Every Bottle Back illustrates benefits of public-private partnership in Michigan

According to the American Beverage Association, Washington, and the Michigan Soft Drink Association, since 2020 through Every Bottle Back, nine communities across Michigan have received more than $1.5 million in investments to improve recycling infrastructure, enhance recycling programs and increase consumer education:

• Ann Arbor, which received $800,000 in November 2020 to help rebuild and reopen the city’s material recovery facility to better sort and process recyclables;
• Ypsilanti Township, which received $243,000 in October 2022 for new recycling carts and curbside collection service to help ensure the beverage industry’s bottles can be recycled into new bottles;
• Bay City, which received $240,000 in December 2022 for new recycling carts;
• Trenton, which received $106,400 in May 2022 for new recycling carts and single-stream collection service;
• Marquette City, which received $99,200 in September 2022 to provide residents with new, high-capacity recycling carts to increase the collection of recyclable materials;
• Ishpeming, Marquette and Negaunee Townships, which received $68,800 total in April 2021 for new, high-capacity recycling carts and for direct-to-consumer outreach about best recycling practices; and
• Michigamme Township, which received $8,800 in May 2022 for new recycling carts that allowed the township to start a new curbside collection service.

Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) announced the total amount of residential recyclables collected in fiscal year 2022 increased by 66,000 tons to  620,494 tons. EGLE also announced that it has allocated $15.6 million in 2023 grant funding, available through public-private partnerships, to help fund recycling infrastructure investments and projects in Michigan.

Every Bottle Back is one such example. Over the last two years, the nine investments through Every Bottle Back have been the result of public-private partnerships with local municipalities, environmental and sustainability leaders and EGLE. Investment from the beverage industry helped leverage an additional $7 million in community and state matching funds as part of Every Bottle Back. Collectively, these investments are projected to yield more than 10 million new pounds of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) over the next decade.

“The Michigan Soft Drink Association is taking action to improve our state’s recycling rates,” says Derek Bajema, president and CEO of Michigan Soft Drink Association, Lansing, Michigan. “By investing in new infrastructure, enhancing our current recycling systems and helping to educate consumers about best recycling practices, we are creating a cleaner environment and a more circular economy. Michigan’s soft drink producers and distributors strive to be leaders in sustainability, and these investments are helping us achieve this goal.”

“Recycling in Michigan is making real progress because of shared investments by local and state government working closely with organizations and initiatives like Every Bottle Back,” says Matt Flechter, recycling market development specialist with EGLE. “A circular economy is being achieved because of partnerships like these.”

“Every Bottle Back is making a real difference across Michigan. It is exactly the type of initiative that’s needed to bridge the gap and make recycling affordable and efficient for Michigan communities,” adds Kerrin O’Brien, executive director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition, Lansing.

"Michigan is an excellent example of how public-private partnerships can make systematic, scalable recycling improvements at a statewide level," says Jill Martin, director of community programs at The Recycling Partnership, Washington. "The Recycling Partnership is excited to continue this work and collaboration bringing access and recycling education to Michigan residents."