Bills Aim to Limit Plastic and Increase Bottle Deposit Return

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Climate activists and legislators alike came together Monday to talk about two bills - one that would limit the production of single use plastics, and another that would increase the bottle deposit fee.

The goal of increasing the plastic bottle deposit fee from $0.05 to $0.10 cents is to encourage people to use bottle deposits and actually recycle their plastic, not just toss it in the bin, which is what is happening across the commonwealth according to Sturbridge native Kristie Pecci, the executive director of Just Zero.

“Really what it's about now is putting solutions in place,” Pecci said.

Armed with their reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, more than 100 people showed up to the State House to hear about the bills up this session, many coming to the State House for the first time even if it’s not the first time legislation like this has been introduced.

“The process is sometimes opaque and there are sometimes 20 steps to getting a bill passed,” Pecci said. “There is a lot going on. There is a lot of noise at the State House and we want them to know what is going on and we expect action to be taken on plastic.”

The goal with a group meeting like Monday's was for Just Zero to talk directly to their legislators and express why they think its important to limit the creation of plastics because of both environmental and health issues associated with the making of plastics while also discussing a way that the average citizen could be encouraged to recycle.

The tangible solution for them is the bottle deposit increase.

“We’ve seen some movement and this session,” said state Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, D-15th Middlesex. “We have vetted this bill more than once now. The single use plastics bill first time was last session, there were multiple new bills this session. And people see a good idea and they build on it and generally that’s how you get comprehensive legislation if you stick with it.”

Legislators have high hopes that both bills will move on this session after they have previously died in committee.

Courtesy: www.spectrumnews1.com