Beverage Distributors & Manufacturers

This page summarizes how beverage manufacturers and beverage distributors should register for the program, label their products correctly, when to complete the required reports, and how to submit timely payments.

How California’s Recycling Program Works

The goal of the Act is to achieve an 80 percent recycling rate for all aluminum, glass, plastic, and bimetal beverage containers sold in California, thereby reducing the beverage container component of litter in the state. Beverage containers covered by the Act include those filled with carbonated mineral and soda water and other similar carbonated soft drinks, noncarbonated soft drinks, wine coolers and distilled spirit coolers, beer and malt beverages, as well as noncarbonated water including noncarbonated mineral water, sport 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, wine and distilled spirits, including those packaged in a box, bladder or pouch, or similar container, will be covered by the Act.

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.

Resources

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 any person who bottles, cans, or otherwise fills beverage containers, or imports filled beverage containers, for sale to distributors, dealers, or consumers in California. (PRC 14506; Section 2000 (a) (3.2))

Beverage manufacturer also includes the person or entity named on the Certificate of Compliance or Direct Shipper Permit issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, pursuant to Sections 23661.3 and 23671 of the Business and Professions Code. (PRC 14575 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 contact: Beverage Container Program, https://calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/Contacts/