Editorial

Expanded bottle bill would be clean deal for Michigan

Could it really happen this fast? Michigan is so overdue to expand its bottle deposit law to noncarbonated drinks that it's a shock to think it could suddenly get done after years of talk but no action. But if the Legislature, as soon as next week, can pass the expansion as part of a bill to crack down on fraudulent bottle returns, then three cheers.

The Michigan United Conservation Clubs is putting on a full-court press to get legislators to amend the anti-fraud bills by adding the 10-cent deposit to containers for water, juice, tea, sports drinks and other beverages not covered under the bottle-deposit law that Michigan voters approved 32 years ago. Because the anti-fraud package is tied into an appropriations bill, it could come up for a vote before the Legislature's summer break starts.

MUCC sees this as a unique opportunity, a rare time when the bottle bill will be opened up for debate so more of the unclaimed deposits -- mostly used now for environmental projects -- can go back to retailers. The money would help store owners reprogram their so-called reverse vending machines for the new bar code required under the anti-fraud law. Cracking down on bottle-deposit fraud already has wide support in both chambers.

Sen. Michael Switalski, D-Roseville, plans to introduce the amendment to cover more containers, using the language in a bill he introduced in early 2007. "It's a super-tough hill to climb," he said, "... but the opportunity is better now than at any other time in the last 10 years."

The logic for extending the deposit is irrefutable. Even people who limit their shopping to what they can grab at the gas station know that water, sports drinks, juice and tea take up as much shelf space as colas and other carbonated drinks. How long has it been since you've seen a pop bottle blowing down the street? Yet you probably saw a water bottle on the ground yesterday.

Because the bottle bill is a voter-approved initiative, any amendment requires a three-quarters vote in both chambers. But retailers may even be able to make peace with the bill knowing that, while returns will increase, they'll get help fighting off the fraudulent ones. Ultimately, everyone should want to pitch in.

To contact your elected officials, go to www.legislature.mi.gov and follow the "Contact Your Senator" and "Contact Your Representative" links at the bottom of the page.

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