In apparent violation of Iowa law, Fareway of Ames’ decision to stop taking cans and bottles on Nov. 22 was not approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

State law requires stores that stop accepting cans and bottles to appoint another redemption center to which customers can go. The appointed redemption center must be open at least 20 hours per week, four of which must be between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays; on Saturday or Sunday; or a combination thereof.

“We have not approved Fareway or any other store designating the Ames Area Redemption Center to redeem deposits on cans and bottles,” said Jeff Geerts, a program planner for the Energy and Waste Management division of the Iowa DNR. “They need to have the approval before they refuse to take deposit containers, so they are in violation of the law.”

Geerts said several Fareway stores in Iowa have sought approval from the DNR to close their redemption centers, but he has not been contacted in regard to the Ames store.

The Ames Area Redemption Center, 1822 E. Lincoln Way, is not open after 6 p.m. and is open for only three hours on Saturday — from 9 a.m. to noon — which makes the center ineligible for appointment by the Ames Fareway.

“I guess that would be a side issue of the fact that they are violating the law simply by the fact that they are not redeeming containers,” Geerts said.

Gary Linahon, store manager of the Ames Fareway, 619 Burnett Ave., said he was not aware his store was in violation.

“I just go by the company’s decision,” Linahon said. “I’m just the middle man here.”

Stacy Warren, manager of the Ames Area Redemption Center, said he was not aware Fareway failed to get approval from the Iowa DNR. He also said it is possible to extend the hours of the redemption center to help Fareway comply, but action will be taken only upon request.

“We’re not going to jump unless they come to us first,” Warren said. “Why should we bend over backwards for everybody else when nobody’s really bending over backwards for us?”

Fareway Inc., corporate officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Failure to obtain Iowa DNR approval is a simple misdemeanor that may result in a fine or jail time.

Geerts said he will work with Fareway officials to get the Ames store in compliance.

“We’ll be contacting them,” Geerts said.