COLDWATER (WLKI) - Michigan grocery stores and independent retailers are calling for major changes to the state's bottle deposit law, arguing the current return system creates sanitation concerns and significant costs for food retailers.
The Midwest Independent Retailers Association says 90 percent of retailers surveyed support moving bottle and can returns entirely out of grocery stores.
Retailers say they must handle sticky containers and store returned bottles and cans in the same facilities where fresh food is sold. They also point to costs involving reverse-vending machines, employee labor and storage space.
A University of Michigan study cited by the association estimates the current system places about $90 million in cost pressures on retailers each year.
The state's 10-cent bottle deposit law was created in 1976. Retail advocates say the system should be updated as curbside recycling has become more widely available across Michigan.
Supporters of changes note consumer return rates reportedly fell to about 70 percent in 2025, compared with historical rates near 90 percent. They say more than 65 percent of Michigan communities now have curbside recycling access.
The retailers association says it is not seeking to end recycling efforts, but wants lawmakers to consider modern collection alternatives that would remove the return burden from grocery stores. The information was reported by WTVB.