California is making an effort to get more people to recycle cans and bottles by providing millions in grants across the state to add more recycling sites and provide new methods .
The state agency CalRecycle recently awarded nearly $70 million for 37 projects in more than half of the state’s counties.
The state has long had its California Refund Value program, commonly known and printed on recyclable products as CRV, which refunds between 5 and 25 cents per container, depending on the type and size.
According to CalRecycle, the statewide beverage container recycling rate was 71% in 2023.
A CalRecycle document states that the program has resulted in a 68% recycling rate .
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The new grants fund projects that include things like reverse vending machines, which scan containers that are fed into it and provide the CRV. Other ways include mobile recycling teams that can pop up at different places, and bag-drop sites.