A recent survey released by the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter finds that Iowa’s bottle deposit program has become harder to use since the 2022 changes, with many residents reporting closures of nearby redemption centers and increased difficulty returning containers.
HIAWATHA, Iowa — The Sierra Club’s survey indicates that the state’s longstanding bottle bill, which offers five cents back for each eligible container, is less accessible now. Many retailers have started declining to accept returns if another redemption option exists within a certain distance, depending on community size. As a result, 62% of respondents said the closest redemption center near them has closed.
Sharon Lutgens, who regularly visits a redemption center in Hiawatha, recalled how much easier it used to be to recycle at local grocery stores.
“A lot of those places don’t have the cans to be turned in anymore,” Lutgens said. “So I figured we have to support this place and keep it going.”
Jessica Mazour of the Sierra Club explains that the 2022 change is making the program harder to use. She notes that allowing retailers to opt out reduces access and undermines the program’s effectiveness.
For some Iowans, the nickel still matters. Ray Buck, a Cedar Rapids recycler, says he can’t bring himself to throw away a nickel by tossing bottles in the trash.
“I’m too cheap to throw a nickel away,” Buck said. “And we’ve got enough trash.” He also acknowledges that for some neighbors, the five cents may be even more valuable.
Mazour warns that reduced access could erode several benefits of the bottle bill — from job support and cleaner roadsides to higher recycling rates.
The Sierra Club and everyday recyclers are urging lawmakers to revisit the policy before the impact becomes even more evident along Iowa roadways.
