January 28, 2011

Gov. Patrick banking on bottle bill expanding
BY JIM HAND

Push is for deposit on water bottles, sports drinks If Gov. Deval Patrick has his way, you will soon be putting a 5-cent deposit on bottles of water, sports drinks and juice.

Patrick wants the state's 30-year-old bottle bill expanded to cover more than just the current beer and soda bottles.

The governor is so confident the measure will pass, he is banking on the state taking an extra $20 million from the expanded bottle bill to help balance the budget. The state already raises $37 million from the current bill.

Patrick has proposed using $16 million of the revenue for environmental programs.

The governor's move has some environmentalist smiling. "Updating the bottle bill makes sense for all the right reasons: It reduces trash hazards in the environment, will provide added revenue to state conservation programs and will return more money to cities and towns for recycling programs," said Jack Clarke, director of public policy and government relations for Mass Audubon.

A spokesman for the governor could not be reached for comment, but his website explains the rationale behind the proposed expansion.

"Discarded cans and bottles are a major source of trash that impacts our communities while wasting precious natural resources and energy," the online statement says. "When the bottle bill was enacted in 1982, the beverages covered by the law were limited to carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, beer and other malt beverages.

"Since that time, the beverage market has changed with bottled water, fruit drinks, iced tea and sports drinks now being some of the most popular choices available.

"Since 2000, non-carbonated beverages have experienced near double-digit growth and industry experts expect this trend to continue. However, these non-carbonated beverages are not covered by the bottle bill, and often end up in landfills or along the side of the road."

But the stores that sell the beverages and have to accept the returned bottles are opposed to the expanded bill. So opposed, in fact, they would like the current bottle bill eliminated. Chris Flynn, president of the Massachusetts Food Association, said the bottle bill is an ineffective and costly recycling tool.

He said it would be cheaper for the bill to be repealed and for all the bottles to be put into bins homeowners use for other recyclable materials.

Furthermore, he said the bottle bill is a "disingenuous" way for the state to make money because it keeps the 40 percent of deposits that customers do not claim.

"It's really just a money grab," he said.

Supporters of the expanded bill believe it has a good chance of passing this year. They point to it being favorably recommended last year by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. 

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