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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 - Worcester 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?

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Worcester County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
46,258
204,762
5,984 257,004
Ashburnham
 
382
1,795
17
2,194
Athol More »
 
682
2,650
41
3,373
Auburn More »
 
781
5,491
72
6,344
Barre More »
 
401
1,540
16
1,957
Berlin
 
356
1,030
25
1,411
Blackstone More »
 
307
2,496
110
2,913
Bolton
 
697
1,584
13
2,294
Boylston
 
377
1,685
13
2,075
Brookfield
 
265
975
5
1,245
Charlton More »
 
753
3,751
60
4,564
Clinton More »
 
852
3,507
114
4,473
Douglas More »
 
421
2,593
68
3,082
Dudley More »
 
545
2,956
42
3,543
E. Brookfield
 
102
761
19
882
Fitchburg More »
 
1,357
7,421
299
9,077
Gardner More »
 
803
4,810
85
5,698
Grafton More »
 
1,081
5,328
154
6,563
Hardwick
 
237
771
10
1,018
Harvard
 
1,136
1,520
59
2,715
Holden More »
 
1,314
6,627
57
7,998
Hopedale
 
344
1,993
58
2,395
Hubbardston
 
312
1,559
28
1,899
Lancaster More »
 
587
2,231
57
2,875
Leicester More »
 
777
3,220
125
4,122
Leominster More »
 
1,714
10,654
261
12,629
Lunenburg More »
 
733
3,483
34
4,250
Mendon
 
379
2,087
17
2,483
Milford More »
 
1,271
7,623
371
9,265
Millbury More »
 
682
3,978
118
4,778
Millville
 
117
912
10
1,039
New Braintree
 
93
343
2
438
N. Brookfield
 
320
1,445
25
1,790
Northborough More »
 
1,251
4,961
95
6,307
Northbridge More »
 
854
4,584
77
5,515
Oakham
 
176
658
7
841
Oxford More »
 
624
3,838
53
4,515
Paxton
 
318
1,555
28
1,901
Petersham
 
223
413
11
647
Phillipston
 
127
555
7
689
Princeton
 
478
1,269
32
1,779
Royalston More »
 
145
384
14
543
Rutland More »
 
431
2,806
23
3,260
Shrewsbury More »
 
2,412
10,912
181
13,505
Southborough More »
 
1,056
3,134
54
4,244
Southbridge More »
 
692
3,023
154
3,869
Spencer More »
 
561
3,402
40
4,003
Sterling More »
 
635
2,989
46
3,670
Sturbridge More »
 
788
2,835
23
3,646
Sutton More »
 
588
3,281
76
3,945
Templeton More »
 
357
2,357
20
2,734
Upton More »
 
538
2,392
57
2,987
Uxbridge More »
 
693
4,230
124
5,047
Warren More »
 
294
1,270
41
1,605
Webster More »
 
673
3,711
81
4,465
W. Boylston More »
 
575
2,561
29
3,165
W. Brookfield
 
266
1,156
10
1,432
Westborough More »
 
1,676
4,644
143
6,463
Westminster More »
 
395
2,665
25
3,085
Winchendon More »
 
386
2,347
48
2,781
Worcester More »
 
8,868
28,011
2,100
38,979
County Totals
46,258
204,762
5,984 257,004