To: Secretary Richard K. Sullivan
Save Mass. beverage container redemption centers
Dear Secretary Sullivan,
The Bottle Bill, the 5¢ 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 and cleaner, safer communities.
At the very heart of the Bottle Bill are the state’s redemption centers, handling one-third of the program’s total volume. Their operating costs are covered by the bottlers, not by taxpayers, in what’s seen as the finest example of producer responsibility anywhere. Those who create the problem must take responsibility for the mess.
Unfortunately, the redemption centers haven’t had a raise in 14 years. While labor, insurance, and rents have steadily increased, these hardworking small business owners have been expected to do more with less. Unable to make ends meet, half the State’s redemption centers in the state have been forced to close their doors.
If we allow our redemption centers to fail, we’ll lose a vital link in the chain of recycling, lose hundreds of jobs, decrease our recycling rate, and see a significant increase in litter.
I urge you to provide these small businesses with an appropriate raise, and to do so without delay.
The Bottle Bill, the 5¢ 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 and cleaner, safer communities.
At the very heart of the Bottle Bill are the state’s redemption centers, handling one-third of the program’s total volume. Their operating costs are covered by the bottlers, not by taxpayers, in what’s seen as the finest example of producer responsibility anywhere. Those who create the problem must take responsibility for the mess.
Unfortunately, the redemption centers haven’t had a raise in 14 years. While labor, insurance, and rents have steadily increased, these hardworking small business owners have been expected to do more with less. Unable to make ends meet, half the State’s redemption centers in the state have been forced to close their doors.
If we allow our redemption centers to fail, we’ll lose a vital link in the chain of recycling, lose hundreds of jobs, decrease our recycling rate, and see a significant increase in litter.
I urge you to provide these small businesses with an appropriate raise, and to do so without delay.
Why is this important?
The state’s redemption centers are at the very heart of the Bottle Bill, handling one-third of the program’s total volume. Their operating costs are covered by the bottlers–not by taxpayers, but they haven’t had a raise in 14 years. With half of them now out of business, tell Mass Environmental Secretary Richard Sullivan to give the redemption centers a raise without further delay!