Hearing On State’s Bottle Bill

Massachusetts lawmakers are planning to hold a public hearing on a proposed ballot question designed to expand the state's existing bottle deposit law. For more than a decade, activists have been pressing state legislators to expand the law to include non-carbonated beverages such as water, tea and sports drinks. They argue it would encourage consumers to recycle the bottles.

Activists have already collected enough signatures to move the question toward the November ballot. If lawmakers opt not to approve the question, supporters need to gather another batch of certified signatures to secure a spot on the ballot.