This bill proposes the repeal of Iowa's beverage containers control program, commonly known as the bottle bill. The legislation amends several sections of the Iowa Code, including the removal of the requirement for dealers to charge consumers a refund value for beverage containers and the repeal of provisions related to redemption centers. Specifically, it strikes provisions that mandate the refund value be stated on containers and allows for the return of beverage containers in exchange for a refund. The bill also includes a timeline for the repeal, with certain provisions taking effect immediately upon enactment and others being phased out over the following six months.

Additionally, the bill addresses the handling of unclaimed refund values and handling fees, stating that any such amounts held by distributors after the required payments will be considered their property. It allows distributors to claim refunds for barrel taxes on certain beverage containers during a specified 30-day period following enactment. The bill also ensures that any unencumbered funds remaining in the bottle bill fund will be transferred to the state's general fund. While the bill repeals many aspects of the beverage containers control program, it does not eliminate the prohibition against disposing of beverage containers in landfills by certain parties, nor does it remove related definitions from the Code.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 123.26, 455C.5, 455C.2, 455C.4, 123.24, 423.6, 455A.6, 455C.1