Update the Massachusetts Bottle Bill

A working group of environmental organizations, and municipal/state agencies

Revenue and Current Data

1. Current Redemption Rate: 66%-72%

In the first 10 years of the law, the redemption rate hovered around 80-85%, but it’s been decreasing in last several years because people are out of the habit of redeeming given how many beverages are uncovered. Preliminary YTD 2009 figures show that redemption stands at 72%, but this may not represent total amount of funds collected due to reporting adjustments, penalties, filings, etc. The most recent complete year (FY2008) showed that 66.2% of all deposit containers were redeemed. This represents a slight increase over FY 2007, which showed 65.8% redemption.[i]

2. Quantity of deposit beverage containers sold in Massachusetts: 2.1 billion

(FY 2008): 2,132,508,737[ii]

3. Quantity of non-deposit beverage containers sold in Massachusetts (that would be covered under the update): 850 million – 1 billion.

Industry reports indicate that between 28% to 35% of all beverage containers sold are not subject to deposits.[iii]

4. Projected State Revenue from #3 above: $20 million

This is dependent on a number of factors. If the redemption rate stays at 67% and consumer trends continue along their current path, the state proceeds would be in excess of $19 million per year. This will undoubtedly increase over time, as non-carbonated beverages are steadily increasing their market share.[iv] [v]

5. Recycling rate of non-deposit containers

While there is no data available for Massachusetts-only, nationwide industry data indicates that this is 23-24% [vi] [vii]

[i] MA Bottle Bill Return Rate Information FY1990 - FY2008 (DEP report from DOR), July, 2009.

[ii] Ibid

[iii] Beverage Market Data Report, Container Recycling Institute (CRI), 2007.

[iv] Ibid

[v] MA Bottle Bill Return Rate Information, op cit.

[vi] Report on Post Consumer PET Container Recycling Activity, NAPCOR. Retrieved from http://www.napcor.com/pdf/2007PET_Report.pdf.

[vii] Recycling: Federal Procurement and Beverage Container Recycling Programs, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, US Senate, July 11, 2002.