Expanded bottle bill snuck-in at last minute

BOSTON (WWLP) - The Massachusetts Senate has passed an expanded bottle bill after the legislation was snuck in at the last minute.

The proposal, which would add water and juices to the list of drink containers carrying a five-cent deposit, was added as an amendment to a jobs bill.

Though advocates had been fighting to get this measure passed for years, their surprise victory on Thursday came after no debate at all.

While supporters of the measure say that it will increase recycling, critics say the expansion puts a burden on small business and acts as a tax or fee to customers.

The bill must be approved by the House of Representatives and governor before it can become law.

Bill supporters say there is majority support for the bill in the Legislature, but just last month, House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) expressed his opposition to it, putting into question its ability to get passed.