Questions about the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program grant application are accepted in writing only, no later than July 2, 2026. Similar or related questions may be grouped together or reworded for clarity and responded to as one question.
All questions and answers will be posted during the application period and are subject to updates. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check this website for the latest information regarding this grant cycle.
General | Eligibility | Funding | Application
General
- Within the Grant Term Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions, what is the difference between the RBC38 FY 2026-27 and RBC39 FY 2027-28?
The Grant Term begins on the date of the Notice to Proceed, which is issued after the grant cycle is awarded and the grant agreement has been executed. The FY 2027-28 grant agreement cannot be issued until after the FY 2026-27 state budget has been passed. The Grant Term ends on April 3, 2029 (RBC38 FY 2026-27) or April 2, 2030 (RBC39 FY 2027-28) and all eligible program costs must be incurred by this date. Refer to the Grant Term section in the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- What is the difference between the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program and the City/County Payment Program?
The Grant Program provides opportunities to California local government agencies, cities, counties, regional programs, public colleges and universities, public school districts, non-profit organizations, and qualifying Indian Tribes to promote increased recycling of beverage containers throughout California and reduce the beverage container litter in the waste stream. The Grant Program is a competitive process in which applications are evaluated and scored by a CalRecycle review panel based on the approved Scoring Criteria for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program, FYs 2026-27 and 2027-28. Refer to the Beverage Container Recycling Grants homepage and Application Guidelines and Instructions.
The City/County Payment Program is an entitlement program providing funding for eligible cities and counties specifically for beverage container recycling and litter cleanup activities. For more information regarding the City/County Payment Program, refer to the Beverage Container Recycling City/County Payment Program Homepage.
Eligibility
- Are mobile water trailer bars eligible under this grant?
Yes. Mobile water trailer bars are eligible when purchased and/or leased. Refer to the Eligible Projects/Products section in the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- Are reusable cups/refillable bottles eligible under this grant?
Yes. Reusable cups/refillable bottles are only eligible when purchased and/or leased along with a mobile water trailer bar. Refer to the Eligible Projects/Products section in the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- Are single-use plastic disposable/Solo cups eligible when purchased and/or leased with a mobile water trailer bar? Is this considered a reusable cup?
No. Single-use plastic disposable/Solo cups are not eligible and are not considered reusable cups under this Program. Refer to the Ineligible Costs section in the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
- Are Permanent Recycling Centers and CRV drop off locations eligible under this grant?
Private, for non-profit businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply for the Grant Program. Refer to the Eligible Applicants section in the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- We are a manufacturer of recycling and waste containers, and we would like to know if any company in California can apply for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant? Are there parameters or guidelines to whom can apply? Please provide any information on organizations that qualify for a Beverage Container Recycling Grant.
Private businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant. However, private businesses and individuals may collaborate with any eligible applicant, as identified in the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- Are Zero Waste Programs an eligible expense?
Only the CRV Beverage Container Recycling component of a Zero Waste Program is an eligible expense.
- Are mixed recycling bins an eligible expense?
Only the CRV beverage container recycling component is an eligible expense. A proportionate cost will be applied to mixed recycling bins.
- Is bin signage an eligible expense?
Yes. Bin signage is an eligible expense. A proportionate cost must be applied if the signage/bin is not 100% CRV beverage container material.
- Are cluster bins an eligible expense?
- Combination cluster bins that are attached and collect both CRV and landfill materials are 100% eligible.
- Cluster bins that combine CRV with any other type of collection are subject to a proportionate cost rate (i.e., Composting, Landfill, and CRV would be funded at two thirds proportionate rate.).
- Are Operators eligible to collect for CRV Collection Programs?
Proposed programs to collect CRV beverage container recycling may need to be certified by CalRecycle to operate. Please see our Beverage Container Recycling Programs Defined web page for specific requirements.
- What type of expenditures are eligible and ineligible under the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
Purchase of equipment related to beverage container recycling is an eligible cost. For detailed information, refer to the Eligible and Ineligible Costs sections of the Procedures and Requirements of your cycle.
- Does this grant support the expansion/relocation of CRV buyback collection facilities and/or kiosks, which have significantly decreased in recent years?
No. Start-up costs for Recycling Centers are not eligible.
- Why are commercial projects ineligible for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
Commercial projects are typically managed by private entities and are therefore ineligible for the Program. A collaborative effort to implement a beverage container recycling project between a local jurisdiction and multi-family residential dwellings (five units or more) is an eligible project. Refer to Eligible Projects/Products Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- Can a jurisdiction use the Beverage Container Recycling Grant funds to purchase new recycling carts for residents?
Jurisdictions can utilize grant funds to purchase beverage container recycling carts for residents. If beverage container recycling carts are utilized for mixed materials, it will be funded proportionately based on the CRV materials collected. However, if the beverage container recycling carts are utilized for the collection of CRV materials only, it will be funded at 100 percent. Refer to the Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
- Can grant funds be used to purchase water refill stations for a jurisdiction?
Yes. Purchase of water refill stations, including the installation, or replacement of current infrastructure, plumbing, maintenance, additional attachments or modifications, or related educational and outreach activities/materials promoting water refill stations, are eligible costs. Refer to the Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
- How is a proportionate cost/rate methodology determined prior to purchasing mixed recycling bins? Will the grantee be required to return grant funds to CalRecycle if it is determined that less California Redemption Value (CRV) is collected than what was anticipated?
A proportionate cost/rate methodology may be determined by the grantee conducting a waste characterization audit. The audit may identify the tonnage of CRV beverage containers being collected and assist in determining the number of mixed recycling bins that are required for the grant project. Refer to Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
No. Grant funds will not be returned to CalRecycle. Payments to a grantee for eligible grant expenditures are made on a reimbursement basis only and for those materials and services specified in the approved grant application. Refer to Grant Information Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
- Our city would like to install 10 to 20 BigBelly Kiosks to promote beverage container recycling. Are dual BigBelly Kiosks an eligible expense?
Yes. The dual BigBelly Kiosks that are permanently attached together to include landfill and California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers are 100% eligible.
- I operate a beverage container recycling business and plan to purchase industrial bottle-washing equipment to expand our bottle return and reuse program. Would this type of project be eligible for funding under the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
No. This project and the purchase of an industrial bottle-washing equipment is not eligible under this Program. Refer to the Eligible Projects/Products Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions and Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
- Are non-profit Catholic high schools eligible applicants for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
No. Non-profit Catholic high schools are not eligible applicants under this Program. Refer to the Eligible Applicants Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- My director has developed a preliminary list of potential items and activities, including personnel and fringe benefits, transfer station forklift, scale, operational supplies for handling California Redemption Value (CRV) materials, recycling bins for residential use and transfer station, BigBelly beverage containers, mobile water trailer bar, water bottle filling stations, community outreach program focused on recycling and waste reduction, and food scrap processing units. Could you please advise which items would be considered eligible under the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
Please refer to the Eligible Projects/Products Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions and Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28 for further guidance of allowable expenditures.
- Are trash screens on storm drains including maintenance, cleaning, and replacement of those screens’ eligible expenses under the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
No. Trash screens installed on storm drains including maintenance, cleaning, and replacement are ineligible costs under the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program. Refer to the Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
- The guidance documents for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant program states that temporary community events such as recycling or collection events sponsored by local jurisdictions, as well as, Earth Day events are eligible. What other types of temporary community events are eligible under the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
Examples of temporary community events may include but are not limited to, those events focused on the collection and/or recycling of beverage containers in local communities, parks, and recreational areas, and clean-up events in beaches, parks, rivers, border area, etc. where beverage containers are removed and recycled. These temporary community events must be directly related beverage container recycling and litter reduction. Refer to the Eligible Projects/Products Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- The Application Guidelines and Instructions states that, litter reduction and clean-up activities along the United States-Mexico border is an eligible project. Would contracting with a vendor to clean up litter, including beverage containers, along Neveda County Roads be considered an eligible project?
Yes. Beverage containers collected as part of litter abatement and clean-up activities conducted along the California-Nevada border is considered eligible. Refer to the Eligible Projects/Products Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
Funding
- Are there any grants available for startup costs for a Recycling Center Business or nonprofit collection/drop-off program in a convenience zone?
No. Costs for establishing a recycling center are not eligible for reimbursement under the current grant program. However, grant funds may be utilized for infrastructure such as, beverage container recycling bins, beverage container recycling education and outreach, and personnel costs in the existing recycling center. Refer to the Eligible Costs Sections in the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
- What kind of funds are available?
Refer to Available Funds Section in the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
Both cycles will be awarded using information submitted in the RBC38 application. RBC38 (FY 2026-27) will be awarded in January 2027 and RBC39 (FY 2027-28) will be awarded in September 2027. Only one submitted application will be used to consider funding for the combined grant cycles. The allocation is $1,500,000 for each fiscal year, totaling $3,000,000. A minimum grant award of $75,000 and a maximum grant award of $275,000 apply to each cycle. An applicant cannot receive grants in both cycles.
- Is there a cap on Personnel costs?
Yes. Personnel costs directly related to the start-up/implementation of the project are capped at 25 percent of the total grant award (recycling, coordinator, salaries/wages for those directly involved with the project, e.g., students, consultants, etc.). Refer to the Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
Application
- When will this new funding opportunity be out? What is the maximum grant award?
The application solicitation period will begin June 2, 2026, and applications are due August 6, 2026. Refer to the Timeline and Cycle Details Section of the Notice of Funds Available web page.
The minimum grant award is $75,000 and the maximum is $275,000. Refer to Available Funds Section in the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- I have two programs that I would like to implement in my jurisdiction. The first is to replace existing single stream waste bins with multiple stream bins. The other is to replace old drinking fountains with water refill stations and add additional water refill stations. Do you suggest applying for a single grant or multiple grants?
Dual beverage recycling containers or multi-cluster bins are eligible expenditures, if it includes the collection of CRV containers. All bins must be permanently attached together. Refer to Eligible Costs Section of the Procedures and Requirements for FY 2026-27 and Procedures and Requirements for FY 2027-28.
The purchase of water refill stations, including the installation, replacement of current infrastructure, plumbing, maintenance, additional attachments, modifications, or related educational and outreach materials/activities promoting water refill stations are eligible. Refer to Eligible Projects/Products Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
Only one application or a joint application can be submitted per entity for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant. Refer to the Eligible Applicants Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- Are bids/quotes for purchases such as bins or other materials required to be uploaded with the application? If so, is there a required number of quotes needed (example three quotes per purchase)?
Applicants may submit additional documents/attachments including estimates, bids, or other costs to support the requested amount in the Budget document for purchases of equipment or materials.
- How can we access the Beverage Container Recycling Grant application?
The application is available in CalRecycle’s web-based Grants Management System (GMS). You must have a CalRecycle WebPass to log in to the system. If you have not previously obtained a CalRecycle WebPass, you may create an account at the CalRecycle WebPass page. Refer to the Application Access Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- Our current project scope includes city facilities, facilities operated by local schools, and a local park district. Can our city adopt an individual applicant resolution for a project that would extend beyond city facilities provided it has letters of support?
Eligible applicants may apply as an individual or as a joint applicant. Only one application can be submitted per entity. Eligible entities may join together in a joint grant application in which two or more eligible entities join together to implement the grant. A Lead Participant (Lead) must be designated to act on behalf of all participating entities. The Lead is the applicant, and if awarded, will be the grantee responsible for the performance of the grant and all required documentation.
- When is the deadline for submitting questions for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant?
The deadline to submit questions is July 2, 2026. Refer to the Timeline and Cycle Details Section of the Notice of Funds Available web page.
- Are non-profit organizations eligible to apply for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program?
Yes. Non-profit organizations are eligible if they are registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)6, or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code. Refer to the Eligible Applicants Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
- Are applicants required to submit two separate applications, one for FY 2026-27 and another for FY 2027-28 or does a single application cover both fiscal years?
Only one application is required to be submitted for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program, and it will cover Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28. However, if awarded, the applicant will only be awarded for one of the two Fiscal Year cycles. Refer to the Application Instructions Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.
Refer to the Applicant’s Documents Section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions for specific requirements.