Bottle Bill Passes, Sent to Governor

Another key development that took place this week was the Iowa Senate’s passage of SF 2378, which is the bottle bill. It now awaits Gov. Reynolds’ signature. Lawmakers in the Iowa House passed this bill in mid-April. Current law allows consumers to receive the five-cent deposit they pay on cans and bottles when they recycle them by taking them back to the store or redemption center. Redemption centers currently get a handling fee of one cent per container.

SF 2378 updates the law by raising the handling fee to three cents for redemption centers and participating stores. The bill also allows for mobile redemption systems. The bill also allows retailers to refuse to accept and pay the refund value of an empty beverage container if: (1) the retailer holds a food establishment license to prepare or serve food, has a certified food production manager, and sells time/temperature control for safety food; (2) the retailer has entered into an agreement with an approved redemption center for a mobile redemption system and all of the following apply:

• The dealer provides adequate space, utilities, and internet connection to operate the mobile redemption system, and
• The agreement does not require additional payment to the dealer or the mobile redemption system, and
• The dealer’s place of business is in a county with a population of more than 30,000 and within 10 miles of an approved redemption center or if the dealer’s place of business is in a county with a population of 30,000 or fewer and within 15 miles of an approved redemption center.

These provisions take effect Jan. 1, 2023. ABI was registered neutral on the bill.