New statewide poll on recycling and the Bottle Bill finds most voters want legislators to address Massachusetts’ litter problem by modernizing the Bottle Bill this session.
MASSACHUSETTS – Just Zero released results today from a statewide poll revealing that 82% of registered voters support modernizing the Bottle Bill. Support for the proposal is bipartisan, with 89% of Democrats, 79% of Republicans and 79% of independent voters backing the measure. Other key findings include that 95% believe reducing waste and litter is important for their quality of life in the state, and that common types of recyclable beverage containers, including nips and water bottles, should have a refundable deposit (88% agree).
“Massachusetts’ Bottle Bill hasn’t been meaningfully updated since it was first enacted in 1983,” said Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director at Just Zero. “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% of voters think litter from liquor nips and plastic bottles are a problem in Massachusetts. “It’s rare to see this level of support for any legislative proposal in our current political climate,” said Chris Anderson, President of Beacon Research. “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.”
The poll, conducted by the nonpartisan polling company Beacon Research, surveyed 610 Massachusetts voters between July 10 and 16, 2024.
Legislators have an opportunity to modernize the state Bottle Bill this session as part of the Climate Omnibus Bill. But, while the Senate’s version of the Climate Bill included an amendment to update the state’s bottle return program, the House’s version did not. Now, a conference committee of legislators from the Senate and House will meet to reconcile any discrepancies between the two versions. The conference committee will determine whether the final version of the Climate Omnibus Bill will include updating the state’s bottle return program.
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