Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H913

Introduced

2/27/25

Refer

2/27/25

Caption

To create fees for single use beverage containers

Impact

The legislation aims to amend existing environmental laws in Massachusetts, establishing a new chapter that introduces the Clean Environment Fund specifically to manage revenues from the fees imposed on single-use beverage containers. The fund will be allocated toward programs aimed at reducing solid waste, enhancing recycling efforts, and supporting broader environmental protection initiatives. By implementing these changes, the bill intends to promote both public health and environmental stewardship, ensuring the state takes actionable steps towards waste management and climate crisis mitigation.

Summary

House Bill 913 seeks to address the environmental impact caused by single-use beverage containers in Massachusetts. The act emphasizes the growing problem of litter and waste associated with food packaging while calling for measures to mitigate these issues through the creation of fees for single-use containers. The bill proposes that for each disposable beverage container used at food service establishments, a fee of $0.01 will be charged to consumers if they do not opt to use a reusable beverage container. This measure aims to encourage the use of reusable options and reduce the prevalence of harmful packaging materials that contribute to pollution.

Contention

While proponents of the bill are likely to argue that this approach incentivizes environmentally friendly practices, there may be points of contention raised by those who believe the new fees could disproportionately burden lower-income consumers. Additionally, full-service restaurants applying for business licenses will need to demonstrate a commitment to using reusable serviceware, which may be seen as an overly stringent regulatory measure. Critics may also raise concerns about the enforcement of this act and potential non-compliance penalties on food service providers, which could create disparities in the industry.