Laws

• SB54: Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
  • by 2032 100% of packaging in the state be recyclable or compostable, 25% of plastic packaging be cut, and 65% of all single-use plastic packaging be recycled

CalReycle “Beverage Container Redemption Pilot Project” - grant funding page

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/bevcontainer/grants/bevcontainer/rpp/

(though there’s nothing under the upcoming grant cycle section… so idk if it’d still available).

• The Beverage Container Redemption Pilot Project Grant Program awards funding to pilot projects proposed by cities and/or counties working with private businesses to provide convenient beverage container redemption in unserved areas.
• The Program requires local jurisdictions and recycling center operators to work closely together to create innovative pilot projects that provide convenient redemption options for consumers.
• The goal is to improve consumer redemption of eligible beverage containers and increase recycling rates in jurisdictions served by pilot projects.

Also found these programs with more specifics that could be relevant to implementing robust local programs:

Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Program

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/rmdz/loans/

• CalRecycle administers the Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) loan program to assist recycling manufacturers to finance machinery, equipment, and ancillary costs, to site and expand in California. Recycling manufacturers use waste materials generated in California to make recycled-content intermediate and/or final products, assisting local jurisdictions in complying with landfill diversion laws, and supporting the Circular Economy.
• Loan requests will fund projects that conserve resources and develop markets for post-consumer recycled material, and will be prioritized based on the following benefits to California ([READ MORE](file:///Users/Andi/Downloads/2023Oct10RmdzCriteria.pdf)):
  • Projects that are innovative and transition the state from a disposable to a fully circular economy such as:
    • o Projects that use recycled content to manufacture products that are also recyclable, or
    • o Projects that use recycled content to manufacture products that have a lifespan of 10 or more years, or
    • o Projects that recycle organics and other materials into high value recycled products
  • Projects that provide jobs and community benefits
• Eligible Project Types
  • Waste Prevention
  • Reuse
  • Recycling, Composting, In-Vessel Digestion, and Remanufacturing

⭐️ Beverage Container Recycling City/County Payment program:

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/bevcontainer/grants/citycounty/fy202526/

funding request due Nov 18, 2025

• a program to provide opportunities for the beverage container recycling and litter cleanup activities. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 14581 (a)(3)(A) of the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, CalRecycle is distributing $10,500,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 ( October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026) to eligible cities and counties specifically for beverage container recycling and litter cleanup activities.