The city has been reminding residents that they can receive cash payments of 4 cents for every container smaller than 24 oz and 8 cents for every container larger than 24 oz that they take to a recycling centre.
Under the California Refund Value (CRV) scheme, a deposit is paid by consumers when they buy a drink in a container that qualifies under the system. These include soft drinks, bottled water, alcoholic drinks and fruit juices in cans or bottles made of aluminium, glass, plastic or steel. This is then refunded when the container is taken to a recycling centre.
Retailers are responsible for either creating a recycling centre within half a mile of their store, where deposits can be redeemed, or they must allow customers to hand in their containers in-store.
The deposit went up at the start of the year in order to increase the level of public participation in recycling from 2.5 cents for containers under 24 oz up to four cents, and from 5 cents up to 8 cents for containers larger than 24 oz.
Los Angeles county has now launched a billboard campaign with a “Get Carried Away” message. It believes its awareness programme could get children interested in the recycling scheme.
Senior civil engineer Robert Barker explained: “Having the kids collect and recycle the containers is a perfect way to teach them the value of recycling and the environment. It also gives them the chance to earn a little spending money.”
At the same time as the increase in the deposit scheme, California made available a $10 million programme of market development for the recycling sector.
Californians bought more than 18.2 billion carbonated and non-carbonated drinks in aluminium, glass, plastic and steel containers last year. More than 10.6 billion of those containers were recycled.
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