« Go Back   « Go Back
Summary of Question 2
This proposed law would expand the state's beverage container deposit law, also known as the Bottle Bill, to require deposits on containers for all non-alcoholic non-carbonated drinks in liquid form intended for human consumption, except beverages primarily derived from dairy products, infant formula, and FDA approved medicines. The proposed law would not cover containers made of paper-based biodegradable material and aseptic multi-material packages such as juice boxes or pouches. The proposed law would require the state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to adjust the container deposit amount every five years to reflect (to the nearest whole cent) changes in the consumer price index, but the value could not be set below five cents. The proposed law would increase the minimum handling fee that beverage distributors must pay dealers for each properly returned empty beverage container, which was 2 1/4 cents as of September 2013, to 3 1/2 cents. It would also increase the minimum handling fee that bottlers must pay distributors and dealers for each properly returned empty reusable beverage container, which was 1 cent as of September 2013, to 3 1/2 cents. The Secretary of EEA would review the fee amounts every five years and make appropriate adjustments to reflect changes in the consumer price index as well as changes in the costs incurred by redemption centers. The proposed law defines a redemption center as any business whose primary purpose is the redemption of beverage containers and that is not ancillary to any other business. The proposed law would direct the Secretary of EEA to issue regulations allowing small dealers to seek exemptions from accepting empty deposit containers. The proposed law would define small dealer as any person or business, including the operator of a vending machine, who sells beverages in beverage containers to consumers, with a contiguous retail space of 3,000 square feet or less, excluding office and stock room space; and fewer than four locations under the same ownership in the Commonwealth. The proposed law would require that the regulations consider at least the health, safety, and convenience of the public, including the distribution of dealers and redemption centers by population or by distance or both. The proposed law would set up a state Clean Environment Fund to receive certain unclaimed container deposits. The Fund would be used, subject to appropriation by the state Legislature, to support programs such as the proper management of solid waste, water resource protection, parkland, urban forestry, air quality and climate protection. The proposed law would allow a dealer, distributor, redemption center or bottler to refuse to accept any beverage container that is not marked as being refundable in Massachusetts. The proposed law would take effect on April 22, 2015.

2014 - Essex County - Question 2Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives on or before May 6, 2014?

View as: # | %

Essex County Results
« Return to Aggregate Results

 
City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
54,758
196,898
7,303 258,959
Amesbury More »
 
1,147
4,712
86
5,945
Andover More »
 
3,052
10,006
153
13,211
Beverly More »
 
3,652
10,913
229
14,794
Boxford More »
 
745
2,917
33
3,695
Danvers More »
 
1,496
8,557
107
10,160
Essex
 
473
1,133
42
1,648
Georgetown More »
 
646
2,731
30
3,407
Gloucester More »
 
3,444
7,475
251
11,170
Groveland More »
 
401
2,439
32
2,872
Hamilton More »
 
800
2,453
49
3,302
Haverhill More »
 
2,652
15,776
361
18,789
Ipswich More »
 
1,506
4,570
73
6,149
Lawrence More »
 
3,464
8,408
2,432
14,304
Lynn More »
 
5,644
14,012
1,176
20,832
Lynnfield More »
 
846
4,454
85
5,385
Manchester-by-the-Sea
 
758
1,878
27
2,663
Marblehead More »
 
2,755
6,892
173
9,820
Merrimac More »
 
459
2,164
19
2,642
Methuen More »
 
1,738
12,357
274
14,369
Middleton More »
 
543
2,846
47
3,436
Nahant
 
477
1,371
38
1,886
Newbury More »
 
759
2,578
31
3,368
Newburyport More »
 
2,201
5,927
157
8,285
N. Andover More »
 
1,756
8,736
136
10,628
Peabody More »
 
2,791
16,285
447
19,523
Rockport More »
 
1,192
2,440
75
3,707
Rowley
 
446
2,231
25
2,702
Salem More »
 
4,044
9,074
311
13,429
Salisbury More »
 
462
2,535
41
3,038
Saugus More »
 
1,143
8,803
132
10,078
Swampscott More »
 
1,555
5,009
102
6,666
Topsfield
 
726
2,386
71
3,183
Wenham
 
458
1,218
36
1,712
W. Newbury
 
527
1,612
22
2,161
County Totals
54,758
196,898
7,303 258,959