Press Release Archive

2006 Press Releases

Press Releases
2007-2008

Expanding Bottle Bill is Bad for Food Retailers, Entire State
Michigan Grocers Foundation 2008 Scholarship Winners
Drive to put Foundation Endowment "Over the Top"     WMU Studen Earns Scholarship
Michigan Grocers Foundation Awards Scholarships

Expanding Bottle Bill is Bad for Food Retailers, Entire State

[June 18, 2008] Following is a press release that was sent to the media and state legislators regarding MGA’s position on MUCC’s initiative to expand Michigan’s Bottle Bill.

 For Immediate Release
Contact:  MGA President Linda Gobler - 517.372.6800, ext. 16

 Expanding Bottle Bill is Bad for Food Retailers, Entire State

LANSING, MI:  On June 17, 2008, the Michigan United Conservation Club announced another initiative to expand Michigan’s 32-year old Bottle Bill to include water and other non-carbonated beverage containers.

Michigan Grocers Association and the nearly 1,000 food retail stores it speaks for strongly oppose expanding Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law.

“It’s not 1976,” says MGA President Linda M. Gobler. “After all we know now about recycling, how can anyone support expansion of the bottle bill? It contributes to low recycling rates, strips important scrap revenues out of the recycling system, creates sanitation and security risks in food stores and places an enormous burden on food retailers – who are significant job providers in our state. We must move beyond the bottle bill and enact real change to our state’s approach to recycling and to the burdens placed on our state’s job providers.”

In 2003, a Michigan Senate task force conducted a comprehensive, 10-month investigation of our state’s poor recycling performance. The task force did not recommend expanding the Bottle Deposit Law because they said, “the current system places too many burdens on dealers and distributors.” That system is still in place today.

Expanding the bottle bill is bad for Michigan:

Michigan’s current bottle bill already places tremendous logistical and administrative burdens on the food industry. Expanding an inherently flawed system would only exacerbate the inefficiencies and costs related to container deposits.

“Pro-expansion comments reveal a frightening lack of knowledge about the container deposit system,” says Gobler. “Some people say, ‘There is no difference between a bottle of soda and a bottle of water.’ Well, yes, there are differences – very important ones.”

Many food retailers don’t have room to store the current returnable containers. So where would they keep the added cans and bottles? Plus, unlike carbonated beverages, there is no uniform local system in place to control the distribution, sale, return and recycling of non-carbonated beverages such as water. Both the initiation of the deposit and redemption of the containers would be a logistical nightmare under expansion.

“Michigan’s bottle bill is working on the backs of conscientious retailers,” says Gobler. “Expanding the number of redeemable containers increases the labor, storage and sanitation strains on these backs. For some – especially the small, family-owned businesses – the increased burden from expansion would be enough to put them out of business. And as businesses go, so do the jobs.”

MGA member retailers who operate stores on Michigan’s borders struggle to compete with out-of-state retailers who face a much lower cost of doing businesses. An expanded bottle bill – coupled with our state’s troublesome Item Pricing Law – may put many of these stores out of business.

While other Great Lakes states average a 26-pecent recycling rate and the national average is nearly 30 percent, Michigan’s rate has plunged to 15 percent. None of the other Great Lakes states have a Bottle Deposit Law.

“Bottle deposit laws ignore the bulk of waste reaching landfills and roadsides. The most prevalent components of roadside litter are paper, building materials and auto parts,” says Gobler. “Adding a dime deposit to more containers would simply remove more valuable aluminum from our struggling recycling centers. Michigan needs a comprehensive process for recycling that includes community drop-off centers and increased curbside recycling.”

Bringing dirty bottles and cans into food stores compromises our food safety concerns. The practice is in direct conflict with increasing federal and consumer demands for higher food safety standards.

By now, we hope people are aware of the alarming things brought into food stores every day via returnable containers: cockroaches and other insects, mice and mice nests, human waste, used hypodermic needles and condoms, tobacco chew and cigarette butts, rotted food residue, and gasoline. These items travel from resident to food retailer to distributor.

All along this filthy trail handling and counting is required. Obviously, the health, safety and security concerns will only get worse if more containers are hauled into food stores.

“MGA supports legislation to create a fund to encourage more comprehensive recycling in Michigan,” says Gobler. “The retail food industry has long supported measures that capture the majority of solid waste to expand recycling programs statewide, build a better recycling collection and processing infrastructure, and spur recycling-related job growth.”  Back to Top

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Scholarship winners are chosen each spring by an independent and impartial selection committee comprised of professional educators. The committee reports that they received a record number of applications this year — over 320 students applied. In evaluating the applicants, the committee considers academic record, test scores, extracurricular activities and recommendations.

A 2008 graduate of Troy Athens High School, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was president of the National Honors Society and the Robotics Club. He was also active in cross country and track and received the following recognition: AP Scholar – Economics (2007); English (2007) AP Scholar with Distinction – College Board (2007); Most Dedicated – Cross Country (2007); Scholar Athlete – Cross Country (2006 and 2007), Track (2005 and 2006), Football (2004 and 2005); Scholar Athlete – District wide (2008); Somerset Academic Excellence Award (2004-2008)’ and Summa Cum Laude (2004-2008).

He is eligible for the scholarship because his mother, Marlene, works for MGA Member Meijer.

A 2008 graduate of Rochester Adams High school, with a 3.99 GPA, she was named Top Scholar for the graduating class. She was captain of her school’s soccer team for the past two years and will be playing for Vanderbilt in the fall. A member of the National Honor Society, Elizabeth also played varsity tennis, ran cross country and participated in various community service activities through her church, school and with the Pepsi Bottle Group.

She is eligible for the scholarship because her father, Christopher, works for MGA Associate Member Pepsi Bottling Group. 

She graduated from Caro High School in 2008 with a 3.94 GPA. Her extra curricular activities/honors include varsity soccer (Captain); Girl Scouts (Gold Award); Church Youth Group; Caro Exchange Club Student of the Year, Marching Band Section Leader; High School Concert Band and National Honor Society.

Timmins is eligible for the scholarship because her father, Garry, works for MGA Associate Member Michigan Sugar Company.

The Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship Program was established by MGA’s Board of Directors to honor former board chairman “Paulie” Felice. He and his family owned and operated the Felice and Valuland Food Centers in Waterford, Macomb and Sterling Heights.

The one-year scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors, college freshmen, sophomores or juniors who are the children of employees of MGA member retailers or suppliers or who are part-time student employees of MGA member companies for at least six months of the year in which the scholarships are awarded.

In March 2008, a significant milestone was reached 10 years after MGA established the scholarship program. Thanks to some very generous giving to the tax-exempt Michigan Grocers Foundation the goal of securing a number of annual Paul M. Felice endowed scholarships has been realized. For a scholarship application, see www.michigangrocers.org or call (800) 9-GROCER.  Back to Top

Drive to put Foundation Endowment "Over the Top" by Year's End

November 6, 2007

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the untimely passing of Paul M. Felice, “Paulie” to his friends.  Felice and his family operated the Felice and Valuland Food Centers in Waterford, Macomb, and Sterling Heights.  A universally respected and successful businessman, Paulie Felice was a tireless volunteer leader within Michigan Grocers Association for more than a dozen years.

MGA Board members began the process of honoring the memory of their former chairman in November 1997 by incorporating Michigan Grocers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) educational organization.  The Foundation was established to accept tax-deductible contributions from individuals and businesses to support a Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship Program benefiting MGA members and their associates.

Since that time, the Foundation has provided a limited number of Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarships each year while pursuing its goal of a self-sustaining endowment fund that will support the scholarship program long into the future.  Generous contributions from MGA members and the Association’s Fall Golf Classic have brought the endowment to near reality.

“I am happy to report that we are within $25,000 of achieving the initial endowment goal,” said Foundation Trustee and President, Linda M. Gobler.  “It is our strong desire to pay tribute to Paulie by meeting this important objective in this, the 10^th anniversary year.”

The tax-exempt Michigan Grocers Foundation is led by a volunteer Board of Trustees that includes Susan Felice-Herzfeld, Linda Gobler, and MGA chairman Warren Disch of Supervalu-Central Region.  Donations in support of the scholarship program endowment can include corporate contributions, private foundation grants, and fully tax deductible personal checks. Gifts of stocks, bonds and other securities, as well as bequests and deferred gifts are also possible.

“We are grateful for all the support the program has received in the last ten years,” said Gobler.  “And we’re asking for special consideration this year; welcoming one-time gifts, a little extra from regular supporters, and certainly first-time contributors.  This effort is a tribute to Paulie’s legacy and a benefit to our industry’s college-bound students.”

Program contributions can be sent to Michigan Grocers Foundation, 221 N. Walnut Street, Lansing MI 48933.  For further information on planned giving options, consult an estate planner, your attorney or call Linda Gobler at (800) 947-6237 ext. 16.  Eligibility criteria and application procedures for the Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship Program can be viewed at http://www.michigangrocers.org/mgf.htm.  Back to Top

Western Michigan University Student Earns Michigan Grocers Foundation Scholarship