After resolving complaints about full deposit refunds on cans and bottles, B&L’s Drive-Thru redemption center is once again accepting recyclables.

In May, the Webster County Attorney’s Office sent a cease and desist letter to the redemption center after complaints about long-standing practices in which the center only paid 4 cents per container on returned cans and bottles, which is illegal by state law. Deposits paid upon beverage purchase are a nickel per container.

“Redemption centers and dealers (stores) are required to provide the full refund amount to consumers,” on bottles and cans purchased in the state, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

County Attorney Darren Driscoll said that years ago, the South 22nd Street convenience store was incorrectly told by an authority at the DNR that it could legally return 4 cents per container. B&L has operated under that assumption ever since.

Around the week of June 8, B&L temporarily stopped accepting recyclables. Now, it is limiting recyclables to one bag per person.

Driscoll was unsure why the facility closed, as the county never asked them to.

“(B&L) would have to pay 5 cents per container, because that’s the law,” Driscoll said, “but if you wanted to offer a fee of 1 cent, we thought that would fall within the constructs of the law.”

While B&L can request a service fee, they cannot insist on returning 4 cents for sorted recyclables. Virtually every other deposit redemption center in Fort Dodge, most at grocery retailers, have been closed since the pandemic started due to health concerns.

Empty containers are picked up by distributors who pay the retailer or redemption center 6 cents each — a nickel for the container itself, plus a penny handling fee.

State code also notes that all dealers, including convenience stores, are required to accept at least 120 containers per person per 24-hour period. Larger redemption centers are required to accept at least 500 containers per person.

“The (DNR) has previously indicated that a redemption center might be able to charge a fee in regard to containers accepted in excess of the 500 container limit,” the DNR clarifies on its website.

About 71% of beverage containers are redeemed annually in Iowa, reducing litter.

A representative from B&L declined to comment on the record.