Mainers have long suspected that their bottled beverages cost a bit more due to the state’s strict bottle bill.
Not so, at least according to the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency.
The Bay State is considering expanding its deposit law to a wider range of containers, but critics have argued that doing so would increase consumer costs and limit choices.
But a study by that state’s EPA found that beverage pricing is “remarkably consistent for both deposit and non-deposit beverages” in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
New Hampshire has no deposit law.
The study also found that the “absence of a deposit did not appear to influence” the range of product choices. It found a wider variety of beverages available in Maine than in Massachusetts.
“Store size appears to be the major determinant of product availability, not bottle deposits,” the report found.
While returning bottles is a hassle, it is some small relief to know that we’re not paying the price for a cleaner environment at the checkout counter.
The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of the ownership and editorial board.
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