(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on an Iowa Senate committee have approved making changes in Iowa’s Bottle Bill — tripling the amount of deposit fees that go to redemption centers that accept empties and pay back the nickel deposits on cans and bottles. Democrats say the entire package of changes will crush the Bottle Bill. Republican Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig says it’s time to stop waiting for grocers and beverage distributors to come up with a compromise.

“Iowans, I think, are increasingly and justifiably enraged that we’ve let this go this far,” Schultz says. If the bill becomes law, beverage distributors would maintain mobile trailers that accept empties AND the state’s beer excise tax would be reduced next year. The bill also says grocery stores could quit taking back cans and bottles in 2023.

“This is a very real move to reinvigorate and modernize Iowa’s decades old Bottle Bill,” Schultz says. “Every poll shows, every forum that I go to shows…and my own family shows that they want to have it. Iowans love the Bottle Bill.” A survey conducted last month found the Bottle Bill remains popular with 84 percent of eligible Iowa voters. Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, says it’s been one of the most popular laws on the books for years.

“This bill, the way it is written, is the de facto end of the Bottle Bill,” Dotzler says. “…You’re not going to be able to find a place to get rid of your bottles and cans.” Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, says that’s already happened — with no consequences to retailers. “The Bottle Bill’s on life support and it’s on life support because HyVee and Fareway and convenience store chains have quit taking the containers that consumers buy,” Bolkcom says. Schultz says while there could be some tweaks, his overall reform plan is the only viable option that could pass the Senate and the House.

“This is the opportunity to make the Bottle Bill live for another 10 years,” Schultz says. “It’s the only way to look at it. It’s hard to imagine any other way you could look at this situation.” The bill passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee Thursday and is now eligible for debate in the full Senate.