{"id":5596,"date":"2021-02-24T15:05:17","date_gmt":"2021-02-24T20:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/mccann\/?p=5596"},"modified":"2021-02-24T15:05:17","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T20:05:17","slug":"legislators-seek-to-expand-bottle-bill-law-modernize-recycling-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/mccann\/2021\/02\/24\/legislators-seek-to-expand-bottle-bill-law-modernize-recycling-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislators Seek to Expand Bottle Bill Law, Modernize Recycling System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 24, 2021) \u2014 Sen. Sean McCann<\/strong> (D-Kalamazoo) and Rep. Christine Morse<\/strong> (D-Portage) have introduced legislation to update and expand Michigan\u2019s 40-year-old \u201cBottle Bill\u201d law.

Senate Bill 167 and House Bill 4331 would expand the state’s current 10-cent deposit on certain soft drinks, beer, and other carbonated beverages to all other non-carbonated beverages, except for milk containers.

\u201cMichigan\u2019s four decade-old \u2018Bottle Bill\u2019 was an innovative approach to promote recycling and prevent littering,\u201d said Sen. McCann<\/strong>. \u201cIt is the most widely used and accepted state conservation program in state history, and it is time for us to build on that success. We have established a strong recycling culture and it makes no sense that Michigan residents aren\u2019t able to return a deposit on plastic water bottles and other single-use containers.\u201d

Until 2018, Michigan retained a 90% bottle and can deposit return rate, and since 2000, a typical yearly refund total ranged from $346 million to $425 million. With the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan\u2019s unclaimed deposits, known as escheat, are expected to skyrocket upwards from the record high of $42.8 million in 2018<\/a>. When this happens, 75% of the money will be allocated to the state\u2019s Cleanup and Redevelopment Trust Fund, while the other 25% gets returned to Michigan\u2019s retailers.

House Bill 4331 is Rep. Morse\u2019s first bill introduced as a state representative since taking office in January 2021.

\u201cWith these updated, comprehensive approaches to our current recycling system, Michigan citizens will have even more incentives to recycle,\u201d Rep. Morse<\/strong> said. \u201cThese improvements, and additional revenue, will help generate needed funds to protect and preserve our natural resources for generations to come.\u201d

Among other reforms, the bills would:<\/p>\n\n\n\n