Sign the Petition

I support the long-overdue modernization of the Massachusetts Bottle Bill. Specifically, we ask for the Massachusetts Legislature to favorably report on H.3464 and S.2245.

Our current bottle bill is 43 years old. While it was effective in 1983, it has not evolved with the market. Today, Massachusetts has the lowest return rate of any deposit state in the nation. This is due to a deposit that has been stagnant at five cents for decades and a scope that excludes the majority of non-carbonated drinks like water, tea, and juice.

Modernizing the Bottle Bill via H.3464 and S.2245 will:

• Reduce Municipal Costs: When containers aren’t recycled through the deposit system, the financial burden of collection and disposal falls on our cities and towns. This legislation shifts that responsibility back to the producers.

• Incentivize Recycling: When Connecticut raised its deposit to 10 cents in 2024, return rates saw an immediate increase. Massachusetts must follow suit to clean up our landscapes and waterways.

• Protect Taxpayers: The program is industry-funded through handling fees, meaning we can significantly reduce litter at no cost to the state budget.

In 2014, similar efforts were defeated by a multi-million dollar "disinformation" campaign led by the bottling industry. Despite industry claims, data from other states confirms that bottle bills do not negatively impact sales or add to the consumer's cost of the beverage itself.

We ask that you prioritize the health of our environment and the financial stability of our municipalities by supporting H.3464 and S.2245. Specifically, we urge you to pass a version that:

1. Increases the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents.

2. Expands coverage to include all beverage containers (including non-carbonated drinks, spirits, and "nips").

It is time to hold the bottling industry accountable for the waste they produce and help Massachusetts regain its position as a leader in environmental protection.