April 19, 2008

Redemption center giving back less money for bottles
By Lindsey Parietti

FRAMINGHAM —

Consumers who return their bottles and cans to Bottle Bill's Redemption Center are getting less money per can and being asked to put in a call to the governor while they're returning their empties.

After 18 years without an increase in handling fees, the source of profit for redemption centers, the Claflin Street center is offering only 4 cents per can. Each can carries a 5-cent deposit.

"We've continued to lobby the state for the past 18 years for a handling fee increase and every year the Telecommunications Committee throws everything into study, and we get no raise," owner Tom Casey said. "A business can't exist if they never get a raise in what we make."

"We're on strike and we're going to try to make people call their representatives and hopefully we can get the situation resolved and we'll go from there. We don't want to do this, but we have no choice," he said.

Redemption centers get back the 5 cents they pay out for each bottle and can plus a 2.25-cent handling fee, which was increased from 2 cents in 1990.

Joe Ferson, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said that since Bottle Bill's does not sell beverages, the redemption center can offer whatever amount it chooses for bottle returns.

"Consumers can always take the containers back to their point of purchase to get a full refund," he said. "Since you're offering the service and saying we're going to operate just as a redemption center, the consumer is going there by choice."

The Legislature's Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy Committee did not return calls yesterday.

(Lindsey Parietti can be reached at [email protected])

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2103872680