The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking Iowans to think twice before signing a petition at their grocery store to abolish the “bottle bill.” The petitions call for replacing the five-cent deposit law with one that’s more convenient, cheaper and effective. Jerry Fleagle, president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association says cans and bottles are -quote- “a direct threat to Iowa’s food supply.” D-N-R program planner Jeff Geerts says that claim is -quote- “unsubstantiated, without merit: it’s false.”He says, “The D-N-R is open to considering alternatives, yet they haven’t heard any detailed plans from the I-G-I-A, adding, “what we have heard does concern us.” Geerts says there’s no evidence pop cans pose a health risk. He also disputes Grocery Association claims without the five-cent deposit law, more cans than the current 92-percent will be recycled. Fleagle says the petitions, which are in nearly one thousand grocery stores statewide, will send a message to the General Assembly.The petitions will be in Iowa stores through December 12th. Fleagle says thousands of signatures have already been collected.
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