Are Michigan Retailers Required To Accept Your Bottles and Cans For A Deposit?

Michigan is only one of a handful of states that allow you to take back your bottles and cans from any drink you've purchased in the state to redeem for a deposit. That's why whenever you look at the side of any cans or bottles, no matter what part of the country you're in, you'll see this printed:

The The Michigan Bottle Deposit Law (or Bottle Bill) was initiated in 1976 to help encourage our residents to recylce some of the not so reusable containers we purchase to consume beverages. It states that all retailers are required to sell beverages of any kind in a recyclable container.

Retailers take your .10 deposit and hold it until you return their reusable and recylcable container to them. So, in order to charge the deposit, they must also honor the other end of the deal by accepting them back from customers.

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However, in recent years after the pandemic, many gas stations and retailers have started to implement cut off times during the day in which they refuse to accept your bottles or cans back. Under the current law, this is vaguely legal.

However, a new law that is working it's way through the Michigan legistature would set universal times that all retailers must honor to accept your cans and bottles. And if they don't, they would be fined.

So, what do you do right now if you try to return your cans and bottles and they tell you no? The state of michigan suggests first esclating the interaction to a manager to make sure it's truly store policy. If that doesn't work, they encourage you to report the business to the state so they can enforce the law.

So, yes- they do always have to accept your bottles and cans, and soon there will be a forced window of time.