New redemption center to open in Ankeny

A new bottle and can redemption center is opening in Ankeny next month.

Driving the news: Ankeny Bottle and Can at 1317 SW Ordnance Road will become the latest center to open since the Legislature reformed the bottle bill in 2022.

Flashback: That bill overhauled the state's container collection process, which required stores to collect empty cans and bottles and return customer deposits on them.

• The new law allows grocery stores to retire their collection programs if a redemption center is within a 10- to 15-mile radius.

State of play: Ankeny Bottle and Can owners JL Vaughn and Evan Burger opened their first redemption center in Ames in December 2022. After finding success — redeeming 700,000 containers monthly — they decided to expand.

• Through the Iowa DNR, they learned Ankeny was the largest city in the state lacking a redemption center and decided to head south.

How it works: There are several ways you can redeem containers:

• Buy the center's 50-cent bag, which allows them to quickly count the cans and bottles, or bring your own full bags to be counted on site.
• You'll either receive a Venmo or cash payment. And those who just want to recycle can donate their containers and funds to a different nonprofit each month.
• Residents can also count their own containers prior to showing up.

If you go: Opens July 9. 10am-4pm Tues.-Fri.; 10am-2pm Sat.