Posted by Jane Clark

Contact: Dewayne Johnson (515) 265-1596   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Recycling Association Opposes Proposed Change to Bottle Bill

DES MOINES - November 30, 2001 - Today's proposal by the Iowa Grocery
Industry Association to replace Iowa's Bottle & Can Deposit Law (the Bottle
Bill) with curbside-only collection would be a step backwards for recycling
and for litter control in Iowa.

"The grocers appear to have forgotten that the current law already allows
grocery and convenience stores to designate redemption centers to handle
bottles and cans for them," said Dewayne Johnson, Executive Director of the
Iowa Recycling Association.  "They are claming that the bottle bill causes
food safety problems. People are already skittish about anthrax, now is not
the time to add to this country's problems.  It looks like a smokescreen to
try to remove them from their environmental responsibility.  There has never
been a health violation in an Iowa grocery store due to the bottle bill."

Redemption centers have a similar opinion: "My employees handle bottles and
cans all day, every day and have never been infected with e-coli or
listeria."  Troy Willard, The Can Shed in Cedar Rapids.  "It they were
right, we would be at far greater risk than a clerk who only handles bottles
occasionally.  It's simply not a problem."

The Bottle Bill works to keep Iowa recycling and keep Iowa clean.  Iowa
recovers approximately 93% of the containers covered by the Bottle Bill.
Comparatively, Nebraska (a non-bottle bill state) recycles only 26% of their
bottles and cans through their curbside-only programs.

Additionally, the bottle bill means economic development and better markets
for recycled materials in Iowa.  Iowa recycling industries receive twice as
much in payment for plastic bottles collected through the bottle bill as
compared to Nebraska's curbside collection program because their bottles are
contaminated with other plastics and then need to be separated.

"The grocers said they plan to petition Iowans about their feelings on the
issue, but I think we can save them the trouble. I've got 56,000 names and
three governor's endorsements from last year's drive to expand the bottle
bill and University of Northern Iowa conducted a poll that showed 86%
support the bottle bill in it's current form.  I think we know how Iowans
feel," said Johnson

The Iowa Recycling Association is a non-profit organization with more than
450 members statewide.  It provides a forum to learn about recycling and
waste reduction issues.  Members include recycling organizations,
businesses, government officials, non-profit organizations, and individual
citizens.

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