Massachusetts voters support modernizing state bottle bill

Just Zero, a Massachusetts-based national nonprofit working to implement just and equitable zero-waste solutions across the country, has released the results from a statewide poll in Massachusetts revealing that 82 percent of registered voters support modernizing the state’s bottle bill. Support for the proposal is bipartisan, with 89 percent of Democrats, 79 percent of Republicans and 79 percent of independent voters supporting modernization.

The poll finds that 95 percent believe reducing waste and litter is important for their quality of life in the state. Additionally, 88 percent agree that common types of recyclable beverage containers, such as nips and water bottles, should have a refundable deposit. 

The poll, conducted by the nonpartisan polling company Beacon Research, surveyed 610 Massachusetts voters between July 10 and 16. 

“Massachusetts’ bottle bill hasn’t been meaningfully updated since it was first enacted in 1983,” Just Zero Executive Director Kirstie Pecci says. “If our poll results tell legislators anything, it’s that residents want their elected officials to take action on litter and plastic pollution and to hold corporations accountable. Modernizing the bottle bill will reduce litter, increase recycling and save cities and towns money. It’s time for legislators to listen to their constituents who support modernizing the bottle bill program.” 

According to the poll, 83 percent of voters believe litter from liquor nips and plastic bottles is a problem in Massachusetts.  

“It’s rare to see this level of support for any legislative proposal in our current political climate,” Beacon Research President Chris Anderson says. “Voters recognize the commonwealth has a real problem with litter, and when they learn states with a 10-cent refund have much higher return and recycle rates, they want Massachusetts to follow suit.” 

Legislators can modernize the state bottle bill as part of the Climate Omnibus Bill. Although the Senate version of the Climate Bill included an amendment to update the bottle return program, the House version did not. 

A conference committee of legislators from the Senate and House will meet to reconcile discrepancies between the two versions. The conference committee will determine whether the final version of the Climate Omnibus Bill will include updating Massachusetts’ bottle return program.