Updated bottle deposit regulations to reduce waste in Massachusetts

BOSTON (WWLP) – Each year, Massachusetts sends almost six million tons of waste to landfills and incinerators.

22News has the latest on updated bottle deposit regulations that could reduce waste production and ease the financial burden on municipalities.

The Massachusetts State Senate added a new and improved bottle bill amendment to their wide-reaching climate bill, which is projected to lead to the recycling of 3.1 billion additional containers in Massachusetts each year.

The bottle bill’s first version passed in 1982, established a five-cent deposit on certain beverage containers. Adjusted for inflation, the original five-cent deposit would be worth sixteen cents in today’s money. This amendment, however, looks to raise the bottle deposits to ten cents upon enactment. It also aims to expand the types of containers that qualify for deposits to include non-carbonated drinks, such as bottled water, sports drinks, and iced tea.

Nips–small alcohol bottles, that are a significant contributor to litter in western Massachusetts and across the state, are also included in the new deposit program. MassPIRG, a public interest advocacy group, has been a sponsor of the bill since its’ first iteration over 40 years ago.

Executive Director of MassPIRG Janet Domenitz told 22News, “We need to be doing everything we can to reduce climate change emissions, we just have to reduce what we’re throwing away. There is no way!”

Senate majority leader and the amendment’s main sponsor, Senator Cynthia Creem, said in a press release that these updates will “save cities and towns millions on waste removal, and generate hundreds of millions in revenue.”

The State Senate plans to vote on the climate bill and accompanying amendments on Thursday afternoon.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Olivia Ray is a State House reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since April 2024. Follow Olivia on X @OliviaRayMedia and view her bio to see more of her work.

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