County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure has announced that starting July 1, California Redemption Value (CRV) reimbursements will no longer be available at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station.
The site will continue to accept CRV-eligible bottles and cans for recycling, but payments—5, 10 and 25 cents for CRV containers—will not be issued after that date.
This change is part of a statewide update to California’s beverage container recycling program that aims to better enforce existing regulations that require retailers—such as grocery and convenience stores—to offer CRV redemption services. Under new state rules, covered retailers are required to offer in-store CRV refunds directly to customers or join a dealer cooperative that handles redemptions.
Retail redemption services are more convenient because they are offered where people already shop. Most retailers will accept up to 50 containers per customer per day. This could mean fewer trips to recycling centers and more opportunities to redeem containers during everyday errands.
Until June 30, residents can still redeem their containers at the Ben Lomond site. Proceeds from those redemptions help fund Grey Bears, a nonprofit that improves the health and wellbeing of Santa Cruz County seniors and others facing food insecurity through fresh produce deliveries, free weekday on-site hot lunches and food distribution. Supporting the program by recycling containers locally is a simple way to give back.
Even after July 1, Grey Bears recycling drop-off locations at Ben Lomond Transfer Station, Buena Vista Landfill and Grey Bears’ main campus on Chanticleer Avenue remain a valuable resource for recycling, and a simple and sustainable way to give back. Residents may also continue to recycle by using their blue carts at home.
For more information about CRV redemption and where to find participating retailers, visit calrecycle.ca.gov/bevcontainer.
