Reverse vending machines to assist in local recycling efforts
MONTEREY, SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- This week, the state's CalRecycle announced that 250 new recycling sites across 30 counties are coming in 2025, funded by recycling innovation awards.
The company says that these sites will "add dynamic recycling methods like reverse vending machines, mobile recycling and bag-drop sites to counties around the state." Additionally, they say that "supermarket chains Save Mart and Smart and Final will get over $2 million each for reverse vending machines in 19 counties."
Retailer take-back rules, according to CalRecycle, will be in effect January 1, 2025 and will work with local recycling centers. If recycling centers aren't available in the area, the company says retailers can set up a system to redeem beverage container deposits in-store or join a non-profit cooperative to give customers a way to redeem.
"Innovative ways to recycle will help more Californians cash in their beverage containers and provide recycled materials for in-state remanufacturers,” said CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller. “These new sites will make redemption as simple as feeding containers into a machine or dropping off a bag of empty containers.”
The exact sites have yet to be finalized, but are expected to roll out in the next few months and be physically implemented next year, according to CalRecycle.
Between November and December, the company expects to send out a notice to proceed. They say that Monterey and Santa Cruz counties are planning on being included in the program.
CalRecycle says that some of the locations in the area will include Smart and Final, who is receiving $2.5 million for reverse vending machines; Save Mart Supermarkets, who will be receiving $2.1M for reverse vending machines; and Olyns, who is getting $2.4 million for reverse vending machines.
