Questions from a Redemption Center Owner

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by Lana Sargent

I have owned an Iowa redemption center since 1983 so I see every day how successful it can be. Iowa has over 2 billion soda and beer cans sold every year, with over 85% being  reclaimed, and recycled, plus another 600,000,000 non- carbonated no deposit containers.

So the first question is where do you want them to be?

Choice 1: In your ditches, landfills, waterways
Choice 2: An effective, cheap to operate recycling program

If it is 2—  the question becomes what kind of program do you want to support?

1: curb side programs which are taxpayer funded and retrieve about 35% of the containers
2: A good recycling refund program which recovers over 85% of all the covered containers, promotes small business, and jobs, and requires very little maintenance or support from the state.

Life is about choice. choose Wisely.