LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In 2023 the state of Michigan had its lowest return of 10-cent bottles/cans since at least 1990.

That’s according to the most recent data provided by the state of Michigan.

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Michigan collected $389.5 million in total deposits in 2023 under the Bottle Deposit Law which was signed in 1976. The total amount refunded was $284.6 million, the lowest since at least 1990, which is as far back as online data goes.

The state had its highest revenue year in 1998, when it collected $457.8 million in bottle deposits and returned $443.2 million, a 96.8% return of total revenue collected. By comparison, the state only returned 73% of the total deposit revenue collected in 2023.

There is $1 million of the unclaimed deposits that goes to the Michigan State Police to enforce the act and investigate potential violations. Then 75% of the money goes into the Cleanup and Redevelopment Fund that is used to clean up contaminated sites and the remaining 25% goes back to dealers who handled the empty bottles.