LANSING (AP) -- The Michigan Senate has passed bills aimed at stopping out-of-state cans from being redeemed for 10 cents. The practice is common in border areas and costs a state environmental cleanup fund millions of dollars a year. Legislation approved early Thursday would increase fines and jail time for redeeming large amounts of non-Michigan containers. Each can and bottle sold in Michigan would be marked with a special code. Stores in border areas would have to retrofit their reverse vending machines to scan the dot to ensure only Michigan-sold containers get a refund. The upgrades would be required only if the state covers the cost.
The House is expected to send the bills to Govenor Jennifer Granholm for her signature before adjourning for the year. The bottle bills are House Bills 5147 and 6441-42 and Senate Bills 1392, 1394, 1532 and 1648.
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