Massachusetts: Is there a bottle deposit?
Massachusetts requires a refundable deposit of at least 5 cents on soda, carbonated water, mineral water, and beer containers.
Shoppers pay the 5-cent refund value when they buy a covered drink and get it back when they return the empty to a store or redemption center. The law covers carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, beer, and other malt beverages. Wine, liquor other than beer and malt drinks, dairy products, and natural fruit juices are excluded, and the definition does not list plain still water.
Conditions
- 5-cent deposit per container
- Covers carbonated soft drinks, soda water, mineral water, beer, and other malt beverages
- Excludes wine, liquor (other than beer and malt beverages), dairy, and natural fruit juices
What the law says
Every beverage container sold or offered for sale in the commonwealth shall have a refund value of not less than five cents. ... Every consumer shall deposit with the dealer the refund value of each beverage container purchased from that dealer.
Sources
- M.G.L. c. 94, § 322 Official · malegislature.gov
- M.G.L. c. 94, § 323 Official · malegislature.gov
- M.G.L. c. 94, § 321 (definitions) Official · malegislature.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
- Website
- mass.gov
How bordering states compare
- Connecticut Bottle deposit lawConnecticut puts a refundable 10-cent deposit on most beverage containers, including soda, beer, water, juice and sports drinks.
- New Hampshire No bottle depositNew Hampshire has no bottle deposit law; drink containers carry no refundable deposit.
- New York Bottle deposit lawYes. New York's Bottle Bill puts a deposit of at least 5 cents on soda, beer, sparkling and unsweetened water, and wine coolers.
- Rhode Island No bottle depositRhode Island has no bottle deposit law. The state is studying a possible 10-cent deposit system, but none has passed.
- Vermont Bottle deposit lawVermont has a bottle deposit: 5 cents on beer, soda and similar drinks, and 15 cents on liquor bottles.
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