Michigan Lawmakers Look To Update 50-Year-Old Bottle Return Law as Return Rates Fall

Return rates for bottles in Michigan have plunged to 70% in recent years, a stark drop from the near-perfect rates seen before. This shift has sparked action in the state legislature.

State Senator Sean McCann introduced fresh rules this June. His plan would add water bottles to the deposit system. It would also create central spots where folks could return containers from any store, not just where they bought them.

"I am proud to continue my longstanding efforts to expand Michigan's highly successful Bottle Law. It is well past time to ensure that plastic water bottles are added to eligible containers for a deposit return, and to also establish universal redemption of containers so consumers can easily return them to any stor," McCann said in a statement.

Right now, the deposit system covers just over half of drink containers sold statewide. Many common items like water bottles and juice boxes don't qualify for the 10-cent return.

The state started this system back in 1976 to fight litter. Back then, 10 cents went a lot further.

Store owners aren't happy about the proposed changes. "You're gonna have retailers at capacity waiting on pickups from distributors before they can accept more containers," said Drew Beardslee from the Michigan Retailers Associatio per Bridge Michigan.

Kerrin O'Brien runs the state's recycling group and wants changes, but with a twist. "There's a system where you create an account and have a special QR code and can print out stickers that you put on special bags. And so you put this sticker on extra bottles and cans, then you simply return that bag to a redemption center," O'Brien said according to WILX.

A bright spot might be found in copying Oregon's system. Their BottleDrop centers let people bring in mixed containers all at once.

If McCann's plan succeeds, voters will get their say in 2026. These would mark the first big updates since the law started almost five decades ago.