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SACRAMENTO – The
state’s Department of Conservation
released statistics today that show
Californians recycled at an all-time
high in 2004, giving a new lease on life
to a total of 12 billion aluminum, glass
and plastic California Refund Value
beverage containers.
That number easily
outpaced the previous high of 10.6
billion in 2002, and represented a 1.5
billion-container increase over the 2003
figure of 10.5 billion.
“This is an exciting
achievement for California in terms of
energy savings, natural resource
conservation, waste reduction and litter
prevention,” said state Secretary for
Resources Mike Chrisman.
The overall recycling
rate (the percentage of CRV containers
recycled in comparison to total sales)
rose to 59 percent, compared to 55
percent in 2003. For the first time,
total sales of CRV containers surpassed
20 billion. Clear plastic containers
such as single-serve water bottles had a
particularly impressive increase
compared to 2003 with a 30 percent gain
in total volume recycled, to 2.5 billion
bottles. Glass volume was up 14 percent
to almost 2 billion, while aluminum rose
9 percent to 7.4 billion cans. Other
types of plastic, along with bi-metal
cans, made up the remainder.
The jump in recycling
equates roughly to saving 31 million
gallons of gasoline, and the 1.5 billion
containers would fill to the rim three
50,000-seat baseball stadiums.
Looking ahead,
Department of Conservation Interim
Director Debbie Sareeram encouraged
consumers to make an even greater
commitment to beverage container
recycling.
“As we move forward
into the summer months, when consumption
is at its peak, we should all remember
to put our bottles and cans into the
recycling bin and not the trash can,”
Sareeram said.
The increase in the
recycling rate may be tied to a number
of things, including a higher California
Refund Value that took effect in January
2004.
“The higher refund
value had the desired effect of
encouraging more people to recycle more
containers,” said Mark Murray, executive
director of Californians Against Waste,
an environmental organization that
backed legislation raising the CRV. “The
state should be commended for its
proactive approach to raising the
recycling rate.”
Other factors that
contribute to increased recycling are
ongoing efforts by the Department of
Conservation toward 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.
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.
California Refund
Value is 4 cents on containers less than
24 ounces, 8 cents on containers 24
ounces and larger. 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
via the “Where” link. A “Recycling
Starter Kit” for businesses is also now
available at
www.bottlesandcans.com via the
“Start a Recycling Program” link.
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. Visit
http://www.conservation.ca.gov/DOR/CRVinOutList.pdf
for a comprehensive list of products
subject to CRV.
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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