MA Coronavirus: State Suspends Bottle Bill

BOSTON, MA — Massachusetts will not be required to accept bottle returns under an emergency order issued Wednesday by the Massachusetts Attorney General's office and the Department of Environmental Protection.

In addition to limiting the spread of coronavirus, the state hopes the move will help retailers better serve customers stocking up for social distancing.

"This action is being taken because many grocers, supermarkets, and other retail operations have indicated that they are overwhelmed with an unprecedented volume of customers purchasing provisions so they can spend time at home to help in the effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19," the attorney general's office said in a statement. "This action will also limit any contamination that potentially could occur from staff handling used beverage containers."

The state said residents should either recycle soda bottles or hold on to them until the redemption rules are put in effect.

Under state regulations, retailers are required to accept for redemption all containers of the same size, type and brand they sell to the public that carry the five-cent deposit. Without the suspension of those regulations, retailers who refuse to redeem bottles can be fined.