Beverage Container Recycling
CalRecycle manages the California Beverage Container Recycling Program (BCRP), which includes a redeemable fee for certain containers.
What is California Redemption Value (CRV)?
Consumers pay a California Redemption Value (CRV) fee when they purchase beverages and receive CRV refunds when they redeem containers at a recycling center or retailer (called a dealer in the program).
CRV eligible beverages are packaged in:
- Aluminum
- Glass
- Plastic
- Bi-metal
*Effective January 1, 2024, this includes beverage containers that are boxes, bladders or pouches containing wine, distilled spirits, wine coolers, or distilled spirit coolers.
The CRV refunds are:
- 5 cents for containers less than 24 ounces
- 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger
*Effective January 1, 2024, 25 cents for boxes, bladders or pouches containing wine, distilled spirits, wine coolers, or distilled spirit coolers.
Program News
- SB 353 (Dodd, Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023) Adds fruit juice containers of 46 ounces or more and vegetable juice containers over 16 ounces to the program beginning January 1, 2024. Increases processing payments by changing the method for determining scrap value and provides an additional payment to rural recycling centers for handling glass containers.
- SB 1013 (Atkins, Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022) was approved by Governor Newsom on September 27, 2022, and became effective on January 1, 2023. This legislative bill brings wine and distilled spirits into the California Beverage Container Recycling Program, introduces new grant programs, expands the convenience zones, and significantly modifies the role of dealers in the BCRP.
Californians have recycled more than
billion bottles and cans since 1988
Californians have recycled
billion containers just in 2023
More than 400 containers a person.
Over
%
of the beverages sold in California are in this program
Water, Soda, Fruit and Vegetable Juice, and Beer.
Find A Nearby Recycling Center
Just enter your ZIP code to find a bottle & can redemption center near you.
Beverage Container Recycling Facts
Download the Beverage Container Recycling Fact Sheet for facts related to calendar year 2023.
Eligible for CRV
- Beer and Malt Beverages
- Wine Coolers
- Carbonated Fruit Drinks,
- Water or Soft Drinks
- Noncarbonated Fruit
- Drinks, Water, or Soft Drinks
- Coffee and Tea Beverages
- Juice packaged in glass, plastic, aluminum, or bimetal
- Wine or distilled spirits (liquor) in glass, plastic, aluminum, bimetal, boxes, bladders, and pouches
Not Eligible for CRV
- Milk
- Medical Food
- Infant Formula
- Juice in a carton
- Food and Non-Beverage Containers
When in Doubt
Check the label on the container!
- “California Redemption Value”
- “CA Redemption Value”
- “California Cash Refund”
- “CA CRV”
- “CA Cash Refund”
Per-Container Redemption vs. By Weight
Customers can ask to be paid by count for up to 50 CRV beverage containers of each material type per transaction:
- 50 glass
- 50 aluminum
- 50 plastic
- 50 bimetal
Customers can ask to be paid by count for up to 25 CRV beverage containers of each material type per transaction:
- 25 wine and distilled spirit bag-in-box
- 25 wine and distilled spirit multilayer pouch
- 25 wine and distilled spirit paperboard carton
Daily load limits of empty CRV beverage containers are:
- 100 pounds each for aluminum and plastic
- 1,000 pounds for glass
- 50 pounds for bag-in-box
- 25 pounds each for multilayer pouches and paperboard cartons
Complaints
- Beverage container recycling center complaints: complaints@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Retailers/dealers complaints: complaints@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Report fraudulent activity (toll free at 1-866-CANLOAD)
- Report noncompliance of beverage manufacturers or distributors: DORClientServices@calrecycle.ca.gov
Grants
- Beverage Container Recycling Grants: BevContainerGrants@calrecycle.ca.gov
- City/County Payment Program: CityCounty@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Local Conservation Corps Funding Program: BevContainerGrants@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Other Grants: BevContainerGrants@calrecycle.ca.gov
Questions
- Questions from existing (registered) Beverage Manufacturers and Distributors program participants: clientservices@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Questions from potential registration applicants (Beverage Manufacturers and Distributors, CRV Labeling, and Product Determination): reg.crvlabeling@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Questions from Beverage Dealers (Retailers):
- Option A, Option B, and related charges: DealerServices@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Sign requirements questions DealerSigns@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Questions about becoming a Certified Operator: DORCertFileRoom@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Recycler Education and Exams questions: RecyclerEducationAndExams@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Need information about starting a recycling center? opa@calrecycle.ca.gov
- School recycling/education questions: Schools@calrecycle.ca.gov
- Other beverage container recycling questions: opa@calrecycle.ca.gov.
Toll-Free: 1-800-RECYCLE
(916) 323-3836
Fax: (916) 327-2144