California Redemption Value

New Watchdog Report Lays Out Checklist For CalRecycle To Make Bottle Deposit Refunds Easy As Buying The Beverages

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
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This major reform of the shattered bottle deposit program makes supermarkets responsible for bottle deposit refunds for the first time.

Key Points: 
  • This major reform of the shattered bottle deposit program makes supermarkets responsible for bottle deposit refunds for the first time.
  • Consumer Watchdog urges the regulator to require at least 4,500 new redemption points to make California Redemption Value (CRV) deposit refunds widely accessible when the law goes into effect on January 1, 2025.
  • "To make its bottle deposit return system a success, CalRecycle must write regulations implementing the state's newly reformed bottle law under SB 1013 to guarantee that retailers provide consumers with convenient access to redemption," the report continues.
  • Require every big box style store selling CRV beverages to offer consumers at least 2 automated recycling machines on their premises.

Consumer Watchdog Breaks Down The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of Bottle Deposit Reform Legislation

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 3, 2022
Human, Wine, Collection, Legislation, CRI, Multimedia, Investor, Plastic, Recycling, Consumer Watchdog, Bad, Program, California Redemption Value, Container, CRV, Glass, Aluminium, Good, Cryptocurrency, Bank

However, the reforms also come with unjustifiable pork for special interests at the expense of consumer redemption access and robust system modernization, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Key Points: 
  • However, the reforms also come with unjustifiable pork for special interests at the expense of consumer redemption access and robust system modernization, Consumer Watchdog said today.
  • "This package of bottle bill reform legislation has the potential to fix the system and improve consumer access to redemption as long as regulators get the details right," said consumer advocate Liza Tucker.
  • Mandates that the biggest beverage dealers in the state redeem California Redemption Value (CRV) bottle deposits by taking containers in consumer "convenience zones" lacking redemption centers, starting in 2025.
  • None of these payments improve the quality of glass and plastic, nor do they increase consumer access to redemption.

Consumer Watchdog Unveils Top 10 Signs of California's Shattered Bottle Deposit System, Urges Governor To Act Fast To Fix It

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Consumer Watchdog, Wine, Supermarket, Technology, CRV, Nickel, Drink, California Redemption Value, Recycling, Walmart, Ralphs, Costco

"We need Governor Newsom to clean up the deposit system's glaring problems by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a targeted way," said Consumer Advocate Liza Tucker.

Key Points: 
  • "We need Governor Newsom to clean up the deposit system's glaring problems by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a targeted way," said Consumer Advocate Liza Tucker.
  • "California needs to join the most progressive bottle deposit states by installing automated technology at redemption centers and at major supermarket chains.
  • "Lawmakers are poised to expand the bottle deposit program by passing legislation adding wine and distilled spirits to the bottle deposit system.
  • Top 10 Signs of California's Shattered Bottle Deposit System:
    Only 58% of California CRV containers were redeemed last year, making California 3rd to last among ten bottle deposit states.

Bottle Deposit Pilot Programs to Help Refund Consumer CRV Are Crashing and Burning, Consumer Watchdog Reveals

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 15, 2022
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But a Consumer Watchdog investigation reveals the pilots are not convenient, financially sustainable, or remotely successful as models to save the system.

Key Points: 
  • But a Consumer Watchdog investigation reveals the pilots are not convenient, financially sustainable, or remotely successful as models to save the system.
  • In one case, San Francisco, it is costing $1.25 per bottle or can to return a nickel to the consumer.
  • None of the pilot programs appear to generate enough volume to sustain the program when the initial pilot grant money runs out.
  • "CalRecycle, the state's recycling regulator, has pushed city and county-based pilot projects as an 'innovative' solution to the redemption crisis," according to a new report, Pilot Error: How CRV Refund Pilot Programs Are Crashing And Burning.

Fraud In Bottle Deposit System Out Of Control; Costing Consumers Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars Annually, Consumer Watchdog Reveals

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, January 8, 2022
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The report points to the need for a modern, automated bottle deposit system, like those in other bottle deposit states. This year California's Assembly will take up legislation already passed by the state Senate-- SB 38 (Wieckowski) -- to establish such a system run and managed by the beverage companies.

Key Points: 
  • The report points to the need for a modern, automated bottle deposit system, like those in other bottle deposit states.
  • "California's bottle deposit program is run largely on a recycler honor system to claim payments from the state for bottle and can redemption," the report finds.
  • Not a single other bottle deposit system in the continental United States emulates and copies California's.
  • For more on the dysfunction of the bottle deposit system, see Consumer Watchdog previous reports:

California Assembly Stops Bottle Deposit Bill Fix For 2021 As Redemption Rate Drops to 56%, says Consumer Watchdog

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

The refusal comes as CalRecycle, the state's regulator, reported the latest redemption ratethe rate at which consumer receive their CRV deposits backfell to 56% for the month of June, says Consumer Watchdog.

Key Points: 
  • The refusal comes as CalRecycle, the state's regulator, reported the latest redemption ratethe rate at which consumer receive their CRV deposits backfell to 56% for the month of June, says Consumer Watchdog.
  • "The California Assembly refused to take even the tiniest of steps offered by the Senate to improve consumer access to redemption," said Liza Tucker.
  • Assembly Members Richard Bloom and Phil Ting were responsible for the Assembly's intransigence.
  • The deal would have spent:
    $9.6 million to establish 40 community redemption depots throughout the state that redeem California Refund Value (CRV) deposits.

75% of Whole Foods Markets Abandon Bottle and Can Recycling As Redemption Rate Sinks To 58% And Groups Back Fundamental Deposit Reform, says Consumer Watchdog

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Waste management, Container deposit legislation, Recycling in the United States, Waste minimisation, Recycling, Container-deposit legislation, Packaging, Waste legislation, Articles, CRV, California Redemption Value, Container deposit legislation in the United States

With few places to get their bottle and can deposits returned, California's redemption rate for 2020 has sunk to a low of 58%, leaving it third to last among ten bottle deposit states.

Key Points: 
  • With few places to get their bottle and can deposits returned, California's redemption rate for 2020 has sunk to a low of 58%, leaving it third to last among ten bottle deposit states.
  • "It's particularly egregious that grocers with green reputations, such as Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, are paying greenbacks to get out of refunding consumer CRV deposits and recycling," said Consumer Advocate Liza Tucker.
  • It's time we set an 85% redemption rate and required the beverage companies who make money off the system to meet that target."
  • California has now sunk to third to last in redemption rates among ten bottle deposit states.