California sets recycling record

Recycling Today, August, 2005

California's Department of Conservation (DOC) has released statistics showing that residents recycled a total of 12 billion aluminum, glass and plastic California Refund Value beverage containers in 2004, an increase of 1.5 billion from 2004.

More than 20 billion CRV containers were sold in the state in 2004. Clear plastic containers increased 30 percent in total volume recycled in 2003 to 2.5 billion containers compared. Glass volume also increased 14 percent to 2 billion containers, while aluminum increased 9 percent to 7.4 billion cans.

The Department of Conservation credits the increase in the recycling rate to a number of things, including a higher California Refund Value that took effect in January 2004.