bill, is a required law where consumers pay a refundable nickel deposit on a beer or soda. In simpler terms, the consumer buys a soda or beer with a five cent deposit, and when the bottle is returned, the consumer recieves that five cents back.
Question 2 would be expanding the beverage container deposit law. The expantion would require deposits on containers for all non-alcoholic non-carbonated drinks in liquid form. Exceptions to the law are beverages primarily derived from dairy products, infant formula, and FDA approved medicines.
Every five years the Secretary of EEA would review the fee amounts and make adjustments in the consumer price index, but never move it to less than five cents.The Secretary of EEA also is allowed to issue regulations allowing small dealers to excempt them from accpeting deposit containers. A small dealer is defined as any person or business, including the operator of a vending machine, who sells beverages in beverage containers to consumers, with a retail space of 3,000 ft or less, excluding office and stock room space; and fewer than four locations under the same Commonwealth.
Unclaimed container deposits would be put into a Fund used to support programs such as the proper management of solid waste, water resource protection, parkland, urban forestry, air quality and climate protection.
In Favor:
A yes to this vote will expand the bottle bill to cover other beverages as mentioned before. More recycling, less trash and litter, and big savings for the towns' waste management cost. Money would be saved because communities will not have to pay to pick up local playgrounds, roads, and beaches. This idea has been endorsed by 209 cities and towns, 350 busness leaders, and hundreds of clubs.
Against:
Ninety percent of households have access to curbside and community recycling programs. Expanding forced deposits would cosst nearly $60 million a year, more than three times the price of curbside programs. While, the increase of the recycling rates with the expanded bottle bill would be less than one percent. Tax payer dollars would be wasted on expanding the program and the nickel deposit fees would be raised without a vote. Also, more than $30 million of unclaimed nickels go to the state's general fund.
