Genesee County, Michigan, resident admits to recycling scam

The Livingston (Michigan) Daily reports that a resident of Genesee County will face trial for attempting to return more than 10,000 nonrefundable bottles. 

Brian Edward Everidge of Columbiaville, Michigan, was stopped by motor carrier officer Clifford Lyden April 27, 2016, for driving a Budget box truck at 72 mph on U.S. Route 23. Lyden testified in court that the truck was filled to capacity with clear plastic bags containing aluminum cans. Everidge told Lyden he collected the cans from Lexington, Kentucky, the Livingston Daily reports. 

“He said his intent was to return them,” Lyden said in court. “He just didn’t say where he was going to return them.”

Michigan’s Beverage Containers Act specifies that a person cannot attempt to return a beverage container to a dealer if they know the container to have been purchased outside of the state. If convicted, Everidge faces up to five years in prison, according to the article.

“They caught him too early,” defense attorney Marcus Wilcox told the court, according to the article. “He attempted to attempt to return the bottles … the statute doesn’t fit.”