Mid-Michigan Dining

One of the new things I had to learn upon moving to Michigan is saving cans.  It’s one of those things I’m kind of shocked that every state doesn’t do, but it took me a while to get used to it.  Now, I have a garbage bag hanging in my closet and everytime I finish a Pepsi, the can goes in that garbage….not the regular one.

I was more than a little surprised that the bottle return includes pop and beer, but not bottled water.  For a while, my girlfriend and I used to go through at least a case a week.  We finally realized all the waste and bought a Brita Water Pitcher.  That cut down drastically on all the waste we contributing. 

I came across a blurb in a newspaper a few weeks ago about HB 6000 which will ammend the current bottle return law to include bottled water. I contacted the bill’s sponsor Rep. Mark Meadows of East Lansing to see why change now. 

…the buying public’s taste has changed from carbonated beverages to bottled water. We are now finding increased litter from the latter on roadsides etc. We need to develop a system to recycle/reuse water bottles. That is why I introduced the bill.

I think this is a great idea.  There’s criticism right now because the retail industry feels like they are becoming Michigan’s trash collectors.  I don’t buy that at all.  We all need to take responsibility.  If the citizens of Michigan are willing to collect trash in their home in order to recycle then the stores should take the responsibility to recycle.  It’s win-win for everyone.  I don’t see a loser here.