There is talk in Michigan of adding water bottles to the list of beverage containers that require deposits (see this article in today's Detroit Free Press). I've been a life-long Michigan resident and I remember when the current bottle deposit law was first enacted. Grocers and beverage companies complained about the extra costs, but the deposit resulted in 97% of beer and pop cans and bottles being returned and recycled. Litter along the highways virtually disappeared overnight because those cans and bottles were no longer worthless trash - they were worth a dime apiece.
Bottled water wasn't in vogue when the bottle deposit law was enacted, so now there is a push to add the deposit to water bottles as well. And once again grocers and water bottlers are complaining about their added costs. I'm sorry, but sometimes we have to look beyond costs and inconveniences and do what is right. I went for a lovely nature walk a few weeks ago along a river. At one point there was a log jam in the river, and behind it there were at least a hundred discarded water bottles floating in the water. That really disgusted me to see that lovely setting marred by those bottles. What kind of people just toss those bottles instead of putting them in the trash?
According to statistics in the article, over 1.1 Billion water bottles end up in landfills in Michigan alone. That's a lot of plastic bottles that will take eons to break down. They estimate that only 20% of water bottles are currently recycled in the state, but I think that's a high estimate. I rarely drink bottled water, but several of my co-workers do. I have a bag in my office that I have trained them to put their empty bottles in and I bring them home to recycle them. I really hope that water bottles are added to the bottle deposit law. Yes, it will be a hassle, but I believe it will cut down on the bottles collecting along the roads and in natural areas and will reduce the bottles going into the landfills. Yes, it will probably also reduce purchases of bottled water, but is that really such a bad thing?
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Comments: 9
I remember years ago when soda pop bottles were made of glass. It was common practice to redeem them and, subsequently, I never threw away a glass soda pop bottle.
I, too, am old enough to remember when that law was first enacted in Michigan. I didn't much care at the time. I was in high school and had no bills.
I care a heck of a lot about my pop costing so much every time I go to the grocery store now! As a matter of fact, I avoid buying it in favor of water and juice. (We don't have good tap water in Romeo.)
I lived in San Diego, California for more than 19 years. Californians pay a 1-cent deposit on pop bottles. I don't recall ever seeing discarded pop bottles/cans on the ground or in the ocean. It's beautiful there, I think.
Michigan residents are having a hard time paying bills as it is, harder than any other state, I hear. Part of the fault lies with Michigan government squeezing us too hard.
I hear ya about Michigan's government. It seems that their solution to everything is to raise our taxes and fees. People are out of work and our property values are falling, so that's less tax revenue for the government, so instead of addressing the issues they just raise taxes some more to try and make up the difference. And they wonder why businesses and people are leaving?