DES MOINES, Iowa — (FROM KCCI.COM)
Iowa lawmakers might be done kicking the can down the road. The Iowa Senate took action Wednesday to revamp the state’s bottle redemption law for the first time in 40 years.
Various versions of bills to change the state law have emerged over the years but have never been fully approved.
Right now, Iowans pay a 5-cent deposit whenever they buy a bottle or can. They get that nickel back if they return the empty to a store or redemption center.
Senate Republicans passed a bill Wednesday that they argue would modernize that system. The plan would send three cents per container to redemption centers. Currently, they earn 1 cent per container, and wholesalers would still get to keep unredeemed deposits.
The bill would also allow Iowa grocery stores and retailers to opt out of accepting bottle and can returns starting in 2023.
If businesses opt out, the state will need more redemption centers to fill the gap.
Democrats and Republicans disagree over whether the increased handling fee is enough incentive for more redemption centers to open.
The Senate bill still needs House approval. House lawmakers have their own bottle bill plan, but they haven’t debated either version yet.
