Bottle Bill – Iowa

Iowa’s bottle bill deposit law covers all carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Consumers pay a five-cent deposit when purchasing a beverage container and receive a five-cent refund when returning the container to a store or redemption center.

All covered containers (alcohol and non-alcohol) should be registered with the Iowa Department of Revenue through GovConnectIowa by the “Distributor.” Under Iowa Code section 455C.5(1)(b), the UPC is required for each “beverage container.”

Resources:

• Iowa DNR – Beverage Containers Control Law home page
• Code of Iowa Chapter 455C – Beverage Containers Control
• IAC Chapter 567-107 – Beverage Container Deposits
• Iowa DOR Bottle Bill Update: UPC Upload
• Iowa DOR Bottle Bill FAQ

Is wine included in the bottle bill?

• Yes

Are wine (coolers) products or wine-based ready-to-drink beverages included in the bottle bill?

• Yes

Definitions:

• “Beverage” means wine as defined in section 123.3, subsection 37, alcoholic liquor as defined in section 123.3, subsection 5, beer as defined in section 123.3, subsection 7, mineral water, soda water and similar carbonated soft drinks in liquid form and intended for human consumption.
• “Wine” means any beverage containing more than 5% but not more than 17% alcohol by weight obtained by the fermentation of the natural sugar contents of fruits or other agricultural products but excluding any product containing alcohol derived from malt or by the distillation process from grain, cereal, molasses, or cactus.

Are wine containers included in the bottle bill?

• Yes

Are wine cooler containers included in the bottle bill?

• Yes

Definition:

• “Beverage container” means any sealed glass, plastic, or metal bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage
• Paper cartons (boxed wine, tetra paks) are effectively excluded from the deposit law because they are not glass, plastic, or metal.
• Mini liquor bottles are exempt from labeling but still covered by the law. A label won’t be visible, but they are eligible for redemption as a deposit was paid on them

Is there a DTC Exemption?

• Yes – wine containers sold and shipped to consumers in Iowa under a Wine Direct Shipper permit are excluded from the bottle bill program.

Resources:

• IC § 123.187 Direct shipment of wine — permits and requirements

Labeling Requirements:

567-107.3(455C) Labeling requirements.
107.3(1) All beer, wine, alcoholic liquor, mineral water, soda water and similar carbonated soft drink containers (other than exempt containers) sold or offered for sale in Iowa by a dealer shall have the words “Iowa Refund 5¢ or “IA 5¢ clearly, indelibly and legibly indicated on the container. If the refund value is more than 5 cents, the greater value may be indicated, e.g., “Iowa Refund 10¢ or “IA 10¢. Any abbreviation of the words “Iowa Refund other than as provided in this subrule shall be submitted to and approved by the department.

107.3(2) The minimum size of the words “Iowa Refund 5¢ or “IA 5¢ and all approved abbreviations shall be a minimum of 9-point type (approximately .125 inch or 3 millimeters) if the words are embossed or incised and 18-point type (approximately .25 inch or 6 millimeters) if the words are other wise affixed to the container. A stamp or label may have the words “Iowa Refund 5¢º or “IA 5¢ in less
than 18-point type if the label is submitted to the department and the department determines that the high-contrasting color or the characteristics of the stamp or label make the stamp or label as easy to discern as a stamp or label with 18-point type.

107.3(3) The words “Iowa Refund 5¢ or “IA 5¢ shall be indicated by embossing (raised letters), by incising, by printing in high-contrasting color, by a stamp or label of high-contrasting color, or other method approved by the department securely and permanently affixed to the container.

107.3(4) Rescinded IAB 4/17/02, effective 5/22/02.

107.3(5) The words “Iowa Refund 5¢ or “IA 5¢ shall be on the top of a metal beverage container. The words “Iowa Refund 5¢ or “IA 5¢ shall be on the conical portion of a glass or plastic beverage
container so that the words are visible from above or shall be on the product label. The placement of refund information solely on the bottom of the beverage container is prohibited.

107.3(6) An example of the label or labeled container may, but need not, be submitted to the department for informal approval.

107.3(7) An application for exemption from the requirement of having the words “Iowa Refund 5¢” or “IA 5¢” indicated on the container shall be on Form LQ 37 or on 8½″ × 11″ paper and shall contain:

a. The name, address and telephone number of the applicant;
b. The refund value of the container; and
c. A statement of why the container can be readily and permanently identified by consumers as subject to a deposit.

107.3(8) An example of the container for which the exemption is being requested shall be sent to the department along with the application required in 107.3(7).

107.3(9) The department may exempt the container if the department determines that the container is subject to a deposit of 5 or more cents and that consumers can readily and permanently identify the container as one subject to a deposit.

What are the CRV fees?

• a 5¢ refundable deposit on beverage containers

What is the handling fee?

• 3¢ – paid by distributor to retailer or redemption center:
• 1¢ -paid by Dealer Agents: