CRV Background and History
The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act under CalRecycle was enacted in 1986 to promote the importance of reducing waste. The act states that every beverage container sold or offered for sale in California is required to have a minimum refund value also known as CRV or California Refund (or Redemption) Value.
In other words, this act requires that consumers get paid for recycling their used water bottles or soda cans, which many will refer to as CRV!
Initially, CRV stands for California Refund (or Redemption) Value, but the term has evolved and is currently referred to the items that are being recycled, i.e. beverage containers. For the purpose of this article, the term will be used interchangeably.
How to Identify CRV
Great, so you now know that you can recycle empty bottles, cans or containers but what if something is not eligible? How will you know?
Here are some quick guidelines as to what is accepted under this program and eligible for CRV and what is not eligible for CRV.
Generally, items that can be recycled include those that are in the forms of plastic, aluminum, metal, and glass. These items may include:
- Beer bottles
- Malt beverages
- Wine coolers
- Distilled spirit coolers
- Carbonated fruit drinks
- Water bottles
- Soft drink bottles
- Non-carbonated fruit drinks
- Coffee beverages
- Tea beverages
- Sports drinks
- 100% fruit juice less than 46 oz.
- Vegetable juice 16 oz. or less
To make sure that your container is eligible for CRV just read the label, an official CRV message is on many beverage containers. This message will read “California Redemption Value”, “CA Redemption Value”, “California Cash Refund”, “CA Cash Refund” or “CA CRV.”
To further help educate Californians, the banner above was provided by CalRecycle, California’s Department of Resource Recycling and Recovery. Pacific Auto Recycling Center and other certified recycling center, are required to display two 10” by 20” posters in both English and Spanish to inform consumers what are acceptable and can be redeemed for CRV.
How to Identify CRV
Now that you know what is eligible CRV the first step to take is to get or identify a recycling bin that you can keep in your home or garage. Store your CRV until you have gathered enough to bring to Pacific Auto Recycling Center or any other local recycling center. Make sure not to mix your recyclables with trash, this can ruin the recyclable material.
Next, separate your CRV beverage containers from non-CRV containers and by material type. This step is not absolutely necessary but it helps to ensure that you receive the proper cash refund for your CRV.
Additionally, Make sure to redeem your bottles and cans in loads of 50 or less at a time.
Make your recycling experience a breeze by always making sure that your containers are empty, clean, dry and unbroken before taking them to Pacific Auto Recycling Center or your local recycling center. They should be whole and free of contaminants like dirt, excessive liquid or other foreign substances.
How much is my CRV worth?
Now you have collected your soda cans, water bottles and all other kinds of beverage containers and you know that they are eligible for CRV. But how much money will you actually be making from it? This is where PARC comes in!
At Pacific Auto Recycling Center the cash incentive is paid out following the guidelines provided by CalRecycle. CalRecycle states that recycling centers can decide whether to pay by weight or by container count. It is, usually paid by container count if you have more than 50 of any one material type.
The current rate for CRV refunds are as follows:
CRV paid to consumers, effective January 1, 2007:
- $.05 per container less than 24 ounces (aluminum, glass, plastic #1-7, or bimetal).
- $.10 per container 24 ounces or larger (aluminum, glass, plastic #1-7, or bimetal).
Check out CalRecycle at www.calrecycle.ca.gov for more information on CRV rates and updates.
More than 300 billion aluminum, glass, and plastic beverage containers have been recycled for CRV since 1987. Keep the movement going by contacting Pacific Auto Recycling Center today at (661) 949-0048 or come to our yard at 225 West Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93534. You can also visit our website www.weareparc.com for more information about our products and services.