Retailers and redemption centers would be able negotiate the price they pay when you bring back empty bottles and cans under legislation that cleared a Senate Committee. The committee’s members, though, say the bill is unlikely to become law. Senator Mary Lundby, a republican from Marion, says she voted for the bill merely to ensure the Bottle Bill debate takes place because she fears the issue will be bottled up in a House Committee. She says rather than “stand on my soapbox and preach to people about what I think ought to be done today, I thought it would be a better idea to have something out on the floor.” She says she wanted to beat the funnel deadline and have something that wasn’t in control of the House Ways and Means Committee.Senator Joel Bolkcom, a democrat from Iowa city, says the bill has major flaws that will be fixed when the full Senate debates it.”The decision not to bring it forward would have killed the discussion. Bringing it forward keeps the discussion alive,” Bolkcom says. A House committee on Wednesday endorsed the idea of changing the deposit law so that you pay five cents when you buy a beverage, but get back only four cents when you return the empty — and that extra penny goes to the recycler. Bolkcom says when Iowans expect to get their nickel back, and the House proposal would undermine the success of the Bottle Bill. Senator Brian Schoenjahn, a democrat from Arlington, says redemption centers can’t make it under current law. He says the Senate bill is a “platform” to help small recyclers out and still keep the environment clean by encouraging the recycling of beverage containers.
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