LANSING, Mich. — There is a brand new campaign in Michigan that aims to increase bottle and can recycling and redemption rates.
Since Michigan began giving 10 cents back for returned bottles and cans in 1976, it has had one of the leading redemption rates in the country.
But since the COVID-19 pandemic, that redemption rate has seen a drop from around 90% to 73% in 2023, according to 2023 State of Michigan Treasury data. The low redemption rate last year resulted in an estimated $105 million worth of cans and bottles that weren't returned.
That's where the "Take 'em Back" campaign comes in.
The Take 'em Back campaign is urging Michiganders to redeem their bottle deposits by returning their empty cans and bottles.
Returning your cans and bottles doesn't only benefit your wallet, it also means a more sustainable future by reusing materials and reducing carbon emissions.
According to the Take 'em Back campaign, recycling bottles and cans can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%.
Michigan law requires that stores that sell containers with a deposit also must accept returns. You are encouraged to contact the Michigan Attorney General's office if you encounter a store that sells deposit containers but doesn't accept returns.
The Take 'em Back campaign, funded by grant money from the state, will officially kick off on Memorial Day Weekend.
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