(LANSING)- State Senator Michael Switalski (D-Roseville) reintroduced legislation on January 27 that would expand Michigan’s bottle deposit law to include water bottles and other non-carbonated beverages. Current Michigan law provides for a 10-cent deposit on carbonated beverages, such as soda pop and beer.

“The original bottle deposit law has proven to be extremely successful in reducing the amount of trash we send to landfills,” said Switalski. “An expansion of the bottle deposit law is an important issue that I have been working on since I was first elected to the Michigan Legislature in 1999. Recycling programs help generate jobs while preserving our environment for everyone to enjoy. I believe that Michigan is long overdue for this change and I urge my legislative colleagues to take up Senate Bill 54 to protect our environment and conserve energy.”

According to statistics from the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, it is estimated than 97 percent of the containers that fall under the current 10-cent bottle deposit law are recycled. However, about 20 percent of water bottles are recycled. Often times, these water bottles are thrown in the trash and end up in crowded landfills or tossed on the side of the road.

“Several polls and surveys conducted over the years have confirmed that the majority of Michigan residents support an expansion of the bottle deposit law,” said Switalski. “Michigan was once at the forefront of this issue when it became the first industrial state to pass a bottle deposit law in the 1970’s. Today, with the increased use of bottled water and other non-carbonated beverages to quench our thirst, it only makes sense to include them in the recycling incentive that we provide for carbonated beverages.”

Senate Bill 54 is currently in the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. Because the legislation amends a citizen initiative, three-quarters of the Michigan Legislature must approve Senate Bill 54 for it to become law.

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