San Mateo County opens CRV takeback sites

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), Sacramento, California, has announced that San Mateo County, California, is expanding the number of takeback sites it offers for consumers to cash in empty bottles and cans through a pilot project approved by CalRecycle. Through pilot project funding, CalRecycle reports that San Mateo County now has three additional fixed CRV takeback locations with limited operating hours established, including one that is in a more rural area.

According to a news release from CalRecycle, San Mateo County’s solution was designed to overcome local challenges like high real estate costs, limited parking and neighborhood opposition to new CRV takeback sites. The project uses existing local resources and nontraditional community locations. CalRecycle says the pilot aims to create a more successful model for CRV redemption in the region.

The three new CRV sites in San Matero County will include 20-foot metal shipping containers to store equipment and materials. CalRecycle says the number of pilot project sites may increase throughout the span of the program.

“The county of San Mateo is excited to join our state and local partners to provide three more convenient CRV redemption locations to our residents,” says Carolyn Bloede, director of San Mateo County Office of Sustainability. “This partnership will make it easier for residents all over the county to redeem their cans and bottles for cash.”

CalRecycle says it is authorized by the state to approve and provide funding for up to five pilot projects. To date, the department has approved three pilot projects, including the one in San Mateo County. The department also helped with pilot projects in San Francisco and Culver City, California.

“California recycles more than 18 billion beverage containers each year because of our shared commitment to the environment and to each other,” says Ken DaRosa, acting director of CalRecycle. “These local projects are customized to the needs of their communities to provide consumers more convenient redemption opportunities.”