Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa’s popular Bottle Bill appears to be headed for major changes — or it may wind up on the trash heap.
Two key Republican lawmakers say they may consider getting rid of Iowa’s Bottle Bill if the legislature can’t agree on how to fix it this year. Republican Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig led debate last week of a bill that makes changes in the system for redeeming nickel deposits on empty bottles and cans.
A bill eligible for House debate would make some of the same changes as the Senate-passed legislation. Both would let grocery stores stop accepting empty bottles and cans, continue to let beverage distributors keep the money from unredeemed containers and increase funding for redemption centers. Republican Representative Brian Lohse of Bondurant has been leading House negotiations on the future of the Bottle Bill.
Under a plan that could be debated in the House this week, grocery stores would be able to opt out of the redemption process and Susan Collin, president of the national Container Recycling Institute, says that would make it harder for consumers to find places to take their empty containers to get their nickel deposits back.
The wholesale distributors that deliver cases of beer, pop and alcohol to Iowa stores will keep an estimated 44 million dollars in deposits that aren’t claimed this year. Collins says the state should make it as easy as possible for consumers to get back the deposit they pay on each container.
All but one Republican in the Iowa Senate passed a bill to increase the fees paid to redemption centers and let retailers out of participating in the bottle and can redemption system. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says it’s the first time in more than four decades a bill to make changes in the Bottle Bill has made it this far.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says there are ways to make the program work long term that are included in the plans being discussed by lawmakers.
Democrats say the GOP plans under consideration this year will kill the Bottle Bill and reward grocery and convenience stores that have failed to follow current law and pay deposits on empty containers.
