California

Name California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (AB 2020)
Purpose To encourage recycling and reduce litter
Enacted 9/29/1986
Implemented 9/1/1987
Beverages Covered beer, malt, wine & distilled spirits coolers, all non-alcoholic beverages, except milk
Containers Covered Aluminum. glass, plastic and bi-metal. Exempts refillables
Amount of Deposit (10¢: >24oz.) and (5¢: <24oz.)
Redemption Rate overall 61%; aluminum 73%; glass 58%; PET 46%; HDPE 51% (i)
Reclamation System State certified redemption centers, registered curbside operations, dropoffs
Unredeemed Deposits Property of state: used for program administration and grants to non-profits
Handling Fee Beverage manufacturers pay Processing Fees to offset recyclers costs when the cost of recycling exceeds the value of material. Processing Payments (1.8¢ per container) paid by state to redemption centers. (b)

Details

How the system works :

  1. Distributors pay a per container fee (CRV) of 5¢ <24 oz and 10¢ >24 oz into a state fund. (The fee was originally 1¢ for all containers and was amended in 1990 to 2.5¢<24 oz and 5¢>24 oz, and in 2003 to 4¢ and 8¢.)
  2. Consumers pay a deposit of 4¢ for each container < 24 ounces and 8¢ for each container >24 ounces.
  3. In turn, they receive a refund of 4¢ for each container of less than 24 ounces redeemed, and 8¢ for each container of 24 ounces or greater redeemed.

Consumers have the right to be paid per container when bringing in 50 (fifty) containers or less in a single load. Some recyclers, at their discretion, may redeem more than 50 containers by count. If the recycler declines to pay by count for >50 containers presented per visit, payment is based on the weight of the materials delivered for redemption.

Footnotes

[b] Very large & small volume centers exempted (eligible centers process minimum avg. of 60,000 containers/mon). Max payment per center: $2300/month (127,778 units) AB 3056 provides for a gradual increase in the handling fee appropriation, to avoid future shortfalls in handling fee payments. Requires the Dept to conduct a cost survey during 2007, and every two years thereafter, to determine future handling fee payments. Effective 7/1/08 the Department will determine the amount of the handling fee to be paid for each beverage container by subtracting the cost per container (for recycling centers that do not receive handling fees) from the costs per container of those that do receive handling fees. There will be no monthly or annual cap on payments.

[i] Source: California Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, 11/04 (Jan.-June 2004 rates).

Updated December 12, 2007