The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, a violation of which is a crime, requires a distributor of beverage containers, as defined, to pay to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery a monthly redemption payment for every beverage container sold or transferred, as provided. The act requires the department to deposit those amounts into the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund. The fund is continuously appropriated to, among other things, pay refund values and administrative fees to processors that receive empty beverage containers from recyclers. The act authorizes, until January 1, 2028, the department to pay a market development payment to a glass beverage container manufacturer who purchases recycled glass collected within this state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in this state, as provided. The act requires the department to set the market development payment at an amount not to exceed $50 per ton. The act continuously appropriates $60,000,000 annually from the fund to the department to the make market development payments.

This bill would authorize the department to set the market development payment at different levels, but would prohibit that payment from exceeding $150 per ton. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2028, and until January 1, 2030, authorize the department to expend $20,000,000 annually from the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for glass market development payments.

The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, a violation of which is a crime, requires a distributor of beverage containers, as defined, to pay to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery a monthly redemption payment for every beverage container sold or transferred, as provided. The act requires the department to deposit those amounts into the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund. The fund is continuously appropriated to, among other things, pay refund values and administrative fees to processors that receive empty beverage containers from recyclers. The act authorizes, until January 1, 2028, the department to pay a market development payment to a glass beverage container manufacturer who purchases recycled glass collected within this state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in this state, as provided. The act requires the department to set the market development payment at an amount not to exceed $50 per ton. The act continuously appropriates $60,000,000 annually from the fund to the department to the make market development payments.

This bill would authorize the department to set the market development payment at different levels, but would prohibit that payment from exceeding $150 per ton. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2028, and until January 1, 2030, authorize the department to expend $20,000,000 annually from the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for glass market development payments.

The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, a violation of which is a crime, requires a distributor of beverage containers, as defined, to pay to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery a monthly redemption payment for every beverage container sold or transferred, as provided. The act requires the department to deposit those amounts into the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund. The fund is continuously appropriated to, among other things, pay refund values and administrative fees to processors that receive empty beverage containers from recyclers. The act authorizes, until January 1, 2028, the department to pay a market development payment to a glass beverage container manufacturer who purchases recycled glass collected within this state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in this state, as provided. The act requires the department to set the market development payment at an amount not to exceed $50 per ton. The act continuously appropriates $60,000,000 annually from the fund to the department to the make market development payments.

This bill would authorize the department to set the market development payment at an amount not to exceed payment at different levels, but would prohibit that payment from exceeding $150 per ton. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2028, and until January 1, 2030, authorize the department to expend $20,000,000 annually from the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for glass market development payments.

The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, a violation of which is a crime, requires a distributor of beverage containers, as defined, to pay to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery a monthly redemption payment for every beverage container sold or transferred, as provided. The act requires the department to deposit those amounts into the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund. The fund is continuously appropriated to, among other things, pay refund values and administrative fees to processors that receive empty beverage containers from recyclers. The act authorizes, until January 1, 2028, the department to pay a market development payment to a glass beverage container manufacturer who purchases recycled glass collected within this state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in this state, as provided. The act requires the department to set the market development payment at an amount not to exceed $50 per ton. The act continuously appropriates $60,000,000 annually from the fund to the department to the make market development payments to glass beverage container manufacturers who purchase recycled glass collected within this state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in this state. payments.

Existing law establishes the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth.

This bill would establish the Buy California Glass Bottle Procurement and Incentive Program. The bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, GO-Biz to develop and administer the program in order to promote the production and distribution of wine bottles made in California. The bill would permit a California winery to apply for a grant to purchase wine bottles made in California under the program. The bill would require GO-Biz to develop eligibility criteria, as specified, and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to use unallocated funds from a specified program for purposes of the grant program.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 899

Author:(Ransom)

As Amended Ver:August 18, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Authorizes the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to increase the cap on market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers from $50 to $150 per ton and to expend $20 million per year from the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) for these payments.

Senate Amendments

1. Revise the legislative intent to apply to glass beverage containers generally, rather than glass wine bottles.
2. Authorize CalRecycle to set different levels of market development payments, as specified.

COMMENTS

The Bottle Bill was established in 1986 to be a self-funded program to prevent littering and achieve an 80% recycling rate for eligible containers. The program requires consumers to pay a deposit for each eligible container purchased. The program then guarantees consumers repayment of that deposit, known as the California Redemption Value (CRV), for each eligible container returned to a certified recycler. CalRecycle administers the program and handles all program payments, including CRV, through the BCRF. Despite paying the CRV deposit, not all consumers recycle their CRV-eligible containers. The BCRF retains unredeemed deposits, and state law requires that much of the unredeemed CRV be spent on specified recycling related programs. Only certain containers containing certain beverages are part of the CRV program.

SB 1013 (Atkins), Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022, amended the program to include wine and distilled spirits, including those contained in boxes, bladders, pouches, or similar containers, beginning January 1, 2024. SB 353 (Dodd), Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023, further expands the program to include large containers for juice containers beginning January 1, 2026.

By adding new container types to the Bottle Bill, SB 1013 and SB 353 increased revenues in the BCRF due to an increase in unredeemed CRV funds. In order to incentivize recycling increased glass containers from the addition of wine and distilled spirits, SB 1013 authorized $60 million annually from the BCRF for glass market development payments until January 1, 2028.

However, CalRecycle awarded only $4.2 million for market development payments in 2023 and $9.9 million in 2024. The department expects to award $11.2 million in payments this year. This bill directs CalRecycle to dedicate portion of the unallocated $60 million authorized by SB 1013 to incentivize the recycling of in-state recycled glass to be used by in-state wine beverage manufacturers.

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), the sponsor of this bill, argues that the domestic glass container manufacturers operate at a competitive disadvantage because they must comply with in-state recycled content requirements, in-state carbon emission reductions, federal and regional air quality regulations, and higher energy, transportation, labor costs. GPI contends that the lack of market demand by California wineries for California glass affects the continued operation of the four unionized glass container manufacturing plants in the state.

According to the Author

Unfairly subsidized imports, particularly from China, threaten local manufacturers, and recent tariffs on Chinese glass imports underscore the need for a resilient, sustainable supply chain. Many of California's glass plants face closure due to this unfair competition, putting local jobs and the state's glass production industry at risk. This bill incentivizes local glass production, creating jobs, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and supporting California's environmental goals through increased recycling and waste reduction.

Arguments in Support

GPI writes in support:

The incentive payments in AB 899 will encourage California glass plants to maintain full production, lower the cost of production and assist California-made glass bottles to be more price competitive, leveling the playing field with glass bottles imported from overseas manufacturers.

Arguments in Opposition

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

1. Ongoing cost pressures of $20 million each year for two years (BCRF), from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2030, for glass market development payments.
2. CalRecycle anticipates its costs to administer glass market development payments for an additional two years would be minor and absorbable.

VOTES:

ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 14-0-0

YES: Bryan, Alanis, Connolly, Ellis, Flora, Garcia, Haney, Hoover, Kalra, Muratsuchi, Pellerin, Schultz, Wicks, Zbur

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-4

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez, Dixon, Ta, Tangipa

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0-0

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer‑Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

SENATE FLOOR: 39-0-1

YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

ABS, ABST OR NV: Stern

UPDATED

VERSION: August 18, 2025

CONSULTANT: Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0001791

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 899

Author: Ransom (D)

Amended: 8/18/25 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 8-0, 7/16/25

AYES: Blakespear, Valladares, Dahle, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Menjivar, Padilla, Pérez

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/29/25

AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/3/25 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Beverage containers: recycled glass: market development

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This bill authorizes the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to increase the cap on market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers from $50 to $150 per ton and to expend $20 million per year from the bottle bill fund for these payments.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Bottle bill administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). The bottle bill requires beverage containers sold in-state to have a California redemption value (CRV) of 5 cents for containers that hold fewer than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers that hold 24 ounces or more. The Bottle bill further sets a CRV of 25 cents for boxes, bladders, or pouches containing wine, distilled spirits, wine coolers, or distilled spirit coolers. (Public Resources Code (PRC) § 14500 et seq.)
2. Establishes the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) and continuously appropriates moneys in the BCRF to CalRecycle for specified purposes for the Bottle bill, including paying operation costs, paying grants, and paying handling fees. (PRC § 14580)
3. Defines “beverage container” as the individual, separate bottle, can, jar, carton, or other receptacle in which a beverage is sold, and which is constructed of metal, glass, plastic, or any other material, or any combination of these materials, and beginning January 1, 2024, includes wine and distilled spirits beverage containers. (PRC § 14505)
4. Establishes market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers who purchase recycled glass collected within the state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in the state, as specified. (PRC § 14549.7)
5. Establishes a market development payment of up to $50 per ton for glass beverage container manufacturers who purchase recycled glass collected within the state to use in the manufacturing of glass beverage containers in the state and appropriated $60 million annually through January 1, 2028. (PRC § 14581)
   

This bill:

1. Increases the cap that CalRecycle can allocate for market development payments that go to glass beverage container manufacturers from $50 to $150 per ton.
2. Specifies that between January 1, 2028 – January 1, 2030, CalRecycle can spend twenty million dollars annually for glass market development payments from the BCRF if allocated by the Legislature.

Background

1. Bottle bill Background. The bottle bill was established by the Legislature in 1986, with the twin goals of reducing litter and achieving a recycling rate of 80% for containers in the program. In 2023, the recycling rate for bottles in the program was 70%. This rate of recycling is only slightly higher than it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it dipped from higher than 75% in 2016-2019 down to 68% in 2021. In broad strokes, the program operates by adding a small CRV (between 5-25 cents per container) on beverages which consumers pay at check out, and can then be redeemed when the bottles are brought to a collection site or recycling center in the program. The CRV incentivizes consumers and businesses to bring bottles back into the recycling system, reducing the likelihood of bottles ending up as litter or in a landfill.
2. Funding in the bottle bill. The CRV is paid up-front by distributors who pay the CRV to CalRecycle for every beverage container sold in the state. Next, retailers pay the CRV to distributors, and consumers pay the CRV to retailers. CRV is paid into the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) and CalRecycle pays out of this Fund for CRV redemption (CRV-out). If beverages are not redeemed, however, that money stays in the BCRF as surplus. This surplus is used to operate the bottle bill program: unredeemed CRV is the primary funding source for the bottle bill, and is used to fund the administration of the program, grants that advance recycling, and various incentive payments that keep the program running. As the recycling rate increases, less funding is available to make all the budgeted payments prescribed in statute, including CRV-out, BCRP administration, local conservation corps grants, and other payments. A structural deficit occurs when program payments exceed program revenue for a given timeline. The structural deficit can exist even if there are still funds left over in the BCRF pot. When recycling rates were at their peak for the bottle bill program, the BCRF was running at a structural deficit. Because the number of beverage containers in the bottle bill in a given year is very large, small changes to the rate of CRV-in vs. CRV-out translate to large changes (and large sums of money) in the BCRF.
3. New-ish additions to the bottle bill. The bottle bill has historically included most glass, aluminum, and plastic beverage containers for water, beer, soda, sports drinks, fruit juice, tea, and coffee. Recent legislation expanded the bottle bill to include wine and distilled spirits, including alcoholic beverages in boxes, pouches, or bladders (SB 1013, Atkins, Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022). These containers were added to the program January 1, 2024. Fruit juice containers of 46 ounces or more and vegetable juice containers over 16 ounces were also added to the program beginning January 1, 2024 (SB 353 Dodd, Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023). SB 1013 set a high CRV for wine in boxes, bladders, and pouches at 25 cents (before this, containers in the program had a maximum CRV of 10 cents).
4. Money into and out of BCRF with new additions. CalRecycle estimates adding wine and spirits to the bottle bill program will add approximately $17.6 million annually in revenue to the BCRF. To support management of the influx of glass bottles that will be added to the program as a result of the expansion, SB 1013 also created a market development payment for glass and various grant programs focused on addressing glass contamination and glass recycling. These include expanding glass cullet processing in the state, supporting pilot programs to collect glass bottles from restaurants and other retailers, and facilitating the transportation of empty glass bottles to glass processing facilities through rail. Specifically, SB 1013 required CalRecycle to create the following grant programs:
   • 1. The Recycled Glass Processing Incentive Grant Program to stimulate the increased use of glass cullet in making new glass beverage containers in the state. Authorizes CalRecycle to expend up to $4 million annually for these grants.
     2. The Increased Recycling of Empty Glass Beverage Containers Grant Program to assist in funding regional pilot programs furnishing bins for collection of empty glass beverage containers from restaurants and on-sale retail establishments licensed pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. Authorizes CalRecycle to expend up to $4 million annually for these grants.
     3. The Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program to facilitate the use of rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers to glass processing facilities within the state. Authorizes CalRecycle to expend up to $1 million annually for these grants.
5. Glass recycling is expensive. According CalRecycle’s most recent semi-annual BCRF report, the recycling rate (based on CRV) for glass was lower than that of aluminum or PET plastic (the most recyclable form of plastic), but slightly better than for HDPE or other plastics. The recycling rate for aluminum was 77.80%, 71.70% for PET, and only 63.20% for glass.

While glass is very recyclable, it is also expensive to recycle due to a number of characteristics of glass in the recycling stream. For instance, glass can be easily broken, especially when it lands in curbside bins, and can be broken up and contaminated with other materials. Glass is also heavy to transport, makings its CRV value per pound lower than for aluminum and plastic. According to CalRecycle’s 2025 Recycling Program Rates report as of January 1, 2025, the Refund Value Per Segregated Pound of glass was just a fraction (at $0.102 per pound) of the value for aluminum ($1.65 per pound) or PET ($1.47 per pound). Likewise, the scrap value per ton for aluminum is currently $1,245.48, PET is $211.62, whereas glass is just $3.82 per ton.

Comments

1. Purpose of Bill. According to the author “AB 899 (Ransom) is a timely and critical measure to strengthen California's economy, environment, and public health by promoting domestically produced glass bottles. Unfairly subsidized imports, particularly from China, threaten local manufacturers, and recent tariffs on Chinese glass imports underscore the need for a resilient, sustainable supply chain. Many of California’s glass plants face closure due to this unfair competition, putting local jobs and the state’s glass production industry at risk. This bill incentivizes local glass production, creating jobs, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and supporting California’s environmental goals through increased recycling and waste reduction. AB 899 would restore industry balance, ensure long-term economic sustainability, and puts California businesses and workers first.”
2. Supporting glass recycling. Adding more glass to the bottle bill by including wine and distilled spirits drives increased rate of recycling for glass with the added CRV incentive. It is also intended to increase the amount of glass that can be used as feedstock for recycled glass containers, since the bottle bill creates a relatively clean stream of source-separated glass that can be recycled.

Recycling glass is more expensive than recycling PET or aluminum, and while creating a better clean source of glass material and adding the CRV to more glass bottles can help even out the cost differences, some factors, such as the weight of glass, its breakability in curbside, and even market demands, may be unaccounted for. Market development payments can supplement the glass recycling industry to make glass recycling pencil out: AB 899 does this by increasing the cap on market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers from $50 to $150 per ton and increasing the amount that can be expended from the BCRF for these payments to $20 million per year. These payments will help further support the glass recycling markets.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 674 (Cabaldon, 2025) reduces the CRV for small box, bladder, or pouched wine or distilled spirits in the bottle bill from 25 cents to 10 cents, and authorizes small beverage container distributors, as defined, to make a single annual payment of redemption payments. This bill is pending hearing in the Assembly Natura Resources Committee.

SB 1013 (Atkins, Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022) brings wine and distilled spirits into the California Beverage Container Recycling Program, introduces new grant programs, expands the convenience zones, and creates dealer cooperatives to serve unserved areas.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, the bill will have “Ongoing cost pressures of $20 million each year for two years (Beverage Container Recycling Fund [BCRF]), from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2030, for glass market development payments. CalRecycle anticipates its costs to administer glass market development payments for an additional two years would be minor and absorbable.”

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/29/25)

Californians Against Waste
Glass Packaging Institute
Owens-illinois, INC

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/29/25)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/3/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

Prepared by: Brynn Cook / E.Q. / (916) 651-4108

8/29/25 20:41:30

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

AB 899 (Ransom) - Beverage containers: recycled glass: market development

Bill Summary:

This bill would allow the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to set the market development payment at different levels, not to exceed $150 per ton, and would authorize expenditures of $20 million per year for these payments.

Fiscal Impact:

• Ongoing cost pressures of $20 million each year for two years (Beverage Container Recycling Fund [BCRF]), from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2030, for glass market development payments.
• CalRecycle anticipates its costs to administer glass market development payments for an additional two years would be minor and absorbable.

Background:

The BCRP was established over 30 years ago with the enactment of Chapter 1290, Statutes of 1986 (AB 2020, Margolin). The purpose of the program is to be a self–funded program that encourages consumers to recycle certain beverage containers. The program accomplishes this goal by first requiring consumers to pay a deposit for each eligible container purchased. Then the program guarantees consumers repayment of that deposit—the California Redemption Value, or “CRV”—for each eligible container returned to a certified recycler. Statute includes two main goals for the program: (1) reducing litter and (2) achieving a recycling rate of 80 percent for eligible containers.

Eligible beverage containers. Only certain beverage containers are part of the CRV program. Whether a particular container is part of the program depends on the material, size, and content of the container. Most containers made from glass, plastic, aluminum, and bimetal (consisting of one or more metals, including steel usually) are eligible, though there are exceptions. For example, containers for wine, spirits, milk, and soy drinks are not eligible for CRV, regardless of the container type. Container types that are not included in the CRV program are most cartons, such as milk cartons, and pouches made from multiple materials. Any container that holds 64 ounces or more is also not eligible.

Program expenditures. Not all CRV–eligible containers are recycled, and therefore the CRV deposit paid when a consumer purchased these containers is never redeemed. This means that distributors pay more CRV into the BCRF than is claimed by consumers. For example, for the past few years the BCRF has received roughly $1.5 billion in deposits, but only about $1.1 billion—or roughly 75 percent—was spent on redemption payments. State law requires that much of the unredeemed CRV be spent on specified recycling–related programs.

Glass is relatively expensive to recycle. Different materials go through different processes to be cleaned, sorted, and recycled, which result in different recycling costs for each material. Additionally, the recycled materials are used for different products, which means that some materials have higher post-recycled scrap value than others. These differences mean that some materials are generally profitable to recycle, while others would cause recyclers and processors to lose money if they did not receive processing payments from the BCRF. Recycling glass often results in a large loss, with the cost to recycle glass roughly 30 times greater than its scrap value.

According to the department, recyclers, and manufacturers, single-stream curbside collection frequently results in poor scrap quality, meaning that materials collected this way are more expensive to recycle and a greater portion of materials that are collected cannot be recycled due to contamination. Therefore, some materials returned via single stream will end up in a landfill rather than being recycled. Glass is especially affected by single-stream curbside collection because it is easily broken into small pieces that are difficult to sort and clean when mixed with other materials. Additionally, there is proportionally more glass in the curbside program than other material types. CalRecycle estimates that 21 percent of CRV-eligible glass is redeemed through curbside programs compared to just 6 percent of all CRV-eligible material. This is possibly due to the exclusion of many glass containers, such as wine and spirit bottles, from the BCRP.

These differences can have a significant impact on the value of the collected material. For example, glass scrap from a single-stream curbside collector may be worth almost nothing or even have negative value. In some cases, processors are paid to take away glass that come in through single-stream collection. Glass from BCRP redemption centers, on the other hand, can sell for as much as $40 to $60 per ton, according to some recyclers and processors.

Recent legislative efforts to support glass recycling. SB 1013 (Atkins), Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022, amended the program to include wine and distilled spirits, including those contained in boxes, bladders, pouches, or similar containers, beginning January 1, 2024. SB 353 (Dodd), Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023, further expands the program to include large containers for juice containers beginning January 1, 2026.

By adding new container types to the Bottle Bill, SB 1013 and SB 353 increased revenues in the BCRF due to an increase in unredeemed CRV funds. In order to incentivize recycling increased glass containers from the addition of wine and distilled spirits, SB 1013 authorized $60 million annually from the BCRF for glass market development payments until January 1, 2028. However, CalRecycle awarded only $4.2 million for market development payments in 2023 and $9.9 million in 2024. The department expects to award $11.2 million in payments this year. This bill directs CalRecycle to dedicate portion of the unallocated $60 million authorized by SB 1013 to incentivize the recycling of in-state recycled glass to be used by in-state wine beverage manufacturers.

Proposed Law:

This bill would:

1. Authorize CalRecycle to set the market development payment at different levels.
2. Prohibit the market development payment from exceeding $150 per ton.
3. On and after January 1, 2028, and until January 1, 2030, authorize CalRecycle to expend $20 million annually from the BCRF, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for glass market development payments.

Related Legislation:

SB 674 (Cabaldon, 2025) would reduce the CRV for small box, bladder, or pouched wine or distilled spirits in the bottle bill from 25 cents to 10 cents, and authorizes small beverage container distributors, as defined, to make a single annual payment of redemption payments.

SB 353 (Dodd, 2023) expands the CRV program to include large containers for juice containers beginning January 1, 2026.

SB 1013 (Atkins, Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022) brings wine and distilled spirits into the California Beverage Container Recycling Program, introduces new grant programs, expands the convenience zones, and creates dealer cooperatives to serve unserved areas.

Staff Comments:

To date, CalRecycle has expended a relatively small percentage of the $60 million authorized annually for glass market development payments.

CalRecycle reports that BCRF had an ending balance of about $889 million in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24 and is projected to have an ending balance of about $432 million at the end of this FY – although this figure could change based on actuals provided at the end of the FY.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Senator Blakespear, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: AB 899

SUBJECT: Beverage containers: recycled glass: market development

DIGEST: Authorizes the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to increase the cap on market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers from $50 to $150 per ton and to expend $20 million per year from the bottle bill fund for these payments.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Bottle bill administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). The bottle bill requires beverage containers sold in-state to have a California redemption value (CRV) of 5 cents for containers that hold fewer than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers that hold 24 ounces or more. The Bottle bill further sets a CRV of 25 cents for boxes, bladders, or pouches containing wine, distilled spirits, wine coolers, or distilled spirit coolers. (Public Resources Code (PRC) § 14500 et seq.)
2. Establishes the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) and continuously appropriates moneys in the BCRF to CalRecycle for specified purposes for the Bottle bill, including paying operation costs, paying grants, and paying handling fees. (PRC § 14580)
3. Defines “beverage container” as the individual, separate bottle, can, jar, carton, or other receptacle in which a beverage is sold, and which is constructed of metal, glass, plastic, or any other material, or any combination of these materials, and beginning January 1, 2024, includes wine and distilled spirits beverage containers. (PRC § 14505)
4. Establishes market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers who purchase recycled glass collected within the state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in the state, as specified. (PRC § 14549.7)
5. Establishes a market development payment of up to $50 per ton for glass beverage container manufacturers who purchase recycled glass collected within the state to use in the manufacturing of glass beverage containers in the state and appropriated $60 million annually through January 1, 2028. (PRC § 14581)
   

This bill:

1. Increases the cap that CalRecycle can allocate for market development payments that go to glass beverage container manufacturers from $50 to $150 per ton.
2. Specifies that between January 1, 2028 – January 1, 2030, CalRecycle can spend twenty million dollars annually for glass market development payments from the BCRF if allocated by the Legislature.

Background

1. Bottle bill Background. The bottle bill was established by the Legislature in 1986, with the twin goals of reducing litter and achieving a recycling rate of 80% for containers in the program. In 2023, the recycling rate for bottles in the program was 70%. This rate of recycling is only slightly higher than it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it dipped from higher than 75% in 2016-2019 down to 68% in 2021. In broad strokes, the program operates by adding a small CRV (between 5-25 cents per container) on beverages which consumers pay at check out, and can then be redeemed when the bottles are brought to a collection site or recycling center in the program. The CRV incentivizes consumers and businesses to bring bottles back into the recycling system, reducing the likelihood of bottles ending up as litter or in a landfill.
2. Funding in the bottle bill. The CRV is paid up-front by distributors who pay the CRV to CalRecycle for every beverage container sold in the state. Next, retailers pay the CRV to distributors, and consumers pay the CRV to retailers. CRV is paid into the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) and CalRecycle pays out of this Fund for CRV redemption (CRV-out). If beverages are not redeemed, however, that money stays in the BCRF as surplus. This surplus is used to operate the bottle bill program: unredeemed CRV is the primary funding source for the bottle bill, and is used to fund the administration of the program, grants that advance recycling, and various incentive payments that keep the program running. As the recycling rate increases, less funding is available to make all the budgeted payments prescribed in statute, including CRV-out, BCRP administration, local conservation corps grants, and other payments. A structural deficit occurs when program payments exceed program revenue for a given timeline. The structural deficit can exist even if there are still funds left over in the BCRF pot. When recycling rates were at their peak for the bottle bill program, the BCRF was running at a structural deficit. Because the number of beverage containers in the bottle bill in a given year is very large, small changes to the rate of CRV-in vs. CRV-out translate to large changes (and large sums of money) in the BCRF.
3. New-ish additions to the bottle bill. The bottle bill has historically included most glass, aluminum, and plastic beverage containers for water, beer, soda, sports drinks, fruit juice, tea, and coffee. Recent legislation expanded the bottle bill to include wine and distilled spirits, including alcoholic beverages in boxes, pouches, or bladders (SB 1013, Atkins, Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022). These containers were added to the program January 1, 2024. Fruit juice containers of 46 ounces or more and vegetable juice containers over 16 ounces were also added to the program beginning January 1, 2024 (SB 353 Dodd, Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023). SB 1013 set a high CRV for wine in boxes, bladders, and pouches at 25 cents (before this, containers in the program had a maximum CRV of 10 cents).
4. Money into and out of BCRF with new additions. CalRecycle estimates adding wine and spirits to the bottle bill program will add approximately $17.6 million annually in revenue to the BCRF. To support management of the influx of glass bottles that will be added to the program as a result of the expansion, SB 1013 also created a market development payment for glass and various grant programs focused on addressing glass contamination and glass recycling. These include expanding glass cullet processing in the state, supporting pilot programs to collect glass bottles from restaurants and other retailers, and facilitating the transportation of empty glass bottles to glass processing facilities through rail. Specifically, SB 1013 required CalRecycle to create the following grant programs:
   • 1. The Recycled Glass Processing Incentive Grant Program to stimulate the increased use of glass cullet in making new glass beverage containers in the state. Authorizes CalRecycle to expend up to $4 million annually for these grants.
     2. The Increased Recycling of Empty Glass Beverage Containers Grant Program to assist in funding regional pilot programs furnishing bins for collection of empty glass beverage containers from restaurants and on-sale retail establishments licensed pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. Authorizes CalRecycle to expend up to $4 million annually for these grants.
     3. The Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program to facilitate the use of rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers to glass processing facilities within the state. Authorizes CalRecycle to expend up to $1 million annually for these grants.
5. Glass recycling is expensive. According CalRecycle’s most recent semi-annual BCRF report, the recycling rate (based on CRV) for glass was lower than that of aluminum or PET plastic (the most recyclable form of plastic), but slightly better than for HDPE or other plastics. The recycling rate for aluminum was 77.80%, 71.70% for PET, and only 63.20% for glass.

While glass is very recyclable, it is also expensive to recycle due to a number of characteristics of glass in the recycling stream. For instance, glass can be easily broken, especially when it lands in curbside bins, and can be broken up and contaminated with other materials. Glass is also heavy to transport, makings its CRV value per pound lower than for aluminum and plastic. According to CalRecycle’s 2025 Recycling Program Rates report as of January 1, 2025, the Refund Value Per Segregated Pound of glass was just a fraction (at $0.102 per pound) of the value for aluminum ($1.65 per pound) or PET ($1.47 per pound). Likewise, the scrap value per ton for aluminum is currently $1,245.48, PET is $211.62, whereas glass is just $3.82 per ton.

Comments

1. Purpose of Bill. According to the author “AB 899 (Ransom) is a timely and critical measure to strengthen California's economy, environment, and public health by promoting domestically produced glass bottles. Unfairly subsidized imports, particularly from China, threaten local manufacturers, and recent tariffs on Chinese glass imports underscore the need for a resilient, sustainable supply chain. Many of California’s glass plants face closure due to this unfair competition, putting local jobs and the state’s glass production industry at risk. This bill incentivizes local glass production, creating jobs, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and supporting California’s environmental goals through increased recycling and waste reduction. AB 899 would restore industry balance, ensure long-term economic sustainability, and puts California businesses and workers first.”
2. Supporting glass recycling. Adding more glass to the bottle bill by including wine and distilled spirits drives increased rate of recycling for glass with the added CRV incentive. It is also intended to increase the amount of glass that can be used as feedstock for recycled glass containers, since the bottle bill creates a relatively clean stream of source-separated glass that can be recycled.

Recycling glass is more expensive than recycling PET or aluminum, and while creating a better clean source of glass material and adding the CRV to more glass bottles can help even out the cost differences, some factors, such as the weight of glass, its breakability in curbside, and even market demands, may be unaccounted for. Market development payments can supplement the glass recycling industry to make glass recycling pencil out: AB 899 does this by increasing the cap on market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers from $50 to $150 per ton and increasing the amount that can be expended from the BCRF for these payments to $20 million per year. These payments will help further support the glass recycling markets.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 674 (Cabaldon, 2025) reduces the CRV for small box, bladder, or pouched wine or distilled spirits in the bottle bill from 25 cents to 10 cents, and authorizes small beverage container distributors, as defined, to make a single annual payment of redemption payments. This bill is pending hearing in the Assembly Natura Resources Committee.

SB 1013 (Atkins, Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022) brings wine and distilled spirits into the California Beverage Container Recycling Program, introduces new grant programs, expands the convenience zones, and creates dealer cooperatives to serve unserved areas.

SUPPORT:

Glass Packaging Institute
Owens-illinois, INC

OPPOSITION:

None received.

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 899

Author:(Ransom)

As Amended Ver:May 23, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to increase the cap on market development payments to a container manufacturer who produces new glass beverage containers in the state.

Major Provisions

1. Increases the cap on market development payments for new glass beverage containers in the state from $50 per ton to $150 per ton.
2. Extends the sunset on the market development payments from 2028 to 2030.
3. Authorizes CalRecycle to expend up to $20 million annually for the glass market development payments.

COMMENTS

The Bottle Bill was established in 1986 to be a self-funded program to prevent littering and achieve an 80% recycling rate for eligible containers. The program requires consumers to pay a deposit for each eligible container purchased. The program then guarantees consumers repayment of that deposit, known as the California Redemption Value (CRV), for each eligible container returned to a certified recycler. CalRecycle administers the program and handles all program payments, including CRV, through the BCRF. Despite paying the CRV deposit, not all consumers recycle their CRV-eligible containers. The BCRF retains unredeemed deposits, and state law requires that much of the unredeemed CRV be spent on specified recycling related programs. Only certain containers containing certain beverages are part of the CRV program.

SB 1013 (Atkins), Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022, amended the program to include wine and distilled spirits, including those contained in boxes, bladders, pouches, or similar containers, beginning January 1, 2024. SB 353 (Dodd), Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023, further expands the program to include large containers for juice containers beginning January 1, 2026.

By adding new container types to the Bottle Bill, SB 1013 and SB 353 increased revenues in the BCRF due to an increase in unredeemed CRV funds. In order to incentivize recycling increased glass containers from the addition of wine and distilled spirits, SB 1013 authorized $60 million annually from the BCRF for glass market development payments until January 1, 2028. However, CalRecycle awarded only $4.2 million for market development payments in 2023 and $9.9 million in 2024. The department expects to award $11.2 million in payments this year. This bill directs CalRecycle to dedicate portion of the unallocated $60 million authorized by SB 1013 to incentivize the recycling of in-state recycled glass to be used by in-state wine beverage manufacturers.

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), the sponsor of this bill, argues that the domestic glass container manufacturers operate at a competitive disadvantage because they must comply with in-state recycled content requirements, in-state carbon emission reductions, federal and regional air quality regulations, and higher energy, transportation, labor costs. GPI contends that the lack of market demand by California wineries for California glass affects the continued operation of the four unionized glass container manufacturing plants in the state.

According to the Author

Unfairly subsidized imports, particularly from China, threaten local manufacturers, and recent tariffs on Chinese glass imports underscore the need for a resilient, sustainable supply chain. Many of California's glass plants face closure due to this unfair competition, putting local jobs and the state's glass production industry at risk. This bill incentivizes local glass production, creating jobs, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and supporting California's environmental goals through increased recycling and waste reduction.

Arguments in Support

GPI writes in support:

The incentive payments in AB 899 will encourage California glass plants to maintain full production, lower the cost of production and assist California-made glass bottles to be more price competitive, leveling the playing field with glass bottles imported from overseas manufacturers.

Arguments in Opposition

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, by authorizing CalRecycle to increase the cap on market development payments to $150 per ton and, from 2028 to 2030, expend $20 million annually from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) for glass market development payments, this bill creates cost pressures on the BCRF of an unknown but potentially significant amount, in the low tens of millions of dollars annually, until 2030. CalRecycle reports that BCRF had an ending balance of about $889 million in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24 and is projected to have an ending balance of about $432 million at the end of this FY – although this figure could change based on actuals provided at the end of the FY.

VOTES

ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 14-0-0

YES: Bryan, Alanis, Connolly, Ellis, Flora, Garcia, Haney, Hoover, Kalra, Muratsuchi, Pellerin, Schultz, Wicks, Zbur

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-4

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez, Dixon, Ta, Tangipa

UPDATED

VERSION: May 23, 2025

CONSULTANT: Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916) 319- FN: 0000913

Date of Hearing: May 7, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 899

Author:(Ransom) – As Amended Ver:April 3, 2025

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to pay a market development payment to a container manufacturer who produces new glass wine bottles in the state.

Specifically, this bill, among other things:

1. Authorizes CalRecycle, subject to the availability of funds, to pay a market development payment to a container manufacturer who produces new glass wine bottles in the state that are intended to be sold to a beverage manufacturer in California.
2. Requires CalRecycle to determine the amount of the market development payment, but specifies the payment shall not exceed $200 per ton.
3. Prohibits CalRecycle from paying a market development payment for the production of new glass wine bottles in excess of 25,000 tons per year per manufacturer.
4. Requires CalRecycle, upon appropriation, to use unallocated funds from the glass market development payments program, authorized pursuant to existing law, for purposes of the bill.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1) By requiring CalRecycle to pay market development payments to container manufacturers who produce new glass wine bottles in the state, this bill creates cost pressures of an unknown but potentially significant amount, possibly in the low millions of dollars, on the Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) until January 1, 2028 (when the authorization for glass market development payments from BCRF expires). However, as noted in the background below, to date, CalRecycle has expended a relatively small percentage of the $60 million authorized annually for glass market development payments.

CalRecycle reports that BCRF had an ending balance of about $889 million in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24 and is projected to have an ending balance of about $432 million at the end of this FY – although this figure could change based on actuals provided at the end of the FY.

2) CalRecycle will likely incur costs to administer the new market development payments. For its part, the department estimates ongoing costs of $450,000 (BCRF) to hire three staff to ensure compliance with program laws, policies, and procedures; respond to program inquiries from stakeholders; and register and manage new container manufacturer accounts.

COMMENTS:

1) Purpose. According to the author:

Unfairly subsidized imports, particularly from China, threaten local manufacturers, and recent tariffs on Chinese glass imports underscore the need for a resilient, sustainable supply chain. Many of California’s glass plants face closure due to this unfair competition, putting local jobs and the state’s glass production industry at risk. This bill incentivizes local glass production, creating jobs, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and supporting California’s environmental goals through increased recycling and waste reduction.

2) Background. The Bottle Bill was established in 1986 to be a self-funded program to prevent littering and achieve an 80% recycling rate for eligible containers. The program requires consumers to pay a deposit for each eligible container purchased. The program then guarantees consumers repayment of that deposit, known as the California Redemption Value (CRV), for each eligible container returned to a certified recycler. CalRecycle administers the program and handles all program payments, including CRV, through the BCRF. Despite paying the CRV deposit, not all consumers recycle their CRV-eligible containers. The BCRF retains unredeemed deposits, and state law requires that much of the unredeemed CRV be spent on specified recycling related programs. Only certain containers containing certain beverages are part of the CRV program.

SB 1013 (Atkins), Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022, amended the program to include wine and distilled spirits, including those contained in boxes, bladders, pouches, or similar containers, beginning January 1, 2024. SB 353 (Dodd), Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023, further expands the program to include large containers for juice containers beginning January 1, 2026.

By adding new container types to the Bottle Bill, SB 1013 and SB 353 increased revenues in the BCRF due to an increase in unredeemed CRV funds. In order to incentivize recycling increased glass containers from the addition of wine and distilled spirits, SB 1013 authorized $60 million annually from the BCRF for glass market development payments until January 1, 2028. However, CalRecycle awarded only $4.2 million for market development payments in 2023 and $9.9 million in 2024. The department expects to award $11.2 million in payments this year. This bill directs CalRecycle to dedicate portion of the unallocated $60 million authorized by SB 1013 to incentivize the recycling of in-state recycled glass to be used by in-state wine beverage manufacturers.

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), the sponsor of this bill, argues that the domestic glass container manufacturers operate at a competitive disadvantage because they must comply with “in-state recycled content requirements for their product; comply with in-state carbon emission reductions; federal and regional air quality regulations, alongside higher energy, transportation, labor costs. None of which are applicable to foreign glass manufacturers.” GPI contends that the lack of market demand by California wineries for California glass affects the continued operation of the four unionized glass container manufacturing plants in-state. GPI writes:

The incentive payments in AB 899 will encourage California glass plants to maintain full production, lower the cost of production and assist California-made glass bottles to be more price competitive, leveling the playing field with glass bottles imported from overseas manufacturers.

Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 21, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Isaac G. Bryan, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 899 (

Author:Ransom) – As Amended Ver:April 3, 2025

SUBJECT: Beverage containers: glass wine bottles: market development

SUMMARY: This bill requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to pay a market development payment to container manufacturers that produce new glass wine bottles in the state.

EXISTING LAW establishes the Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (Bottle Bill) (Public Resources Code (PRC) 14500 et seq.), which:

1. Requires beverage containers, as defined, sold in-state to have a California redemption value (CRV) of 5 cents for containers that hold fewer than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers that hold 24 ounces or more. Requires beverage distributors to pay a redemption payment to CalRecycle for every beverage container sold in the state. Provides that these funds are continuously appropriated to CalRecycle for, among other things, the payment of refund values and processing payments.
2. Defines “beverage” as:
   
   1. Beer and other malt beverages;
   2. Wine and distilled spirit coolers;
   3. Carbonated water;
   4. Noncarbonated water;
   5. Carbonated soft drinks;
   6. Noncarbonated soft drinks and sports drinks;
   7. Noncarbonated fruit juice drinks that contain any percentage of fruit juice;
   8. Coffee and tea drinks;
   9. Carbonated fruit drinks;
   10. Vegetable juice;
   11. Wine and sparkling wine; and,
   12. Distilled spirits. (PRC 14505)
       
3. Defines “beverage container” as the individual, separate bottle, can, jar, carton, or other receptacle in which a beverage is sold, and which is constructed of metal, glass, plastic, or any other material, or any combination of these materials. Specifies that “beverage container” does not include cups or other similar open or loosely sealed receptacles. (PRC 14505)
4. Establishes market development payments for glass beverage container manufacturers who purchase recycled glass collected within the state for use in manufacturing new beverage containers in the state, as specified. (PRC 14549.7)
5. Establishes a market development payment of up to $50 per ton for glass beverage container manufacturers who purchase recycled glass collected within the state to use in the manufacturing of glass beverage containers in the state and appropriated $60 million annually through January 1, 2028. (PRC 14581)

THIS BILL:

1. Authorizes CalRecycle, subject to the availability of funds, to pay a market development payment to a container manufacturer who produces new glass wine bottles in the state that are intended to be sold to a beverage manufacturer in California.
2. Requires CalRecycle to determine the amount of the market development payment, but specifies it shall not exceed $200 per ton.
3. Prohibits CalRecycle from making a market development payment for the production of new glass wine bottles in excess of 25,000 tons per year per manufacturer.
4. Specifies that CalRecycle use unallocated funds, upon appropriation, from the glass market development payments authorized pursuant to PRC 14549.7 for purposes of the bill.
5. Defines “glass wine bottle” as a glass beverage container produced to contain wine.
6. States related legislative findings and declarations.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

1. Bottle Bill. The Bottle Bill was established in 1986 to be a self-funded program that encourages consumers to recycle beverage containers and to prevent littering. The program accomplishes this goal by requiring consumers to pay a deposit for each eligible container purchased. Then the program guarantees consumers repayment of that deposit, the CRV, for each eligible container returned to a certified recycler. Statute includes two main goals for the program: (1) reducing litter; and, (2) achieving a recycling rate of 80% for eligible containers. Containers recycled through the Bottle Bill’s certified recycling centers also provides a consistent, clean, uncontaminated stream of recycled materials with minimal processing.
   
2. Eligible beverage containers. Only certain containers containing certain beverages are part of the CRV program. Most containers made from glass, plastic, aluminum, and bimetal (consisting of one or more metals) are included. Containers for wine, spirits, milk, fruit juices over 46 ounces, vegetable juice over 16 ounces, and soy drinks have historically been excluded from the program. Container types that are cartons, pouches, and any container that holds 64 ounces or more have also historically been exempted. SB 1013 (Atkins), Chapter 610, Statutes of 2022, amended the program to include wine and distilled spirits, including those contained in boxes, bladders, pouches, or similar containers, beginning January 1, 2024. SB 353 (Dodd), Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023, further expands the program to include large containers for juice containers beginning January 1, 2026.
3. Ways to redeem containers. Consumers have four potential options to redeem their empty beverage containers:
   1. Return the container to a “convenience zone” recycling center located within ½-mile radius of a supermarket. These are generally small centers that only accept beverage containers and receive handling fees from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF). During 2019-20 FY, convenience zone recyclers redeemed about 30% of beverage containers.
      
   2. Return to a dealer that accepts them. In convenience zones without a convenience zone recycler, beverage dealers, primarily supermarkets, are required to either accept containers for redemption or pay CalRecycle an “in lieu” fee of $100 per day. Few stores accept beverage containers for redemption.
   3. Return the container to an “old line” recycling center, which refers to a recycler that does not receive handling fees and usually accepts large quantities of materials, frequently by truckload from municipal or commercial waste collection services. Traditional recyclers collect a little more than half of all CRV containers (58%).
   4. Consumers can also forfeit their CRV and “donate” their containers to residential curbside recycling collection. In the 2019-20 FY, curbside programs collected about 12% of CRV containers. Curbside programs keep the CRV on these containers.
      
4. Glass recycling. California is home to four major glass bottle manufacturing plants, which collectively employ over 1,000 skilled glass workers.
   
5. This bill. By adding new container types to the Bottle Bill, SB 1013 and SB 353 increased revenues in the Beverage Container Recycling Fund (BCRF) due to an increase in unredeemed CRV funds. In order to incentivize recycling these new container types, SB 1013 allocated $60 million from the BCRF for glass market development payments. However, CalRecycle only awarded $4.2 million for market development payments in 2023 and $9.9 million for market development payments in 2024. This bill intends to use a portion of the remaining $60 million allocated by SB 1013 to incentivize the recycling of in-state recycled glass to be used by in-state beverage manufacturers.
   
6. Author’s statement:

AB 899 (Ransom) is a timely and critical measure to strengthen California's economy, environment, and public health by promoting domestically produced glass bottles. Unfairly subsidized imports, particularly from China, threaten local manufacturers, and recent tariffs on Chinese glass imports underscore the need for a resilient, sustainable supply chain. Many of California’s glass plants face closure due to this unfair competition, putting local jobs and the state’s glass production industry at risk. This bill incentivizes local glass production, creating jobs, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and supporting California’s environmental goals through increased recycling and waste reduction. AB 899 would restore industry balance, ensure long-term economic sustainability, and puts California businesses and workers first.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Glass Packaging Institute

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. /