North End / Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) hosted a debate regarding Question 2 on the November 4, 2014 ballot regarding Expanding the Beverage Container Deposit Law, often referred to as the Bottle Bill.
A Yes vote would expand the existing bottle bill from sodas and carbonated beverages to also require the 5 cent deposit on containers for all non-alcoholic, non-carbonated drinks (i.e., waters, teas, juices, sports drinks, etc.) with certain exceptions (i.e., dairy) to go in effect in April 2015. A No vote would make no change to the law.
Representatives for and against the expanded bottle bill argued their respective cases to the group and took questions. Some issues addressed included street trash, environmental / recycling impact, grocery store burdens, consumer costs, trash pickers and curbside recycling.
(Editor’s note: Our apologies that the camera’s battery ran out after 35 minutes in the Q&A period.)
