Q. Where can I take my bottles and cans to redeem them for cash?
A. To find a recycling center in your area, visit our Recycle Center Locator or call 1-800-RECYCLE toll-free.
Q. How come recycling centers pay by weight instead of by container? A. Consumers have the option of being paid on a per-container basis only if they are redeeming 50 or fewer beverage containers of each material type per visit. Consumers must request being paid by count rather than by weight. If more than 50 beverage containers per material are being redeemed, recycling centers are allowed to pay by weight.
Recycling centers are privately owned businesses and are allowed by law to pay by weight as a matter of business and customer efficiency. The minimum per-pound payments are established by the California Department of Conservation and are designed to reflect the California Refund Value (CRV) for the average number of containers in a pound of aluminum, glass or plastic CRV containers. Recycling centers may pay more than the minimum, so consumers may want to consider all of their nearby redemption locations, which can be found at our Recycling Center Locator Information on containers-per-pound and minimum payment-per-pound can be found at the Department of Conservation Web Site
Recycling centers are required to post the payment-per-pound information on-site. Complaints or concerns about underpayment by weight can be made toll-free at 1-800-RECYCLE. Please provide the name and location of the recycling center in question.
Q. How come the recycling center gave me a store voucher instead of cash? A. This is a normal and acceptable practice for recycling centers located in supermarket parking lots since they may not want to handle cash in an open environment. Since the grocery store is adjacent, turning in the voucher for cash is convenient for consumers.
Recycling Centers
Q. What can I do to ensure that the recycling center pays me the exact amount of CRV for my bottles and cans that I paid at the grocery store?
A. The best way to ensure full CRV refund is to redeem 50 or fewer beverage containers of each material type per visit and request to be paid by count rather than weight. Consumers have the option of being paid on a per-container basis if they bring in 50 or fewer of each material type.
Q. Why do some recycling centers ask me to remove the caps from my plastic bottles?
A. While not required by law, some recycling centers may ask consumers to remove the lids from their plastic bottles as a safety precaution. When the bottles are compacted at the recycling facilities, the intense pressure may cause the lids to fly off at high speeds, potentially injuring nearby workers.
Q. Who can I contact to file a complaint about my recycling center?
A. To place an official complaint about a recycling center, please note the name of the recycling center, location and time of day that the incident occurred and contact the Department of Conservation at 1-800-RECYCLE.
Q. How do I start a recycling center business? A. Information on starting a recycling center business can be found here.
Or, call 1-800-RECYCLE.
California Refund Value
Q. What types of containers are included in the CRV program?
A. Most aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers are included in the CRV program. The most common CRV beverages in aluminum, glass and plastic are:
Carbonated Soft Drinks
Wine Coolers
Distilled Spirit Coolers
Beer
Carbonated and Mineral Water
Non-carbonated Water
Sports Drinks
Coffee and Tea Drinks
Fruit Drinks
Fruit Juices packed in containers less than 46 oz.
Vegetable juice in containers 16 ounces or less
Common beverages not included in the program are milk, wine and distilled spirits. Need more information? Visit the Department of Conservation's comprehensive CRV Products List at http://www.conservation.ca.gov/DOR/CRVinOutList.pdf
Q. How much money can I get back for recycling my empty bottles and cans?
A. The amount of money you receive for each CRV bottle or can depends on the size of the container. The CRV is 5 cents for containers less than 24 ounces, and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces and larger.
Recycling Starter Kit
Q. How do I order a Recycling Starter Kit for my organization?
A. To order a Recycling Starter Kit, click here and complete the order form. If you have a special request for additional Recycling Starter Kits, please include a short description of your needs in the 'Comments' section of the order form.
Q. What is a Recycling Starter Kit?
A. The Recycling Starter Kit program was created by the Department of Conservation to help encourage California businesses, schools and other organizations to start beverage container recycling programs away from home. The kit comes complete with a bottle and can recycling bin, information on how to start a recycling program, as well as posters and stickers to encourage participation.
Q. Can I order a Recycling Starter Kit for my home?
A. The Recycling Starter Kit is designed for use in a business or organization to encourage away from home recycling. If you are interested in recycling at home, we recommend contacting your local waste hauler or city to request information about available residential recycling services.
Q. Can I order the Recycling Starter Kit to start a recycling program at a church/school/etc?
A. Absolutely. While some of the materials included in the kit may not apply to all organizations, the Recycling Starter Kit is available to any organization interested in starting a beverage container recycling program.
Q. Can I order more than one Recycling Starter Kit?
A. Yes. Organizations may order up to five Recycling Starter Kits. If you have a special need for additional Recycling Starter Kits, use the “Comments” section of the order form to explain your needs and your request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Q. Who can I call to collect the bottles and cans when the recycling bin is full?
A. There are a variety of ways to handle the collection of your bottles and cans. If you would like to redeem your beverage containers for cash, the best solution is to visit our Recycling Center Locator and enter your zip code, or call 1-800-RECYCLE, to find the nearest recycling center. Another option is to contact your current janitorial staff and/or waste hauler to see if they can provide recycling services. You can also call 1-800-RECYCLE for other ideas that might fit your individual needs.
Other
Q. How do I start a recycling program at my home or apartment complex?
A. For more information about starting a recycling program at your home or apartment complex, we recommend that you contact your local waste hauler or call 1-800-RECYCLE for more information.
Q. Where can I recycle my materials other than California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers?
