For immediate release – Thursday, January 6, 2005.

Contact Bob Brammer – 515-281-6699


Attorney General to Fareway:
Accept Bottles and Cans Unless There is an Approved Alternative Redemption
Center


        Des Moines.   The Attorney General’s Office has sent a letter to Fareway
Stores, Inc., advising the corporation that many of its grocery stores are
violating the Iowa Beverage Container Law by refusing to accept and pay
refunds on beverage containers where no alternative redemption center has
been approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

        “It’s the law, and it’s clear,” said Attorney General Tom Miller.  “The law
requires Fareway -- and any other store that sells beverages -- to accept
beverage containers and pay the refund to customers until there is an
approved redemption center.

        “Citizens who pay beverage container deposits are entitled to return those
containers to the grocery store and receive a refund of the deposit,” Miller
said.

        The letter to Fareway from Assistant Attorney General David Sheridan, head
of the Attorney General’s Environmental Law Division, asks Fareway to
immediately cease refusing to accept and pay refunds on beverage containers
for redemption where there is no DNR order approving an alternative
redemption center.  The letter asks Fareway to confirm compliance by
providing the Attorney General with a copy of a corporate directive
requiring each store to comply and to post notice to their customers that
beverage containers will be accepted and refunds will be paid unless an
alternative redemption center is approved.   The letter was issued Tuesday,
Jan. 4.

        The letter says the Attorney General’s Office is prepared to file a lawsuit
seeking an injunction if Fareway fails to comply.


        The Attorney General’s Office contacted Fareway at the request of the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, which is responsible for administering the
Beverage Container Law.  The letter noted that the DNR has attempted
unsuccessfully since November 2004 to bring Fareway into compliance.

        Numerous citizen complaints have been received by the DNR, by several
county attorneys offices, including Black Hawk, Cerro Gordo and Story
Counties, and by the Attorney General's Office concerning the refusal of
Fareway stores to accept and redeem beverage containers as required by law.


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