Effective November 1, 2013, certified recycling centers shall no longer pay commingled rates for aluminum, glass, PETE (polyethylene perephthalate), or HDPE (recycled high density polyethylene) loads of beverage containers from consumers.

Effective November 1, 2013, recycling centers must pay segregated rates only and only for loads of California Redemption Value (CRV)-eligible containers. The law change does not affect commingled rates for curbside programs, certified drop-off or collection programs, or community service programs. CalRecycle will continue to reimburse these programs using commingled rates. For more detailed information, please review the attached Segregated Notice.

Some recycling centers have opted in the past to only accept segregated materials, and for them the change should be seamless. However, if a consumer has been receiving payment for commingled materials, they may now need to find alternative means of recycling non-CRV materials. The certified center may opt (but is not required) to pay scrap value for the materials. Consumers may place more materials in their curbside collection containers or utilize special collection programs. Unfortunately, some may choose to illegally dump their materials, especially in the early period of this transition.

To help recycling centers to educate consumers, CalRecycle has sent each certified recycling center two 10” x 20” posters (one in English and one in Spanish) entitled "CRV Only—It’s the Law".

For additional details, please visit the CalRecycle website: www.calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/ProgramInfo

View CalRecycle's CRV Program Changes Notice for participants. (pdf)
View CalRecycle's CRV Segregation Notice. (pdf) 
View the CVR Only poster - English (pdf)

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