Save Michigan’s Bottle Bill!

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Tell Michigan's Legislature to Protect the State's Bottle Bill

Dear Representatives and Senators,

I am writing as a concerned Michigan citizen expressing my opposition to the package of House Bills repealing our bottle bill: HB 6532, HB 6533, HB 6534, HB 6535 and HB 6536.

December 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the implementation of Michigan’s bottle bill by a popular ballot vote. This system has prevented thousands of tons of plastic from polluting Michigan’s Great Lakes and scenic highways.

Introduced to tackle roadside litter, Michigan’s bottle bill has recovered an average of 96% of its bottles since 1990, one of the highest return rates anywhere in the world. When the container deposit was introduced, the law was so successful that it cut littered beverage containers by 84% and all litter by 41%.

This bill aims to scrap a world-class system in favor of a curbside system that recycles just 15% of household waste, on the premise that bottles provide valuable scrap material which can be reinvested into recycling infrastructure. This premise is flawed for the same reason bottles and cans littered our roadsides in the first place. Since beverages are typically consumed on the go, few end up in the recycling can.

Even the small increase in bottles going into curbside recycling would not be an effective revenue source because bottles that end up in curbside recycling are typically too contaminated to be resold on the food and beverage grade recycling market.

With the escalating costs of recycling in the U.S., this bill would both increase the cost to taxpayers, as well as increase pollution: It’s lose-lose.

These bills would undoubtedly increase on the 22 million pounds of plastic already entering the Great Lakes each year. Whilst a 2015 poll demonstrates public approval levels of 88-90% for Michigan's bottle bill.

I ask that you reject House Bills HB 6532, HB 6533, HB 6534, HB 6535 and HB 6536. Thank you for considering our concerns.

Sincerely,
Concerned constituent, Michigan,

For 40 years Michigan’s bottle bill has prevented bottles polluting the state’s roadsides and Great Lakes by incentivizing their collection with a 10 cent deposit. Now, a group representatives from Michigan’s legislature are trying to kill it.

Michigan's bottle bill recovers an average of 96% of the bottles it sells¹. The law was so successful when it was introduced that it cut littered beverage containers by 84% and all litter by 41%!²

Industry lobbyists and their friends in the outgoing legislature are trying to rush through a bill during lame duck season to dismantle this cornerstone law that is keeping Michigan and the Great Lakes clean. By signing this letter, every member of Michigan's legislature will be notified that you stand with container deposits.

This bill is lose-lose. It would increase the cost to taxpayers and would decrease recycling rates: more plastic pollution at a higher cost! We know that if this passes, we will go to the bad old days of roadside bottles and would increase on the 22 million pounds of plastic already entering the Great Lakes each year.³

Tell your representatives not to fall for this industry ruse by rejecting the bill.

Sources:
1. http://www.bottlebill.org/resources/pubs/2017%20Redemption%20Michigan.pdf
2. http://www.bottlebill.org/about/benefits/litter/bbstates.htm
3. https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-great-lakes-2157466316.html