The Bottle Bill, the nickel deposit on beverage containers, is the State’s most successful recycling and litter prevention program.

Since the Bottle Bill's passage in 1983, over 35 billion containers have been redeemed, contributing to a healthier environment, cleaner and safer communities, and a stronger economy. But to keep up with the times and consumers' tastes, the bottle bill must be updated.

Take Action
to Pass the Bottle Bill Update.

The bill is still stuck in the Telecommunications Utilities & Energy Committee.
Although the deadline has been extended, the committee must act promptly.

See below and take action today!

An Updated Bottle Bill would expand our container deposit system to include “new age” drinks such as non-carbonated beverages, water, iced tea, juice, and sports drinks. It would decrease litter and increase recycling.

An estimated 3.3 billion beverages are consumed annually in Massachusetts, of which 1.3 billion are “new-age” (e.g. water, sports drinks, flavored teas), and this number is only expected to increase. As consumers purchase more of these beverages, an increasing number of containers are finding their way to landfills and by the sides of our roads.

Step 1. Urge the Speaker to Bring the Bottle Bill to the Floor for a Vote!

Sign a petition to House Speaker Robert DeLeo asking him to bring the Bottle Bill Update to a vote!

Step 2. Urge Your Legislators to Pass the Bottle Bill Update!

Send emails to your legislators and the Governor telling them to support the Bottle Bill Update!

Step 3. Are you a Business Owner or Manager?

Join the growing list of businesses in Massachusetts who care about the growing litter problem and want something done!

The History of the Massachusetts Bottle Bill

In the late 1970s, in response to the bottling industry’s abandonment of refillable containers and the resulting increases in litter, groups began to advocate for container deposits. Before then, most beverages were sold in refillable bottles that carried a deposit to encourage people to return them. Click here for more...

Businesses for the Bottle Bill Update

Attention small business owners - We need you to help get this effort off to a great start. Over the course of 2011, we demonstrated overwhelming support for this bill. MassINC Polling Group conducted a statewide poll showing 77% of the public supports the update. Hundreds of supporters turned out in July for the public hearing. On Halloween, throngs of costumed supporters participated in a “Trick or Treat for the Updated Bottle Bill.” And as of last week, 206 cities and towns in MA have passed resolutions endorsing this bill. And why not? This bill is the most effective tool we’ve got for reducing litter, increasing recycling, and saving our cities and towns money in disposal costs. Now it’s time for businesses in our state to make their voices heard in support of this campaign.

Click here to download the the endorsement form or fill it out online at bit.ly/bottlebill

Businesses for the Updated Bottle Bill
Project Launch and Press Event
Tuesday, February 14, at 11am
Room 437 State House, Boston

Study Confirms that Containers Make up 5.4% of Waste Stream

Despite bottlers claims that beverage containers make up a 12/100 of 1%, an analysis of the State's waste data proves that containers are the second most prevalent item in household trash, just behind paper. At 5.4%, the figure is 50 times greater than bottlers have been alleging. Click here to read the report.

New study concludes that the Bottle Bill Update will result in job gains.

CRI Jobs Report Now Available

Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers, a report by Clarissa Morawski and Jeffrey Morris for the Container Recycling Institute, is now available for download.

While the recycling's impact on jobs has been the subject of several studies in recent years, Returning to Work is the first report to take into account the vital importance of material quality, throughput quantities, processing dynamics and end-user needs to analyze the net gains in domestic jobs when beverage containers are recovered through recycling.

Learn more about the report --- Download PDF [3.23MB]