2007-10-02 12:25:59 · 5 answers · asked by flyingnudist 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Come on, folks. It is absolutely illegal.
The only cans that can be redeemed are ones in which a deposit was paid. If you know there was never a deposit paid on the can, but redeem it anyway, then it is theft.
Michigan has a statute that specifically prohibits persons from redeeming out-of-state cans.
And, to address the prior post, this is not a commerce issue. The law does not prevent cans from being transported into Michigan. You can take as many cans as you want into Michigan, provided they go to a smelter or landfill. The law only prohibits a person from deliberately misrepresenting those cans to be Michigan cans, for purposes of stealing money from the Michigan recycling fund.
Edit: I found a better link and pasted it below.
2007-10-02 13:31:54 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Placid 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and to address the previous answer, it is ethical because a certain amount of cross-state transactions is built in to the system.
That is similar to how international postage works - stamps are paid for in the currency of the origin country, but most of the expenses are borne by the destination. Since there are imbalances about how much goes form one place to another, these are reconciled by treaty. I think this was addressed a long time ago on straightdope.com, you could search there for details.
Also, for recycling redemption to be treated otherwise would be prohibited under clauses protecting interstate commerce.
So how could doing something so expressly permitted by the Constitution be anything other then ethical? :)
2007-10-02 12:52:04 · answer #2 · answered by Barry C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, but it was a good Seinfeld episode. It was recently national news that Michigan (i believe) has filed charges against some people who conspired to do this. Thing is, Michigan is being robbed when you do this as the intent is for Michigan to use this program to offset its recycling/environmental programs, so you are stealing from the program, thus stealing from the GOV.
See this:
2007-10-02 16:17:06 · answer #3 · answered by ironjag 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure! Otherwise, you can just recycle the cans where you live. Legal, yes, but ethical, no so sure.
2007-10-02 12:34:19 · answer #4 · answered by mrsdebra1966 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As long as you don't tear any labels off of mattresses - yes.
2007-10-02 12:48:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋