Beverage Distributors & Manufacturers

Webinar for Wine and Distilled Spirits Industry

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1013 (SB 1013, Atkins, Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022) into law on September 27, 2022, effective January 1, 2023.  SB 1013 expands the definition of “beverage” to include wine and distilled spirits, effective January 1, 2024.  A webinar was held for interested stakeholders on May 10, 2023.

For additional questions, please contact the Registration Unit at 916-323-1835 or reg.crvlabeling@calrecycle.ca.gov

How California’s Recycling Program Works

The goal of the Beverage Container Recycling Program is to achieve an 80% recycling rate for all aluminum, glass, plastic, and bimetal beverage containers sold in California, reducing the number of beverage containers littering the state. Beverage containers covered in this program include those filled with carbonated mineral and soda water and other similar carbonated soft drinks, noncarbonated soft drinks, wine coolers, distilled spirit coolers, beer and malt beverages, as well as noncarbonated water including noncarbonated mineral water, sports drinks, coffee and tea drinks, vegetable juice in beverage containers 16oz. or less, carbonated and noncarbonated fruit drinks that contain any percentage of fruit juice and 100 percent fruit juices that are packaged in containers less than 46 oz. in volume. Beginning January 1, 2024, covered beverages will include vegetable greater than 16 oz, 100% fruit juice 46oz or greater, wine and distilled spirits in all container materials, including those packaged in a box, bladder or pouch, or similar container, will be covered.

The California recycling program is funded through redemption payments made to CalRecycle by beverage distributors on each beverage container sold in the state. Redemption payment revenues are deposited in the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund (Fund). Payments are made out of the Fund to consumers in the form of California Refund Value (CRV) when they return empty beverage containers to certified recycling centers.

For beverage containers made of aluminum, glass, plastic or bi-metal the redemption payment made by beverage distributors is 5¢ for each container less than 24 ounces and 10¢ for each container 24 ounces or greater. Effective January 1, 2024, a beverage container that is a box, bladder, or pouch, or similar container, containing wine or distilled spirits, regardless of size, will have a redemption payment of 25¢ per container.

Redemption payments made for unredeemed containers are not needed to pay CRV and are therefore available for other recycling-related activities. These activities include handling fee payments to convenience zone recyclers, payments to local curbside programs, payments to cities and counties, and recycling grants to the local conservation corps and to entities statewide. Unclaimed CRV funds are also used to support the administration of the recycling program.

Beverage Manufacturer Information

A beverage manufacturer is a person or entity who meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • An entity who bottles, cans or otherwise fills beverage containers in California with a beverage that is not beer, wine or distilled spirits. (PRC 14506(a))

                      OR

  • Holds a manufacturing license with CA Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for beer, wine or distilled spirits regardless of who fills the container. (PRC 14506(b))                                           

OR

  • Imports beverages into California for sale to:
    • Distributors/ Dealers/ Consumers

OR

  • Holds a Certificate of Compliance for beer or malt beverages with CA Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (PRC 14575(g)(2)(A))

OR

  • Holds a Wine Direct Shipper Permit with CA Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (PRC 14575(g)(2)(A))

Beverage manufacturer requirements include:

  • Monthly submission of Beverage Manufacturer Reports and corresponding payments for processing fees to the Division of Recycling. The current Processing Fee can be found on the Official Notices page.
  • Maintain proper record keeping and record retention.
  • Proper filing and payment of annual report if designated as having Annual Reporter status.
  • Notification to the Division in writing if closing business, change in ownership or change of address.

Beverage Distributor Information

A distributor is any person who engages in the sale of beverages in beverage containers to a dealer in California, or any manufacturer or importer who engages in sales to dealers or consumers in California (PRC14511).

Distributor also includes the person or entity named on the direct shipper permit issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, pursuant to Sections 23661.3 of the Business and Professions Code. (PRC 14560(a)(4)(A))

Distributor requirements include:

  • Monthly submission of Distributor Reports and corresponding redemption payments to the Division. The current California Redemption Value (CRV) rate can be found on the Official Notices page.
  • Maintain proper record keeping and record retention.
  • Proper filing and payment of annual report if designated as having Annual Reporter status.
  • Notification to the Division in writing if closing business or change in ownership.

For more information, visit Beverage Container Recycling Home