Michigan Retailers Proposed Ending Bottle Returns
The Midwest Independent Retailers Association aims to replace in-store container returns with new collection methods.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Local Shops
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The Midwest Independent Retailers Association has called for a two-year sunsetting of Michigan's 1976 Bottle Bill, which requires a 10-cent deposit on beverage containers. The proposal seeks to eliminate in-store returns for over 1,000 retailers across the state.
Why it matters
Retailers cite significant economic burdens from machine maintenance and labor, alongside hygiene concerns regarding pests in store environments. This shift would fundamentally change how residents handle recycling and recoup their 10-cent deposits.
Last year, Michigan's redemption rate was 69.4%, a decline of nearly 20% since 2019. The state program currently governs returns for 1,000 retailers.
The players
Midwest Independent Retailers Association
An organization representing over 1,000 retailers in Michigan that advocates for business policies affecting local shops.
The details
Currently, retailers manage the return process through manual labor or specialized reverse vending machines. The association proposes replacing this system with standalone off-site redemption centers or increased curbside recycling options to alleviate store-level sanitation and storage issues.
Timeline
The Midwest Independent Retailers Association began operating in 1910.
Michigan voters passed the Bottle Bill referendum in 1976.
Bottle and can returns paused temporarily in 2020 due to COVID-19.
The redemption rate data reflects the 2025 calendar period.
Industry advocacy took place at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference.
The Home Front
The proposed legislation marks a major shift in the state's long-standing beverage container deposit law. It reflects broader national tensions between operational costs for local shops and established environmental recycling mandates.
Continue to utilize your local store's return machines for your 10-cent deposits until any formal changes to state law are enacted. Keep an eye on local policy updates, as these could eventually impact your household's routine for managing recyclables.
The takeaway
This proposal highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing retailer overhead with the state's long-standing environmental recycling goals. Residents should track legislative updates from the state government to understand if and when current return procedures will be modified.
Further reading
Learn more about the business environment in Local Shops.
Live Poll
Should local grocery stores still be required to accept empty bottles and cans for recycling?
