Donated water bottles

LANSING — The State House and Senate unanimously voted to pass a supplemental bill package today, which includes $28 million in relief that will aid recovery efforts in Flint.

“Thanks to the swift action of the Legislature, this $28 million will provide the immediate resources needed in Flint,” Gov. Snyder said. “I want the residents of Flint to know this supplemental funding is just one part of the solution for healing the city. The immediate needs will be met, but so will the long-term needs of residents with regard to public health, infrastructure replacement and community support.”

The package will allocate funding to supply free bottles of water, faucet filters and testing kits for Flint residents; replace fixtures in schools; treat affected children and help relieve residents of water bill payments.

To recycle the thousands of water bottles being distributed to Flint during the water crisis, a coalition of state, Genesee County, city of Flint and other partners are working to educate residents on the benefits of recycling.

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who announced the plan, said the goal is to provide residents with convenient options to drop off the bottles.

The plan includes drop-off sites for recyclables and increased promotion of the curbside pickup already offered to Flint residents.

“While bottled water has been key to making sure residents have safe drinking water, it’s important to make sure we’re not harming our environment as a result,” Calley said in a statement. “The new recycling initiative brings together state, county and city partners to make sure we are keeping plastic bottles from entering landfills or littering Flint streets.”