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SACRAMENTO –
According to Department of Conservation
statistics released today, Californians
recycled 5.8 billion California Refund
Value bottles and cans from January to
July, the highest six-month figure ever.
“Recycling bottles
and cans is one of the many ways
Californians can express their
commitment to the state’s environment
and natural resources,” said California
Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman.
“It’s heartening to see recycling on the
rise, and this should serve as a
reminder to everyone to recycle where
you live, work and play.”
Numbers for the first
half of 2004 show recycling is up for
aluminum, glass and plastic beverage
containers. If the trend continues,
Californians will recycle more than one
billion additional bottles and cans in
2004 than in 2003.
Overall, the
recycling rate of CRV containers for the
first six months of this year was 63
percent, up from 58 percent for the
January-June period last year. By the
end of 2003, the recycling rate had
fallen to 55 percent, the lowest annual
rate since the CRV program began in
1987.
The increase in the
recycling rate can be tied to a number
of things, including a higher refund
value that took effect in January 2004.
Ongoing efforts by the Department of
Conservation have resulted in greater
public awareness of the need to recycle
and better customer service at thousands
of privately owned recycling centers in
the state. Also, DOC funding to cities
and counties and grants to a variety of
entities have resulted in more recycling
opportunities, and outreach efforts have
increased recycling at private
businesses like office buildings and
restaurants.
More than 19 billion
CRV bottles and cans will be sold in
California this year. Containers that
aren’t recycled represent hundreds of
millions of dollars in unclaimed CRV –
cash that should go back into
Californians’ pockets. In 2003, some
eight billion bottles and cans were
thrown away, worth an estimated $300
million in CRV.
In addition to the
cash reclaimed through redemption,
energy is saved as well: a single
aluminum can, if recycled, saves enough
electricity to run a television for
nearly three hours.
Consumers and
businesses can find nearby recycling
centers by calling 1-800-RECYCLE or
visiting
www.bottlesandcans.com and using the
zip code-based recycling center locater.
California Refund Value is 4 cents on
containers less than 24 ounces, 8 cents
on containers 24 ounces and larger.
Most beverages
packaged in aluminum, glass and plastic,
such as soft drinks, water, beer, sports
drinks, juices and coffee and tea
drinks, are included in the CRV program.
Among the notable products not included
in the program are milk, wine and
distilled spirits. For a comprehensive
list of products subject to CRV, visit
http://www.conservation.ca.gov/DOR/CRVinOutList.pdf
All aspects of the
state’s beverage container recycling
program are paid for with unclaimed
refunds of CRV beverage containers, at
no cost to the state's general fund.
In addition to
promoting beverage container recycling,
the Department of Conservation maps and
studies earthquakes and other geologic
phenomena; classifies areas containing
mineral deposits; ensures reclamation of
land used for mining; regulates oil, gas
and geothermal wells; and administers
agricultural and open-space land
conservation programs.
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