Coach if you are in the state of Commiefornia, then what the shop said has some merrit. They have banned lead WW in that state. The thing about the recycler I am not real sure of. The place I get mine from charges a few dollars for a 5gal. bucket full. I also swap a bucket full of ice with a 12 pack of Bud Light so they will have another bucket to put the next batch in. They even put them in the back of my truck for some reason
. I usualy show up about 5 minutes till closing time on Friday.