February 5, 2009
Rep. Stanley's bottle bill change may bring relief to water, sewer rates
WALTHAM —
State Rep. Thomas Stanley has filed legislation to expand the state's bottle law - a move he said would not only help the environment but also keep water and sewer rates low.
The Waltham Democrat said he's hoping to update the bottle bill by including a 5-cent deposit on bottled water and other non-carbonated beverages.
Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed that deposits be added to other types of drinks. While other legislators may file similar legislation to expand the bottle bill, Stanley's proposal has a different twist.
Under his plan, when a deposit is not collected at a redemption center the cash is placed in a fund available to cities and towns, water districts and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to help pay for water and sewer infrastructure repairs and other projects.
Doing so would lower the burden on water and sewer rate payers, he explained.
"It's to have another revenue stream, as opposed to just increasing the bills of ratepayers," Stanley said.
Stanley said updating the state's bottle bill could yield from $30 million to $50 million in annual revenue.
The expansion of the bill would also give more people incentive to recycle, reduce litter and keep plastic bottles out of landfills, Stanley said.
"We can't continue to generate the waste we're generating," Stanley said. "It's ridiculous to have millions of plastic bottles dumped into the waste stream."
Stanley said the current bottle bill, which was passed in 1983, is simply outdated.
Under the current law, only beverages such as beer, soft drinks and mineral water carry deposits.
When the 1983 bill was passed, bottled water, iced tea and sports drinks weren't nearly as popular as they now. Stanley said those now account for one-third of the Massachusetts beverage market.
While some organizations, such as the Massachusetts Food Association, have opposed an expanded bottle bill, Stanley believes the time is right for an update.
"I'm sure there will be some opposition, but I think the public sentiment is changing," he said.
http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/x148715381/Rep-Stanleys-bottle-bill-change-may-bring-relief-to-water-sewer-rates
