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Michigan recycling rate hits high. Bottle law critics say it could go higher

April 23, 2026

Michigan's recycling rate has reached 26% in 2024, marking the fifth consecutive year of record growth and nearly doubling from the 14% baseline established in 2019. While state officials celebrate the progress toward their 30% goal by 2029, Michigan still lags behind the 32% national average, which some attribute to the state's low landfill disposal costs. The Midwest Independent Retailers Association argues that eliminating Michigan's 50-year-old bottle deposit law and investing in universal curbside recycling would more effectively boost recycling rates.

Who is affected

  • Michigan residents and consumers
  • The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)
  • Governor Gretchen Whitmer
  • The Midwest Independent Retailers Association
  • Meijer stores
  • Michigan cities operating curbside recycling programs
  • Environmentalists and advocacy groups
  • Food stores handling bottle returns

What action is being taken

  • Michigan is tracking and monitoring recycling rates annually
  • State officials are teaching people proper recycling methods
  • Approximately 800,940 tons of material is being recycled in Michigan (from fiscal year 2024 to 2025)
  • Michigan is operating its 1976 bottle deposit law requiring 10-cent returns
  • Many Michigan cities are operating their own curbside recycling programs
  • The Midwest Independent Retailers Association is calling for scrapping the bottle deposit law
  • A Norway-based company is piloting a $1 million grant-funded self-sorting bottle return machine at Meijer

Why it matters

  • This matters because Michigan's recycling performance directly impacts environmental sustainability, waste management, and landfill usage in the state. The debate between maintaining the bottle deposit system versus transitioning to universal curbside recycling represents a significant policy choice that could determine whether Michigan reaches its 30% recycling goal by 2029 and potentially closes the gap with the national average. The relatively low cost of landfill disposal in Michigan creates economic disincentives for recycling, making policy interventions particularly important for environmental protection. Additionally, with bottle return rates declining, the effectiveness of a nearly 50-year-old law is being questioned, potentially affecting how Michigan approaches recycling infrastructure investment going forward.

What's next

  • Michigan is working toward its goal of 30% recycling by 2029
  • The self-sorting bottle return machine is being piloted at Meijer locations
  • Various advocacy groups are examining potential reforms to the bottle deposit law, though no single plan has been agreed upon

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com