recycling

Many modern technologies share small but vital components called critical minerals — and China has a near-monopoly on the supply chain for most of them. But what if we got more of those minerals by recycling our old iPhones, computers, and so many other electronics?

Today, details of a legal battle involving a collective of Michigan wineries, a conversation with musician Rhiannon Giddens, and an overview of Michiganders' bottle return habits.

Since the height of the COVID pandemic, Michigan has seen a decline in its bottle returns. Some argue the almost 50-year-old system should be updated.

Michigan is working toward reducing food waste to help get the state to its carbon emission reduction goals. Some programs include organizations that bring unused food to food banks, and automated robots that pick up food scraps.

The council wants to change what containers residents can return and how they redeem them.

Michigan’s recycling rate has been historically low in the Great Lakes region and is low compared to national averages. Despite that, the rate has been increasing. Industry leaders say tariffs might hurt their bottom line and decrease demand for recycled goods during a potential recession.

The statewide recycling effort could extend the lifespan of Michigan's landfills, which have only 21 years before they are full.

Michigan residents threw away millions of vape pens, $130 million in bottle deposits and literal tons of food waste in 2023. That’s according to a report by the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.

Michigan's bottle deposit law would include many types of non-carbonated drink containers and require stores that take returns to accept all brands, if the bills pass and voters approve.

The state of Michigan has opened nine more permanent drop-off locations for electronic waste since 2021.