[§342G-117] Handling fees and refund values for certified redemption centers. (a) The State shall pay to each certified redemption center a handling fee of not less than the prevailing beverage container fee for each deposit beverage container redeemed by a consumer which is transported out-of-state or received by an approved in-state company for an approved end use for recycling or received by a department permitted recycling facility.

(b) Not less than thirty days before paying the handling fees required by this section, the department shall publish a notice statewide in accordance with applicable state law of the recovery rate for the calendar quarter for which the handling fee will be paid. Payments for handling fees shall be made not less than six months after the completion of the calendar quarter to which the payment applies.

(c) The handling fee shall be paid in addition to the refund value of each such empty beverage container. 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.

(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. [L 2002, c 176, pt of §2]