California Pays You to Recycle!
That's right, California is one of many states to have a so called "Bottle Bill" to encourage recycling of beverage containers. This page contains information about which containers are accepted as CRV and where you can redeem them.
If you recycle aluminum, glass, and plastic beverage containers at certain locations, you can get some money back for your recycling efforts. Containers under 24 ounces are worth 5 cents each, and containers 24 ounces or more are worth 10 cents.
You can read more about the specific types of materials on their individual pages: Metal Cans, Glass Containers, and Plastic Containers.
Who started the CRV?
The California Redemption Value (CRV for short) was started in 1987 under the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act. The program is currently administered by CalRecycle. More information is available on their website at www.calrecycle.ca.gov/bevcontainer/.
Pointers about CRV redemption
Some locations will only count your containers if they are in groups of 50 or less. Otherwise, they'll weigh the containers and pay you based on the average. Also keep in mind that some sites won't accept crushed containers, and you may need to remove bottle caps.
Please call ahead to confirm what types of containers are accepted and the site’s hours of operation.
Where to go
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Carpinteria Area (1)
- Ponce Recycling (Albertsons) — 1018 Casitas Pass Rd.
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Santa Barbara Area (10)
- Circle K — 3898 State Street
- Hi-Time Liquors — 4010 Calle Real
- MarBorg Industries — 119 North Quarantina Street
- MarBorg Industries’ Recycling /ABOP Center — 132 Nopalitos Way
- Minute Market — 2735 De La Vina
- Plaza Liquors — 2840 De La Vina Street
- San Roque Market and Liquors — 3014 State Street
- Santa Barbara Iron and Metal Recyclers — 709 East Gutierrez Street
- State Shell — 3060 State Street
- Turnpike Shell — 175 N Turnpike Road
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Goleta & UCSB Area (1)
- MarBorg Industries Recycling/ABOP Center — 20 David Love Place
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Santa Ynez Valley (2)
- Chumash Casino Resort — 3400 East Highway 246
- El Rancho Market — 2886 Mission Drive (behind Market)
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Lompoc Valley & VAFB (2)
- Drive-In Recycling — 2126 North H Street
- Vandenberg Air Force Base Exchange — Building 10400 Community Loop
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Santa Maria Valley (10)
- AGS Recycling Inc. (Guadalupe) — 770 Guadalupe Street
- Bedford Enterprises, Inc. — 1940 West Betteravia Road
- Carniceria Central Market/Main Central Market — 822 W Main Street
- Carniceria El Toro — 1125 West Main Street
- Drive-In Liquors — 1010 West Main Street
- El Camino Liquor Store — 600 West Main Street
- La Chiquita Market — 1000 West Main Street
- Santa Maria Area Recycling Terminal (SMART) — 1940 West Betteravia Road
- SLO Gas and Mart/76 Gas Station — 1101 E Clark Ave
- Walmart Neighborhood Market — 500 South Blosser Road
Related Materials
- Green Franchises
- Recycling Resource Guide
- California Refund Value (CRV) Beverage Container Recycling
- Plastics #1 and #2 Recycling
- Metal Cans Recycling
- Glass Container Recycling
- AB 1276 – Single-Use Foodware Accessories and Standard Condiments
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