AB 3056 raised the buy-back price on January 1 of this year, to encourage more people to recycle their beverage containers and get a bonus for the first 6 months of 2007. The state’s recycling program has become progressively successful since established in 1986. Prior to the introduction of the CRV, bottles and cans could only be redeemed for scrap value. Consumers collected one cent for each beverage container when CRV was implemented in 1987 and recycled an average of 6 billion CRV containers.
The redemption value increases since then has resulted in an all-time record of 12.4 billion containers recycled in 2005. More than 160 billion containers have been recycled in the state over the past two decades. Most aluminum, glass, and plastic packaged beverages such as soft drinks, water, beer, sports drinks, and juices are included in the CRV program. Curbside programs, certified recycling centers, and drop-off and collection sites offer plenty of convenient options for recycling and redeeming CRV containers. To find the nearest recycling center in Amador County, visit the county website www.co.amador.ca.us/depts/waste or call the Amador County Waste Management Department, 209-223-6429.