How to Recycle Using the California Redemption Value

In 1986, the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act established the California Redemption Value, or CRV, an amount (Ten cents for 24 ounces or more; five cents for under 24 ounces) added to the price of recyclable drink containers to encourage people to recycle. When people take the cans and bottles to recycling centers, they get the money back as a California Refund Value (also known as CRV).

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Recyclable drink containers

1. Collect aluminum, plastic, glass, or metal beverage containers marked with the "CRV" designation. On cans, it's usually near the pull tab. On bottles, it tends to be on the label by the nutritional information or the UPC code.
2. Find a recycling center by looking at the state's Division of Recycling website or at the website for a major recycling company like rePLANET.
3. Choose a time when the recycling center is likely to be less crowded, such as early in the morning. Some automated centers (such as those run by rePLANET) allow you to turn in containers even when no employee is manning the station.
4. Decide whether you want to return the containers individually ("by count") or in bulk. Try bulk if you have a lot of containers that have different sizes and materials or you are in a hurry.
5. If you turn the containers in by count at an automated center, place them on the conveyor belt bottom-first and push the green button when done. A receipt will print indicating how much refund value you have earned.
6. Go to the location specified on the receipt to redeem it.

Tips & Warnings

• The following drinks are part of the CRV program: - Carbonated soft drinks - Carbonated water - Non-carbonated water - Beer - Wine coolers - Non-carbonated sport drinks - Non-carbonated fruit juice, except 100% fruit juice 46 ounces or larger - Carbonated fruit drinks - Vegetable juice of 16 ounces or less - Coffee and tea drinks
• DO NOT crush the cans.
• Recycling centers may choose to not pay by count if you have more than 50 containers of a single material, but they rarely do so.