State Representative Randy Hunt (R-Sandwich)
BOSTON – A bill proposed by State Representative Randy Hunt (R-Sandwich) which aims to combat nip bottle litter heads to a House committee hearing on Tuesday.
The legislation looks to encourage the recycling of miniature liquor bottles that contain less than 100ml by adding them to the state’s bottle deposit statute.
“That would encourage people to pick them up because they would get a nickel a piece for doing that,” Hunt said.
Hunt said he has always been a stickler on littering.
“I hate it. I hated it when I was a kid,” he said. “I was the generation that was part of Lady Bird Johnson’s “Keep America Beautiful” and crying Indian and all of that type of thing. I just can’t stand the fact that people would litter in the first place.
Empty nip bottles are frequently seen along the state’s roadways, parks and beaches.
Hunt hopes the bill kick-starts deeper conversation about nip bottles and the issues of driving under the influence, problem alcohol use and underage drinking.
A contributing factor to “nip litter” is drivers throwing them out of their cars to prevent having the empty containers in their vehciles.
Hunt said he has been blown away by the support and attention the bill has received.
“Our work, however, will not be finished until this bill is passed into law, which won’t happen without the continued support of activists, citizens and the media,” he said.
The bill will be heard by the House Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy at the State House.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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