How to Recycle Beverage Containers

Beverage container recycling is simple. Once the bottle or can is empty of its original refreshment, it is ready to be redeemed for cash and recycled. Here is a list of California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage container recycling “Do’s and Don’ts.”

Do

• Separate CRV beverage containers from non-CRV containers. Although this is not required, separating CRV and non-CRV containers will help ensure the cash refund paid by recyclers most closely approximates the amount of CRV consumers paid at the store.
• Put bottles and cans into recycling bins instead of trash cans. Many office buildings, parks, gyms and other public places have recycling bins as well as trash cans, so look for the recycling bin. Or take the containers to a recycling center and redeem them for cash.
• Redeem bottles and cans in loads of 50 or less at a time. The best way to ensure exact CRV refund is to redeem 50 or fewer beverage containers of each material type per visit and request to be paid by count rather than weight. Consumers have the option of being paid on a per-container basis if they redeem 50 or fewer containers of each material type.
• Order a Recycling Starter Kit. Any California business, organization or school can start a recycling program by ordering a Recycling Starter Kit.
• Only redeem CRV beverage containers purchased in the state of California. The California Refund Value only applies to beverage containers purchased within California.
• Contact the Department of Conservation to learn more about beverage container recycling in California or call 1-800-RECYCLE.

Do Not

• Throw bottles and cans in the trash. Beverage containers thrown in the trash are wasted resources that take up precious California landfill space. These containers could have been recycled to save energy and natural resources.
• Rinse or clean bottles and cans before recycling them. In most cases, it is not necessary to rinse or clean beverage containers before they are recycled. The containers are cleaned during the recycling process.
• Crush your plastic and glass bottles. It is not necessary or recommended to crush plastic and glass containers before they are recycled. Consumers may choose to crush aluminum cans as a way to save space and recycle more containers at one time.