Handling fees and refund values for certified redemption centers

(a) The department shall pay to each certified redemption center a handling fee of not less than the prevailing deposit beverage container fee for each deposit beverage container redeemed by a consumer that is: (1) Transported out-of-state; (2) Received by an approved in-state company for an approved end use for recycling; or (3) Received by a department-permitted recycling facility; provided that the deposit beverage container is physically received by the redemption center. (b) The department shall evaluate the handling fee at least once per year. If the department changes the amount of the handling fee, the department shall publish notice of the change within thirty days of its determination. (c) The handling fee shall be paid in addition to the refund value of each empty deposit beverage container. Payments for handling fees shall be based on redemption center reports submitted to the department; provided that there is no discrepancy in the reports. The department may choose to pay the handling fee and refund value on the basis of the total weight of the containers received by material type and the average weight of each container type; provided that the deposit beverage container is physically received by the redemption center. (d) A handling fee and refund value may only be paid once for each container redeemed by a consumer and claimed by a redemption center in accordance with section 342G-119.