Bill > S1752

This bill aims to boost container recycling in the Commonwealth by updating definitions and establishing new processes for tracking recycling rates. It redefines "Beverage" to include a wider range of drinks like soda, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, and beer, while excluding dairy-based drinks, infant formula, medicines, wine, and other alcoholic beverages. The bill also introduces and defines "Diversion rate" as the percentage of empty, non-deposit containers (bottles, cans, jars, cartons made of glass, metal, or plastic) that are separated from the waste stream for reuse or recycling, and "Redemption rate" as the percentage of beverage containers returned for their deposits, with both rates to be determined by the executive office of environmental affairs. A new section is added to require the secretary to establish a process for determining these rates by January 1, 2019, and to report the rates annually. Crucially, if by December 31, 2023, the average diversion rate over any two-year period meets or exceeds the average redemption rate for the same period, a specific provision of the bill (Section 1, related to the beverage definition) will not go into effect, suggesting a mechanism to ensure the new definitions only apply if recycling goals aren't met. The rest of the bill takes effect in late 2017, with the updated beverage definition taking effect in mid-2024 unless the recycling rates equalize sooner.