BOSTON ?" Supporters of expanding the Massachusetts bottle bill to include fruit and sports drinks, and water bottles will push for that this year, the Milford Daily News reports.

"We think we can capture the momentum from the past session and go all the way this session," said Janet Domenitz, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group. Her organization, joined by the Sierra Club, among other groups, has placed a top priority on expanding the bottle bill.

Last year, the bill sailed through the Joint Committee of Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy and even was a part of the governor??s budget, but the proposal died in committee. For nearly three decades, residents have paid a nickel on beer, carbonated soda and mineral water bottles. Currently, the bottle deposit generates around $37 million yearly for the state.

The expansion bill would increase the number of bottle categories under the deposit and up the handling fee at redemption centers and retail locations to 3 cents per bottle. Domenitz points to the increased consumption of spring or filtered water, and energy and sports drinks in plastic bottles as reasons for expanding the bill.

State Rep. Alice Wolf will sponsor the House bill, which will save localities an estimated $4 to $6 million in littering expenses. She says she has public support of the proposal.

However, bottlers and beverage makers oppose the expansion. "People are wed to this bottle bill and think it??s a very effective way for recycling," said Christopher Crowley, vice president of Polar Beverages. "But it??s really about as ineffective as you can get."

He says with curbside recycling in many municipalities is a more effective way to recycle bottles. Crowely is joined by the Massachusetts Food Association in opposition to the proposal as a tax on consumers. Plus, to handle more bottle deposit returns, stores would have to get more recycling machines.