In the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts, we have a hidden tax known as the bottle and can deposit. Every time you buy something in a can or a bottle, you pay a five cent deposit. So for every twelve-pack of Diet Coke I buy, I have to plunk down an additional $0.60 for this hidden tax. Now, I can return these bottles and cans back to the place of purchase for the refund of said deposit. There is a little problem with this. If I return a bottle or can to a place that doesn’t sell that exact item, they don’t have to refund the deposit. That means I can’t return a beer bottle to the grocery store.
Okay… I still need to be environmentally good and have to recycle my crap. That means I put my stuff out on the street, and the city collects my recyclables. What happens to the deposits that aren’t refunded? The state gets to keep it. Thus, it’s a hidden tax.
Today, I returned a full bin of cans and bottles, only to collect $3.40. Most people just put it out on the street for the city (or the homeless people) to collect.
So few states put a deposit on cans and bottles anymore. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts should put a stop to this hidden tax.