May 6, 2011
Boston Herald
Tom Menino, officials say deposits on more bottles means $20M
Supporters of an expanded bottle redemption bill say the measure will bring up to $20 million in new revenues to cash-strapped cities and towns.
“The economic pressures on cities and towns have become critical, and we have overwhelming public support to get this done this year ,” said James McCaffrey, local director of the Sierra Club.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and a dozen elected officials strongly endorsed legislation yesterday that would expand the state’s nickel deposit to bottles of water, sports drinks and all other non-alcoholic beverages, excluding milk.
The bottle bill hasn’t changed since its 1981 enactment, but supporters feel this may be the year the expansion wins after many failed attempts.
“More than half of the cities and towns in Massachusetts have passed resolutions supporting this updated bottle bill,” Menino said. The mayor said the measure will help reduce litter and save communities an estimated $6.5 million a year in trash-disposal costs.
Last year, the state’s general fund received $35 million from retailers for bottles that weren’t redeemed. An expanded bill would bring in another $20 million a year.
The Massachusetts Food Association said the state should focus on encouraging recycling instead of what amounts to a tax on beverages.
“There are blue bins and drop-off centers statewide where we can take our containers,” said Chris Flynn, the trade group’s president. “Instead, bottle bill proponents want us to drag some back to supermarkets and the rest at the curb. It makes no sense.”
http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1335871&srvc=business&position=3
