Beverage containers now worth 5 and 10 cents at recycling
centers
California residents might want to rethink where they toss their
next empty water bottle, aluminum can or beer bottle. Small
beverage containers are now worth 5 cents when recycled and
beverage containers more than 24 ounces are worth 10 cents.
Beverage containers now worth 5 and 10 cents at recycling centers
California residents might want to rethink where they toss their next empty water bottle, aluminum can or beer bottle. Small beverage containers are now worth 5 cents when recycled and beverage containers more than 24 ounces are worth 10 cents.
“In 2005, we had a recycling rate of 61 percent and we have a goal of 80 percent,” said Chuck Seidler, acting assistant director for recycling, who works with the California department of conservation. “We wanted to have a better chance to reach that goal.”
California assembly bill 3056, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, amended the Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act so that refunds are 1 and 2 cents more than the deposit consumers pay on beverage containers. July 1, the deposit fees will increase to be equal to the redemption value.
The money for the program is from a growing revenue surplus. Everyone pays for deposits on items such as aluminum cans and bottles, but not everyone recycles them. Californians Against Waste, a recycling advocacy group estimated that the surplus raised from container deposits is $65 million annually.
“The primary reason for the bill is due to the recycling rate being at 61 percent,” Seidler said. “We want to make sure there is a mechanism to get those funds back out to consumers.”
In the past, when the California redemption value has been increased, rates of recycling have gone up.
“We’ve done it a couple times and always had an immediate effect,” Seidler said. “It is proven to be one of the more effective methods to increase recycling.”
In addition to increasing refunds – and eventually the deposit fee – the bill has several other goals. It will provide grants to local governments to expand recycling at multi-family housing sites. It will also provide $10 million to recycling centers to increase recycling levels. A portion of the surplus will be used on advertising to promote recycling throughout the state.
“We’ve done a lot of research and there are many reasons people don’t recycle,” Seidler said. “For some it’s not convenient. Some are not motivated by the money. It is our goal to find a way to motivate all those people who aren’t currently motivated.”
Recycling rates of beverage containers in San Benito County are similar to those through the state.
“Go to our landfill or any landfill and you will see lots of bottles and cans that have a redemption value that have been thrown away,” said Mandy Rose, director of San Benito’s integrated waste management. “I’m just not sure why. Maybe it’s too inconvenient, but there still is far too much going in the landfill.”
Melissa Flores can be reached at [email protected].
Local recycling centers
· Eagle Recycling
2400 San Juan Rd., Hollister
636-7756
· One Stop Recycling
810 A East St., Hollister
637-1321
· San Benito Recycling Center
10 Fourth St., Hollister
636-1806
· Matthews Recycling
54 Muckelemi St., San Juan Bautista
623-4606
