Massachusetts Question 4, Refundable Deposit for Beverage Containers Referendum (1982)
| Massachusetts Question 4 | |
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| Topic Business regulations and Pollution, waste, and recycling policy |
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| Status |
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| Type Veto referendum |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 4 was on the ballot as a veto referendum in Massachusetts on November 2, 1982. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported requiring a refundable deposit on certain beverage containers. |
A “no” vote opposed requiring a refundable deposit on certain beverage containers. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 4 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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1,143,956 | 59.09% | ||
| No | 791,846 | 40.91% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 4 was as follows:
| “ | Do 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? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
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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. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law. This type of ballot measure is also called statute referendum, popular referendum, people's veto, or citizen's veto. There are 23 states that allow citizens to initiate veto referendums.
In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required for a veto referendum election is equal to 1.5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. To suspend the law prior to the election, the number of signatures required is equal to 2% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Massachusetts also has a distribution requirement that requires no more than 25% of the certified signatures on any petition can come from a single county. Signatures for a veto referendum petition must be submitted no more than 90 days after the governor signs the targeted bill or it is enacted into law.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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