California to Add Hundreds of New Recycling Sites
for Easier CRV Redemption
California’s recycling department announced $131 million in new funding to expand hassle-free beverage container redemption options in communities . The Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grant Program supports projects that make it faster and easier for residents to redeem their California Redemption Value (CRV) deposits.
“California is bringing redemption to more communities and innovating new, hassle-free methods to get CRV deposits back to Californians,” CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller said. “These reforms are designed to make redeeming your CRV deposits just as easy as paying them to reuse more materials.”
Adding to last year’s grants that will bring nearly 200 new sites for Californians to cash in their drink containers, the additional funding is now available for a wide range of projects to serve Californians across the state, including:
-
$55 million for Recycling Centers to build or expand redemption options to include reverse vending machines, bag-drop, or mobile recycling programs.
-
$40 million for Dealer Cooperative nonprofits to redeem on behalf of beverage retailers using reverse vending machines, bag drop, or mobile redemption options.
-
$21 million for Beverage Retailers (Dealers) to add reverse vending machine redemption at their store(s).
-
$15 million for Qualifying Tribal Entities to build or expand redemption options with reverse vending machines, bag-drop, or mobile recycling.
Application deadlines vary by grant cycle and are posted on CalRecycle’s Redemption Innovation Grant webpage.
Progress Report – Previous Redemption Innovation Grant Funding
The first round of redemption innovation grant projects, awarded in fall 2024, are projected to add about 200 new recycling sites across 27 California counties. Grant agreements for all 24 projects are now in place. Operational timelines vary by project.
Other Beverage Container Recycling Program Reforms
New retailer takeback rules started January 1, 2025, for larger beverage retailers in areas not served by a recycling center to either:
-
Set up a system to redeem beverage container deposits in-store or
-
Create or join a nonprofit cooperative on their own, or with other retailers, to give customers ways to redeem. Each dealer cooperative will benefit from:
- State funding support for each container recycled and
-
Flexibility to offer reverse vending machines, mobile recycling or bag-drop recycling to customers.
Californians can find their nearest redemption option on BottlesandCans.com, which also includes a full list of eligible CRV beverage containers and answers to the most common CRV redemption questions.
CalRecycle's mission is to protect California's environment and climate for the health and prosperity of future generations through the reduction, reuse and recycling of California resources, environmental education, disaster recovery, and the transition from a disposable to a fully circular economy.
|
