Original Law 1990 Amendment 2000 Expansion AB 28, 2004 AB 3056, 2006 Current Law
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   1/1/2000 1/1/2004 1/1/2007  
Beverages Covered Beer, malt, all soft drinks, fruit drinks, sport drinks, water, coffee & teas, wine & distilled spirits coolers   Expanded to include all non-alcoholic beverages, except milk     beer, malt, wine & distilled spirits coolers, all non-alcoholic beverages, except milk
Containers Covered Aluminum. glass, plastic and bi-metal. Exempts refillables         Aluminum. glass, plastic and bi-metal. Exempts refillables
Amount of Deposit Amended to 2.5¢ <24 oz and 5¢ >24 oz   increased to (4¢: >24oz.) and (8¢: <24oz.) increased to (10¢: >24oz.) and (5¢: <24oz.) (10¢: >24oz.) and (5¢: <24oz.)
Redemption Rate           overall 61%; aluminum 73%; glass 58%; PET 46%; HDPE 51% [f]
Reclamation System State certified redemption centers, registered curbside operations, dropoffs         State certified redemption centers, registered curbside operations, dropoffs
Unredeemed Deposits Property of state: used for program administration and grants to non-profits         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 paid by state to redemption centers.       Changed processing payment to 1.8¢ and schedules regular re-evaluations (b) 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)
View Legislation            
Notes Containers are returned to licensed redemption centers, not to retailers; Refund value determined by weight for more than 50 containers          

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.

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