Mass. Supermarkets Launch Anti-Bottle Deposit Campaign

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Supermarket chains are launching a television ad to try to persuade voters to reject a ballot question to expand Massachusetts' bottle deposit law.The ballot question would change the current nickel deposit law to include bottled water and other non-carbonated beverages. It is Question 2 on the ballot.

The ad says the change would mean higher prices for juice, bottled water, soda and other drinks. The ad also notes the nickel deposit would be adjusted every five years to keep up with inflation.

The top contributors to theNo on Question 2 coalition are four supermarket chains — Roche Bros., Big Y Food, Stop & Shop and the operators of Price Chopper supermarkets.

The Sierra Club and other environmental groups say updating the decades-old law will reduce litter and encourage recycling.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 

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Jim is WAMC’s Assistant News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org