Politics & Government

Should MA Expand the Bottle Bill?

The State Senate approved a bill that would expand bottle returns.

Should 5 cent redeemable deposits on beer and soda bottles be expanded to include other beverage containers? Massachusetts many State Senators think so.

Last week, the Senate approved an amendment to the state's jobs bill that calls for redemptions to be expanded to include water, juice, sports drinks, and iced tea bottles. Sen. Patricia Jehlen D-Somerville/Medford, was a co-sponsor of the amendment, according to a press release from her office.

“By closing the loophole in the bottle bill that exempted certain containers because of their contents, this measure will greatly expand recycling and clean up our neighborhoods,” Jehlen said in a written statement. “I supported the original bottle bill when my children were young and saw the immediate improvement in streets and playgrounds.”

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The bottle bill has been around since 1983, and its supporters credit it for helping clean up streets and parks of litter and improving recycling rates. But previous attempts to expand it have been unsuccessful, include one effort last year. Some opponents argue that .

The most recent legislation will be part of the discussion as the house and senate meet in conference committee to come to common terms on the Jobs Bill.

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