California's Bottle Redemption Law: A Historical Overview

The California Redemption Value (CRV) is a regulatory fee paid on recyclable beverage containers in the state. The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986 (AB 2020, Margolin) established the fee, which was further extended to additional beverage types in California State Senate Bill No. 1013, signed into law on September 28, 2022, and taking effect on January 1, 2024. The CRV is paid when purchasing beverages, and refunds are given when containers are redeemed at a recycling centre or retailer.

California Redemption Value (CRV)

CRV is paid on the following types of beverages: carbonated and noncarbonated water, carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks, coffee and tea drinks, beer and other malt beverages, wine, distilled spirits, and distilled spirits coolers. CRV is not paid on milk, white or flavoured milk, 100% fruit juice in containers 46 US fluid ounces (1,400 ml) or more, 100% vegetable juice in containers more than 16 US fluid ounces (470 ml), products not in liquid or "ready to drink" form, products not intended for human consumption, and containers not made of glass, metal, or plastic.

The California Redemption Value (CRV) fee was recently expanded to include additional beverage types in California State Senate Bill No. 1013, signed into law on September 27, 2022, and taking effect on January 1, 2024. The bill added wine and distilled spirits to the California Beverage Container Recycling Program, introduced new grant programs, expanded the convenience zones, and significantly modified the role of dealers in the program. The bill also added fruit juice containers of 46 ounces or more and vegetable juice containers over 16 ounces to the program beginning January 1, 2024.

The California Redemption Value (CRV) fee is similar to bottle bill deposits used in other states, but it is technically a fee imposed on the distributor of the beverage. The fee is usually passed along to the retailer and then to the consumer. Distributors and retailers typically break out the CRV as a distinct part of the purchase price in advertising and on receipts. For example, the charge for a 50-cent bottle of soda may appear on the receipt as "45 cents plus 5 cents CRV". It's important to note that sales tax applies to the CRV amount if the item is subject to sales tax.

Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act

The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, also known as the "Bottle Bill", was established in 1986 to encourage recycling and reduce litter. The act places a regulatory fee, known as the California Redemption Value (CRV), on recyclable beverage containers. The CRV is paid by the bottler for beverages with aluminum, plastic, glass, and bimetal containers, and consumers can receive the same amount in exchange for the container by bringing it to a recycling center.

The CRV is typically passed on to the consumer via the retailer, and is broken out as a distinct part of the purchase price. For example, a 50-cent bottle of soda may appear on the receipt as "45 cents plus 5 cents CRV". The CRV is 5 cents for containers less than 24 US fluid ounces (710 ml) and 10 cents for containers 24 US fluid ounces (710 ml) or larger. The state also allows recyclers to pay by weight, for which the state also sets a separate minimum price per pound (kg).

The CRV is paid on a wide range of beverages, including carbonated and noncarbonated water, soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, beer, wine, distilled spirits, and fruit juice (for containers smaller than 46 US fluid ounces (1,400 ml)). It is not paid on milk, white or flavored wine or distilled spirits (as of January 1, 2024), 100% fruit juice in containers 46 US fluid ounces (1,400 ml) or more, 100% vegetable juice in containers over 16 US fluid ounces (470 ml), products not in liquid or "ready to drink" form, products not intended for human consumption, and containers not made of glass, metal, or plastic.

The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act has been amended several times since its inception, including in 1990, 2003, 2007, and 2022. The most recent changes, made in 2022 and 2023, added wine and spirits containers to the program and introduced new grant programs, expanded convenience zones, and modified the role of dealers. The act is administered by the Cal/EPA California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

California Beverage Container Recycling Program (BCRP)

The California Beverage Container Recycling Program (BCRP) is a state-run initiative that encourages recycling and reduces litter by imposing a regulatory fee on certain beverage containers, known as the California Redemption Value (CRV). The CRV is paid by consumers at the time of purchase and can be refunded when containers are redeemed at certified recycling centres or authorised retailers, known as dealers within the program. The program is managed by CalRecycle, a department within California's government, and has been in place since 1986, with amendments and expansions made over time.

The CRV fee applies to a wide range of beverages, including carbonated and non-carbonated drinks such as water, soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, beer, wine, distilled spirits, fruit juices, and sports drinks. The fee varies depending on the size of the container. As of January 1, 2024, the CRV refunds are 5 cents for containers less than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger. Containers for wine, distilled spirits, wine coolers, or distilled spirit coolers in the form of boxes, bladders, or pouches have a higher CRV refund of 25 cents.

The BCRP has gone through several changes and updates to improve its effectiveness. In 2022, the program was expanded to include deposits on wine and spirits, effective from January 1, 2024, which is projected to result in a significant increase in the number of containers recycled annually. Additionally, coverage was expanded to include 100% fruit and vegetable juices in larger sizes. The state also introduced start-up funding for new recycling infrastructure, such as reverse vending machines and mobile recycling, and established a funding program for refillables.

Another important aspect of the BCRP is its focus on convenience and accessibility. The state introduced the concept of "dealer cooperatives," which aims to provide more easily accessible bottle and can return options for consumers by establishing redemption centres within a certain radius of retailers. This helps to eliminate "redemption deserts," ensuring that individuals can conveniently recycle their beverage containers and receive their CRV refunds.

The BCRP has faced some challenges over the years, including the closure of a significant number of redemption centres and issues with transparency in funding. However, recent legislative efforts have been made to address these shortcomings and improve the overall effectiveness of the program, ensuring that California continues to promote recycling and reduce litter through the BCRP.

Container deposit legislation

The history of bottle recycling in the United States can be characterized by four distinct stages. During the late 18th century and early 19th century, most bottles were reused or returned due to their relatively high cost. After World War II, consumption patterns changed, and non-returnable containers became popular, leading to environmental litter. This prompted some states to implement "bottle bills" that instituted deposits. The beverage-container industry first implemented private recycling programs and then pushed for municipal curbside recycling as an alternative to "bottle bills".

California's container deposit legislation is known as the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (AB 2020), established in 1986. The law imposes a regulatory fee, known as the California Redemption Value (CRV), on certain recyclable beverage containers. Consumers pay the CRV fee when purchasing beverages and can receive a refund when they redeem containers at a recycling center or retailer. The fee is currently 5 cents for containers less than 24 US fluid ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 US fluid ounces or larger. The program has been revised over the years to include additional beverage types, with the most recent changes taking effect in 2024.

Overall, container deposit legislation has been successful in increasing recycling rates. Studies show that the recycling rate for beverage containers is significantly higher in states with container deposit laws compared to the national average. However, there have been some challenges and controversies associated with these laws, including issues with recycling center closures, fraud, and criminal offenses related to container deposits.

Bottle deposit history

The history of bottle recycling in the United States can be divided into four distinct stages. In the first stage, during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, bottles were primarily reused or returned due to their high cost. However, with the advent of mass production, bottles became more affordable and disposable, leading to an increase in littering. This prompted some states to introduce "'bottle bills' that mandated deposits on certain types of recyclable beverage containers.

The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, also known as the "Bottle Bill," was established in 1986 (AB 2020, Margolin) and implemented in 1987. The law imposed a regulatory fee, known as the California Redemption Value (CRV), on certain recyclable beverage containers. The fee was initially set at 5 cents for containers 24 US fluid ounces (710 mL) or greater and 10 cents for boxed wine, wine pouches, and cartons. The CRV is paid by consumers when they purchase beverages and can be refunded when they redeem containers at recycling centres or participating retailers.

Over time, the list of beverages covered under the Bottle Bill has expanded. Initially, it included beer, malt beverages, distilled spirit coolers, and non-alcoholic drinks (except milk). In 2022, Senate Bill No. 1013 further extended the law to include wine and distilled spirits, effective January 1, 2024. Additionally, fruit and vegetable juices of certain quantities were added to the program.

The Bottle Bill has undergone revisions to keep up with changing consumption patterns and environmental concerns. For example, the rise of non-returnable containers in the mid-20th century led to littering issues, prompting states like Oregon to implement bottle bills with mandatory refunds for returned containers. While the beverage industry initially resisted these laws, public support for recycling and environmental protection grew, leading to the spread of bottle deposit programs across the country.

Today, California's Bottle Bill continues to evolve, with recent changes aiming to encourage the opening of additional redemption centres and increase the recycling of glass beverage containers. The program is administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), ensuring that all proceeds from the CRV fees go towards the state's recycling initiatives.

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