Free Republic

Michigan Officials Bust Bottle-Deposit Fraud Ring DETROIT — They did what Kramer and Newman of "Seinfeld" could not. Thirteen people have been arrested in connection with a smuggling ring that collected millions of beverage containers in other states and cashed them in for 10 cents apiece in Michigan as part of a scam straight out of a "Seinfeld" episode, authorities said Wednesday. Authorities seized more than $500,000 in cash and 15 people were named in a 67-count warrant issued as part of Operation Can Scam, Attorney General Mike Cox said Wednesday. Some suspects were members of two smuggling rings based...

HARTFORD -- The ubiquitous plastic water bottle can be found in garbage bins, landfills, littering the sides of highways and - again - on the agenda of the Connecticut General Assembly. Lawmakers took public comment Wednesday on two pieces of legislation that would add a deposit to the purchase of plastic water bottles, similar to the one that now encourages the recycling of soda and beer containers. One bill also would include pint-sized or smaller alcohol bottles and raise the deposit on drink containers from a nickel to 10 cents. Similar legislation failed last year. Environmentalists told the legislature's Environment...