Two state agencies announced they are suspending enforcement of the requirements for retailers to accept beverage containers that have a deposit effective immediately until further notice, or until the current state of emergency is terminated. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office said the action was being taken out of an abundance of caution due to the spread of the coronavirus. They also hoped the suspension of the requirements would help grocery stores and other retail stores that have been overwhelmed with the amount of customers purchasing supplies. "Temporarily suspending enforcement of these requirements will allow individual retailers to assess their operations and, if necessary and appropriate, shift staffing to enable smoother operations," the state agencies said. "This action will also limit any contamination that potentially could occur from staff handling used beverage containers."Consumers are encouraged to hold on to their deposit containers for redemption at a later date or to recycle those containers with existing household recycling. Under state regulations, stores are usually required to accept all bottles and cans they sell to the public that carry the five-cent deposit. Any store that fails to accept the containers would normally be subject to fines.

Two state agencies announced they are suspending enforcement of the requirements for retailers to accept beverage containers that have a deposit effective immediately until further notice, or until the current state of emergency is terminated.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office said the action was being taken out of an abundance of caution due to the spread of the coronavirus.


They also hoped the suspension of the requirements would help grocery stores and other retail stores that have been overwhelmed with the amount of customers purchasing supplies.

"Temporarily suspending enforcement of these requirements will allow individual retailers to assess their operations and, if necessary and appropriate, shift staffing to enable smoother operations," the state agencies said. "This action will also limit any contamination that potentially could occur from staff handling used beverage containers."

Consumers are encouraged to hold on to their deposit containers for redemption at a later date or to recycle those containers with existing household recycling.

Under state regulations, stores are usually required to accept all bottles and cans they sell to the public that carry the five-cent deposit.

Any store that fails to accept the containers would normally be subject to fines.