1982 Nov 2 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 4 :: ReferendumDo you approve of a law summarized below, which was approved by the House of Representatives on November 10, 1981 by a vote of 108-49, and by the Senate on November 16, 1981 by a vote of 29-10? See summary »

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Choices
 
Yes
 
 
No
 
 
Summary

The law requires that a refundable deposit be paid for certain beverage containers sold in Massachusetts.

Beverage containers of less than 32 ounces must have a refund value of at least five cents and larger containers a refund value of at least ten cents. This requirement applies to non-biodegradable containers of carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, beer and other malt beverages, but not to containers of other alcoholic beverages, dairy products, natural fruit juices or wine. All beverage containers subject to deposit must clearly indicate the refund value on the container.

The deposit is paid by the consumer upon purchase and must be refunded when the consumer returns the empty container to a proper dealer or redemption center, so long as the container does not contain any material different from its normal contents. Dealers and distributors are also subject to the same deposit and refund on the beverage containers they handle, and are also entitled to a handling fee of at least one cent per container.

No containers can be sold in the state if they are joined together by plastic rings or any other device that cannot be broken down by light or bacteria.

The law provides a bottler a reduction in corporate excise tax of one-tenth of one cent for each reusable beverage container which the bottler sells in the first three months of 1983. The law provides for additional unemployment benefits and, if the Legislature appropriates the funds, a job retraining program for employees of bottlers, canners, or manufacturers of beverage containers who lose their jobs as a result of this law.

The law takes effect on January 17, 1983.

1982 Nov 2 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 4 :: ReferendumDo you approve of a law summarized below, which was approved by the House of Representatives on November 10, 1981 by a vote of 108-49, and by the Senate on November 16, 1981 by a vote of 29-10? See summary »

Ballot Question Results

View results as: # | %  
Ward
Yes
No
Blank Votes Total Votes Cast Total Ballots Cast
Totals
 
14,796
9,560
2,355
24,356
26,711
Precinct 1
 
387
324
98
711
809
Precinct 2
 
270
195
44
465
509
Precinct 3
 
297
223
31
520
551
Precinct 4
 
332
269
43
601
644
Precinct 5
 
293
157
37
450
487
Precinct 1
 
133
96
65
229
294
Precinct 2
 
342
215
64
557
621
Precinct 3
 
191
86
36
277
313
Precinct 4
 
394
187
51
581
632
Precinct 5
 
407
193
50
600
650
Precinct 6
 
283
167
56
450
506
Precinct 1
 
489
270
99
759
858
Precinct 2
 
395
223
71
618
689
Precinct 3
 
467
283
61
750
811
Precinct 4
 
417
224
44
641
685
Precinct 5
 
402
222
68
624
692
Precinct 1
 
434
274
61
708
769
Precinct 2
 
257
221
74
478
552
Precinct 3
 
472
330
60
802
862
Precinct 4
 
487
321
75
808
883
Precinct 5
 
394
280
83
674
757
Precinct 6
 
402
294
76
696
772
Precinct 1
 
298
289
76
587
663
Precinct 2
 
381
223
61
604
665
Precinct 3
 
452
226
53
678
731
Precinct 4
 
415
289
42
704
746
Precinct 5
 
301
248
49
549
598
Precinct 6
 
414
288
48
702
750
Precinct 1
 
438
299
59
737
796
Precinct 2
 
541
244
62
785
847
Precinct 3
 
456
227
45
683
728
Precinct 4
 
410
247
46
657
703
Precinct 5
 
401
199
42
600
642
Precinct 1
 
435
311
72
746
818
Precinct 2
 
397
265
64
662
726
Precinct 3
 
471
274
82
745
827
Precinct 4
 
624
480
135
1,104
1,239
Precinct 5
 
417
397
72
814
886
Totals
 
14,796
9,560
2,355
24,356
26,711