By Bob Katzen

The Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy’s hearing included a measure that would expand the bottle bill to include containers as small as nips and as large as one gallon; more types of beverages such as water, energy drinks and iced tea; an increase in the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents; an increase in the handling fees paid to retailers and redemption centers; an exemption for retailers of less than 2,000 square feet from the requirement of accepting containers for redemption; and a provision that would direct unclaimed deposits in excess of $70 million to the re-established Clean Environment Fund, to be used for administering the deposit system and for programs related to solid waste management and environmental protection.

Sponsor Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton) said the bill will modernize the bottle deposit system so that it better reflects the beverages we consume today. “By including more types of containers, raising the deposit and supporting retailers with higher handling fees … we can recycle billions more bottles and cans each year. This will reduce litter in our communities, slash emissions, save cities and towns millions in waste removal costs and create jobs across the state.”