2023 House Bill 4904

Trade: containers; beverages and beverage containers subject to bottle deposit and distribution of revenue; expand and revise.

A bill to amend 1976 IL 1, entitled “A petition to initiate legislation to provide for the use of returnable containers for soft drinks, soda water, carbonated natural or mineral water, other nonalcoholic carbonated drink, and for beer, ale, or other malt drink of whatever alcoholic content, and for certain other beverage containers; to provide for the use of unredeemed bottle deposits; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies and officials; and to prescribe penalties and provide remedies,” by amending the title and sections 1, 2, 2a, 3c, 3e, and 3f (MCL 445.571, 445.572, 445.572a, 445.573c, 445.573e, and 445.573f), the title as amended by 1996 PA 384, section 1 as amended by 1989 PA 93, section 2 as amended by 1998 PA 473, section 2a as added by 2008 PA 389, section 3c as amended by 2022 PA 198, and sections 3e and 3f as added by 1996 PA 384, and by adding section 3g.

Mackinac Center Analysis

Mandates clear labeling of refund values and restricts the sale of nonreturnable containers under certain conditions. The bill also sets forth regulations for the sale and return of metal, glass, and plastic containers to improve deposit refunds and container management, introducing a unique identification system for returnable containers to facilitate their processing by reverse vending machines.

Introduced in the House

July 18, 2023

Introduced by Rep. Christine Morse (D-40) and 10 co-sponsors

Co-sponsored by Reps. Jaime Churches (D-27), Matt Koleszar (D-22), Julie Brixie (D-73), Felicia Brabec (D-33), Penelope Tsernoglou (D-75), Erin Byrnes (D-15), Betsy Coffia (D-103), Kara Hope (D-74), Veronica Paiz (D-11) and Regina Weiss (D-6)

Referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform