(The Center Square) – In 2026, Michigan voters might get the chance to amend and expand the state’s bottle deposit program.
The proposed ballot measure must first successfully make its way through the legislature before appearing on the general election ballot. If passed, it would amend Michigan’s “Bottle Bill” which has been in effect since passed by a voter initiative in 1976.
Currently, the program requires consumers pay a $0.10 deposit per container for soft drinks, soda water, carbonated natural or mineral water or other non-alcoholic carbonated drinks; beer, ale or other malt drinks, as well as mixed-wine and mixed-spirit drinks.
Upon returning the container to a retailer that sells the product, the deposit is returned to the consumer.
Proposed by state Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, the new bipartisan proposal is intended to “modernize” a “staple of Michigan public policy.”
“This unique proposal takes the most popular ideas to modernize our bottle deposit law and places the question before the voters,” McCann said. “Our current law was initiated by the voters, and it feels fitting to give them the opportunity to transform recycling yet again in Michigan. Things like universal redemption and expansion to other containers like water bottles are popular and would continue to build upon this conservation staple in our state.”
First introduced in November, Senate Bill 1112, passed committee in December before stalling in the midst of the legislature’s lame duck session.
It is unclear, though Republicans have joined in sponsoring it, if the legislation will receive enough support from Republicans who are taking power of the state House in January.
If passed, the bill would allow universal redemption of beverage containers, no matter where they were bought.
It would also expand the deposit to include all beverage containers one gallon or less, including water bottles. There would be exceptions allowed for milk, infant formulas, and fruit and vegetable juices in containers one half-gallon or greater, and freezable containers.
The deposit would remain at 10 cents per eligible container.
An adjoining bill, Senate Bill 1113, would also allocate $60 million from Corporate Income Tax revenue to fund implementation and operations of the Bottle Bill through the Beverage Container Handling Fund.
The reform is supported by the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.
“Michigan’s Bottle Bill has helped protect our environment for decades, thanks in large part to distributors who invest $60 million each year to recycle nearly two billion containers,” said Spencer Nevins, president of the association. “Sen. McCann’s legislation is a vital step to ensure the program remains sustainable by providing necessary investment in the Bottle Bill.”
Notably, it is not supported by Michigan’s largest environmental advocacy group, the Michigan Environmental Council. The Council said in a statement they are concerned that the proposal would “divert its environmental funding to corporate giveaways.”
“We can have a better Bottle Bill,” said Conan Smith, president and CEO of the council. “We can collect more containers and provide more convenience with less litter and less hassle. We can give the people what they want, and we can do it all without a corporate giveaway.”