California holds $600 million in unsigned deposits of recycled aluminium cans

The Western US State of California is holding a US$600 million stockpile of unsigned deposits of recyclable aluminium cans and bottles and of which now wants to give some of that back to users.

The administration of California has revealed a plan, where the 40 million residents of the state to recycle more and send more deposits back to them by temporarily doubling to a dime the refund for a 355 millilitres bottle or can. For now, California pays US10 cents on containers over 24 ounces and that would temporarily double by US20 cents.

To get the state's nearly 40 million residents to recycle more and send more deposits back to them, Governor Gavin Newsom's administration unveiled a plan to temporarily double to a dime the refund for a 12-ounce (355 millilitres) bottle or can. California already pays US10 cents on containers over 24 ounces (709 millilitres), and that would temporarily double to U20c.

This drive would position California to rank among the top-paying recycling programmes in the United States.

Rachel Machi Wagoner, The Director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery said, “The effort would help California again become the recycling leader it was 35 years ago when it started its cash refund programme.”

In California, when anyone buys a regular-sized soda, a US5 cents charge is applied that can be recouped if the container is brought back for recycling. Under Governor Newsom's plan, the deposit charge would remain the same, while the return amount would rise double. The primary focus is to uplift the recycling rate for beverage containers from 70% to at least 80%.

Although, the US states of Oregon and Michigan offer 10-cent refunds and advocacy groups commented that the amount for aluminium cans and other beverage packaging containers has been enough for consumers to recycle at least nine of every 10 containers.

Jamie Court, the President of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, a frequent critic of the recycling programme said, “The plan is a very positive step and a bold proposal to give people their money back.”

“That money isn’t doing anybody any good sitting in the bank. We need a complete structural fix, but this is a good interim step.”

The doubling of refunds by the California administration would be temporary, as the duration for the change is yet to be decided and is estimated to cost $100 million. However, if approved by the Legislature the refund increase would take effect sometime commencing 1^st July.