Charlton board to urge state to expand bottle‑deposit law after volunteers display estimated 5,000 'nips'

The Charlton Select Board voted May 12 to send a letter to a state senator asking for help moving legislation to expand the Massachusetts bottle‑deposit law after residents and volunteers displayed a large mound of small alcohol containers, often called "nips." The board's action followed more than an hour of public comment, testimony and discussion about litter, enforcement and retailer involvement.

Kathy Jolliker, a member of the Keep Charlton Beautiful and Earth committees, told the board the volunteer roadside cleanup involved more than 200 residents and included a concentrated effort to separate small alcohol containers and other beverage bottles. "We used an image of a mound of about 5,000 nips and hundreds of beer containers to urge our legislators to expand the Massachusetts bottle bill," Jolliker said, presenting photos and counts collected by volunteers.

Town volunteers and committee members urged the board to ask the state to add small containers to the deposit law and to increase the deposit. Jolliker summarized a legislative update she had received: an aide told volunteers that Senate bill 2245, which would expand the deposit system to include containers as small as nips and increase the deposit from five cents to ten cents, is pending in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Retailers in the audience told the board they support practical solutions but oppose a local sales ban. "We wouldn't have made it — if it is banned, we would not make it," said T. Marcowski, co‑owner of Ted's Package Store, arguing a ban on small containers would harm small town retailers. Marcowski and other merchants offered to pilot dedicated nip collection bins outside stores and to donate funds to support cleanup efforts; Marcowski proposed contributing $250 each time a bin filled, up to a capped annual amount, to support volunteers.

Board members discussed a multi‑pronged approach: public education, exploring targeted camera placement and enforcement in repeat dumping locations, more visible trash pickups after volunteer events, and working with businesses on localized solutions. The board's town administrator and members noted that DPW pickup of volunteer bags and public awareness campaigns could be coordinated locally while waiting for state action.

After discussion, a motion to write to the senator who sits on Senate Ways and Means, asking for assistance moving the bottle‑bill expansion forward, was moved, seconded and approved on a voice vote. The board also agreed to coordinate with the community cleanup committees and with local retailers on pilot collection options.

The item will return for follow up and the board asked volunteers and merchants to share proposed logistics and schedules for pilot bins and DPW pickup so staff can assess costs and operations.