Massachusetts Bottle Deposit Law Losing Public Support

The Massachusetts bottle deposit law, enacted in 1983, was met with great enthusiasm by many who were anxious to rid streets, parks, beaches, and other areas of discarded bottles and cans. It worked for a while, but the program appears to have run its course.

Bottle Redemption Rates Have Dropped Dramatically

"In fiscal year 1995, 87 percent of eligible bottles and cans bought in the Bay State were redeemed," reported Commonwealth Beacon. "Ten years later, the redemption rate dropped to two-thirds."

"Last fiscal year, just one-third of the bottles and cans sold in Massachusetts that could be returned were brought back for redemption, according to data from the state Department of Environmental Protection," according to the publication.

When I owned a home, I would cram "empties" into trash bags in the basement closet until the door literally wouldn't close, finally forcing me to haul them all to the redemption center. At a nickel per can or bottle, it didn't seem to justify the time and work involved.

No matter how many times you rinse an empty beer bottle, it still smells like a beer bottle, so there is that.

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Initially, stores were compelled to find storage space for empty cans and bottles that were redeemed. Now, cans and bottles are redeemed in vending-type machines.

Not long after, the City of New Bedford introduced recycling bins. From that day on, I tossed my cans and bottles in the recycling bin. On trash day, a guy from a few streets over went door-to-door collecting everyone's discarded cans and bottles. I hope he retired on all of those nickels.

Massachusetts is one of 11 states with a deposit law.

Could Higher Deposits Reverse the Trend?

There is talk about possibly doubling the deposit to a dime to entice more folks to redeem bottles and cans. There has also been discussion about expanding the law to include other types of bottles.