Des Moines, Iowa — A new poll finds Iowa’s “Bottle Bill” remains popular with 84 percent of those surveyed.
Sixty-one percent said they want more cans and bottles added to the nickel deposit list and more places to return empties. Cleaner Iowa, a non-profit that supports the Bottle Bill, financed the survey. R.G. Schwarm is the group’s executive director.
The poll was conducted by Selzer and Company, the firm that does The Des Moines Register Iowa Poll. Ann Selzer says after respondents heard a list of arguments for and against the law, the number who supported expanding it grew to 70 percent.
Mick Barry, president of MidAmerica Recycling in Des Moines, is a member of the national recycling coalition board of directors.
A five-cent deposit is charged on bottles and cans of beer, carbonated beverages, wine and liquor. The poll found a narrow majority would support raising the deposit fee to 10 cents. A solid majority said retailers that sell beverages should take the empties and pay back deposits. State legislators are considering making changes to the Bottle Bill.
