Funding awarded for reverse-vending-machine, mobile, drop-off recycling
Office of Public Affairs
For Immediate Release: August 27, 2024
News Release #2024-08
Media Contact: Lance Klug
916-341-6293 | Lance.Klug@CalRecycle.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – California is making it easier than ever to cash in your empty beverage containers with more than 250 new recycling sites across 30 counties funded by recycling innovation awards.
CalRecycle just awarded nearly $70 million in Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grants for 37 projects to add dynamic recycling methods like reverse vending machines, mobile recycling, and bag-drop sites to counties around the state.
Supermarket chains Save Mart and Smart and Final will get over $2 million each for reverse vending machines in 19 counties. Modernized recycling sites will also come to underserved counties including Butte, Imperial, Lassen, Mendocino and Merced.
“Innovative ways to recycle will help more Californians cash in their beverage containers and provide recycled materials for in-state remanufacturers,” CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller said. “These new sites will make redemption as simple as feeding containers into a machine or dropping off a bag of empty containers.”
What’s expected in the coming year?
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More Funding to Collect, Reuse and Recycle More Containers, including:
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$138 million for additional Redemption Innovation grants.
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$50 million for Beverage Container Quality Infrastructure grants.
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$25 million for Reusable Beverage Container Recycling Infrastructure grants.
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New Retailer Takeback Rules in 2025: Starting Jan. 1, 2025, large beverage retailers in areas not served by a recycling center have two choices:
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Set up a system to redeem beverage container deposits in-store, or
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Create or join a non-profit cooperative on their own, or with other retailers, to give customers ways to redeem. Each Dealer Cooperative will benefit from:
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State funding support for each container recycled, and
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Flexibility to offer reverse vending machines, mobile recycling, or bag-drop recycling to customers.
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Beverage retailers must register with CalRecycle starting Jan. 1, 2025. Sign up for instant email updates to be notified of upcoming requirements, webinars and funding.
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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.