Urgent Action! Over 1 billion recyclable bottles end up in MA landfills each year
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From: Your Name <you@example.com>
To: Michael.W.Morrissey@state.ma.us, Susan.Tucker@state.ma.us, Cynthia.Creem@state.ma.us, Kenneth.Donnelly@state.ma.us, Bruce.Tarr@state.ma.us, Rep.BarryFinegold@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.MichaelKane@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.JohnRogers@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.BruceAyers@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.StephenDiNatale@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.AngeloPuppolo@Hou.State.MA.US, RepAngeloPuppolo@aol.com, Rep.CarloBasile@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.LoriEhrlich@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.JenniferBenson@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.VinnyDemacedo@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.KarynPolito@hou.state.ma.us
Subject: Urgent Action! Over 1 billion recyclable bottles end up in MA landfills each year
Your Personal Statement
Dear Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee Member,
I am writing to ask you to approve the update to the Massachusetts Bottle Bill (H3515/S1480).
Right now in Massachusetts, more than 1 BILLION bottles end up in our landfills, littered or incinerated each year. That's enough to fill Fenway Park! (1) However, if the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee approves this bill immediately, we will dramatically reduce this waste by simply expanding the Bill's 5-cent refund program from only beer and soda bottles to include water, juices and sports drinks.
So far, 133 towns and cities have signed resolutions in support of the bill, demonstrating widespread public support for the Update. The Bill also has the support of Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino, over 80 legislative supporters, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and over 20 major civic organizations. Maine, New York and Connecticut have all recently expanded their deposit laws beyond carbonated soda and beer. It is well past the time for Massachusetts to follow suit.
The 5-cent refund program is a powerful incentive: in 1983 the bill gave a five cent refund on recycled bottles from carbonated beverages, and recycling rates shot up from 12% to more than 70%. (1)
But today, a third of all beverages consumed in Massachusetts are **non-carbonated**. These "new age" drinks, like bottled water and sports drinks, are excluded from the refund program, even though they are the fastest growing segment of the beverage industry. Only 20% are recycled and municipalities are forced to spend millions of our tax dollars to manage the rest as litter and waste. (1)
The Updated Bottle Bill will save municipalities between $3.7 million and $6.5 million each year by reducing collection, disposal and litter clean up costs. (1) And with our current fiscal crunch and widening deficit, we can't afford to miss out on millions of extra dollars in self-sustainable revenue.
Source:
(1) Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (2009) "Municipal Benefits of an Expanded Bottle Bill."
Further information:
http://www.massbottlebill.org
I am asking you to take immediate action to approve this crucial bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
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Campaign (<em>1988</em>): <em>Urgent Action! Over 1 billion recyclable bottles end up in MA landfills each year</em>
Learn more about this campaign here: <em>http://www.citizenspeak.org/node/1988</em>
--
This campaign was created with CitizenSpeak. Visit us online at http://citizenspeak.org
To: Michael.W.Morrissey@state.ma.us, Susan.Tucker@state.ma.us, Cynthia.Creem@state.ma.us, Kenneth.Donnelly@state.ma.us, Bruce.Tarr@state.ma.us, Rep.BarryFinegold@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.MichaelKane@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.JohnRogers@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.BruceAyers@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.StephenDiNatale@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.AngeloPuppolo@Hou.State.MA.US, RepAngeloPuppolo@aol.com, Rep.CarloBasile@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.LoriEhrlich@Hou.State.MA.US, Rep.JenniferBenson@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.VinnyDemacedo@hou.state.ma.us, Rep.KarynPolito@hou.state.ma.us
Subject: Urgent Action! Over 1 billion recyclable bottles end up in MA landfills each year
Your Personal Statement
Dear Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee Member,
I am writing to ask you to approve the update to the Massachusetts Bottle Bill (H3515/S1480).
Right now in Massachusetts, more than 1 BILLION bottles end up in our landfills, littered or incinerated each year. That's enough to fill Fenway Park! (1) However, if the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee approves this bill immediately, we will dramatically reduce this waste by simply expanding the Bill's 5-cent refund program from only beer and soda bottles to include water, juices and sports drinks.
So far, 133 towns and cities have signed resolutions in support of the bill, demonstrating widespread public support for the Update. The Bill also has the support of Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino, over 80 legislative supporters, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and over 20 major civic organizations. Maine, New York and Connecticut have all recently expanded their deposit laws beyond carbonated soda and beer. It is well past the time for Massachusetts to follow suit.
The 5-cent refund program is a powerful incentive: in 1983 the bill gave a five cent refund on recycled bottles from carbonated beverages, and recycling rates shot up from 12% to more than 70%. (1)
But today, a third of all beverages consumed in Massachusetts are **non-carbonated**. These "new age" drinks, like bottled water and sports drinks, are excluded from the refund program, even though they are the fastest growing segment of the beverage industry. Only 20% are recycled and municipalities are forced to spend millions of our tax dollars to manage the rest as litter and waste. (1)
The Updated Bottle Bill will save municipalities between $3.7 million and $6.5 million each year by reducing collection, disposal and litter clean up costs. (1) And with our current fiscal crunch and widening deficit, we can't afford to miss out on millions of extra dollars in self-sustainable revenue.
Source:
(1) Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (2009) "Municipal Benefits of an Expanded Bottle Bill."
Further information:
http://www.massbottlebill.org
I am asking you to take immediate action to approve this crucial bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
--
Campaign (<em>1988</em>): <em>Urgent Action! Over 1 billion recyclable bottles end up in MA landfills each year</em>
Learn more about this campaign here: <em>http://www.citizenspeak.org/node/1988</em>
--
This campaign was created with CitizenSpeak. Visit us online at http://citizenspeak.org
