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CRI Comments on Natural Logic’s White Paper on EPR for Packaging

March 2011 | Natural Logic recently produced a white paper for the Coca Cola Company that summarizes an industry policy agenda for the next generation of packaging waste management stressing the principle of extended producer responsibility or “EPR.” CRI examines the paper and analyzes some flaws in its approach. 

Recycling and Climate Change

CRI submitted this briefing in particular to protect the Iowa deposit law from repeal. It also serves to enhance the level of understanding of beverage container recycling in the United States and the State Iowa, and to demonstrate the impact of recycling on emissions reduction and the economy.

CRI Letter to Hawaii Legislature in Support of of SB 1133/HB 902

March 2013 | A Letter from CRI President Susan Collins to Hawaii Legislators in support of SB 1133 and HB 902 which would expand the state’s existing beverage container recycling program to include dietary supplements, including energy drinks, such as Monster and Red Bull.

CRI Letter to US EPA on the Municipal Solid Waste Report

September 2011 | The US EPA recently invited the public to comment on its annual Municipal Solid Waste report. CRI submitted a number of suggestions, including several regarding the accounting for contamination in calculating recycling rates.

CRI Letter on California SB372 – January 14th, 2020

We are writing in with neither support nor opposition of SB 372, which would transition the State’s existing Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act from a state government-run program (managed by CalRecycle) to an Extended Producer Responsibility program, managed by the beverage distributors through a Beverage Container Stewardship Organization (BCSO).

Reasonable Financial Return for recycling centers – August 23, 2019

In December 2018, CRI submitted a letter to CalRecycle in favor of emergency regulations changing the RFR used to calculate 2019 processing payments (attached). We wrote that the proposed RFRs of 11% and 16% for rural sites were “nowhere near enough to avert the impending financial crisis for redemption centers.”

CRI supports AB 792 – April 23rd, 2019

We are writing in support of AB 792, which would require plastic beverage bottle manufacturers to make their bottles out of 100% recycled content by 2035, with intermediate goals to be reached incrementally.

CRI Supports AB 815 – March 28th, 2019

We are writing in support of dual-stream recycling, in relation to AB 815, “Integrated waste management plans: source reduction and recycling element: dual stream recycling programs.”

CRI Supports CT HB7294 – March 11th, 2019

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) conceptually supports Bill HB 7294, with suggestions for amendments. HB 7294 would update Connecticut’s beverage container deposit law, or “bottle bill,” in several ways.

CRI supports NYS2828 – February 11th, 2019

We are writing in support of S2828 “An Act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the requirements for lead agency.” This bill would place a deposit on hard cider.

Guidance on Eligibility to Qualify for the Retailer Exemption from Beverage Container Redemption under 10 V.S.A. § 1523b. October 12th, 2018

The retailer exemption requirements are changing because, in 2018, the Vermont Legislature passed a bill repealing Agency of Natural Resource’s Environmental Regulation § 10-105(d) which specified that “A retailer, with the prior approval of the Secretary, may refuse to redeem beverage containers if a certified redemption center operates within a five mile radius of the […]

CRI supports IA HF2155

“An Act relating to the applicability of beverage containers control provisions and the handling fees pursuant to those provisions.” This bill seeks to update the Iowa deposit law to include almost all non-carbonated beverage containers, and to raise the handling fee from the current one cent to two cents per redeemed container.

CRI supports CT SB10

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) supports Sections 27 and 28 of Governor’s Bill SB 10. Section 27 would update Connecticut’s beverage container deposit law, or “bottle bill,” by placing a 5-cent deposit on most non-carbonated beverages, and on wine and liquor; Section 28 would set the deposit on wine and liquor at 25¢.

CRI Supports CT Handling Fee HB 5457

The Container Recycling Institute supports Raised Bill No. 5457, “An Act Concerning Bottle Redemption Centers.” This bill seeks to update the Connecticut deposit system by raising the handling fee from the current 1.5¢ on beer and 2¢ on carbonated soft drinks and water to 3.5¢ on all deposit beverages.

CRI Opposes S.1865 and H.1744  – February 2017

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) opposes the Senate bill S.1865 (Sen. Moore), “An Act improving recycling in the Commonwealth,” and the identically-titled House bill H.1744 (Rep. Garry). These bills would repeal the existing beverage container deposit law (the “bottle bill”), and in its place would impose a 1-cent fee on all carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, […]

Maine – CRI Opposses Maine LD 683

The Container Recycling Institute opposes LD 683, entitled, “An Act To Fund the Maine Solid Waste Diversion Grant Program and to Phase Out Certain Containers from the Bottle Redemption Laws.”

 Testimony supporting Connecticut Senate Bill 384 (March 10th, 2016)

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) supports SB384, “An Act Concerning the Application of the Bottle Bill to Wine and Liquor Bottles for Purposes of Funding State Parks.” SB384 would update Connecticut’s existing beverage container deposit law, or “bottle bill,” to include wine, sparkling wine and champagne, and liquor (spirits).

 Testimony opposing Connecticut Senate Bill 312 (March 9th, 2016)

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) opposes SB312, “An Act Requiring The Department Of Energy And Environmental Protection To Study Bottle Bill Beverage Container Refund Values And Redemption Fees.”  SB312 would study the repeal the existing beverage container deposit law (the “bottle bill”), and in its place would impose a 4-cent fee on all carbonated and […]

Testimony supporting Maryland House Bill 862 “Maryland Redeemable Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Act” (March 2nd, 2016) (March 2nd, 2016)

Container deposit programs relieve municipalities of the operational burdens and financial costs of collecting beverage containers. Lost revenue from material that is currently collected in municipal recycling programs is relatively insignificant when compared to the avoided collection and disposal costs, as well as litter cleanup and storm drain cleanout costs.

CRI and others Oppose MA House Bill 646 (February 23rd, 2016)

As experts in environmental protection, public health, conservation, water quality and waste reduction, we are unanimous in our opposition to House Bill 646, entitled the “Universal Recycling Law.” While that title sounds appealing, the bill does three things, all of which we reject.

CRI’s letter concerning Vermont H. 104 – testimony regarding H. 104 (May 2015)

The Container Recycling Institutes letter providing further information related to Vermont H. 104. In particular, to answer clarifying questions asked by committee members about the relatively high cost to collect and process PET in recycling programs as well as the documentation of cost savings to municipalities after implementation of beverage container deposit programs.

CRI supports CalRecycle’s proposal to extend the Processing Payment Emergency Regulations – December 16th, 2021

The Container Recycling Institute supports CalRecycle’s proposal to extend the Processing Payment Emergency Regulations for one year. The Emergency Regulations employ a 10% RFR (reasonable financial return) to calculate the processing payments that will be made to certified recyclers for 2021, in order to offset the difference between their operating costs and the revenues they […]

CRI supports H.3289 – Massachusetts – September 13th, 2021

As you may know, the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) is a national nonprofit organization and an authority on the economic and environmental impacts of container recycling. We are writing to state our support of H.3289, “An Act to Expand the Bottle Bill” (Decker), and its companion bill S.2149 (Creem).

CRI supports H3332 (Massachussets) – September 13th, 2021

As you may know, the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) is a national nonprofit organization and an authority on the economic and environmental impacts of container recycling. We are writing in support of H.3332 “An Act promoting the proper disposal of miniatures (Lewis/Hawkins).

CRI supports California’s AB 962 – June 21st, 2021

We are writing to state our wholehearted support for the reusable beverage container bill AB 962: “An act to amend Section 14539 of, and to add Sections 14525.1 and 14576 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to solid waste.”

CRI supports Vermont H.175 – February 25th,  2021

We are writing in support of H.175, “An act relating to the beverage container redemption system,” which would update Vermont’s deposit law to include most non-carbonated beverage containers, and would raise the deposit to a dime.

CRI supports AB793 July 3rd, 2020

We are writing in support of AB 793, which would require plastic beverage bottle manufacturers to make their bottles out of 50% recycled content by 2030, with intermediate goals to be reached incrementally.

Flaw in California’s AB 793’s De Minimis Provision Threatens Operability of Entire Recycled Content Law – March 31st, 2022

Summary: There is a “de minimis” provision in California’s recycled content law that, combined with other provisions of the California’s beverage container deposit law (“bottle bill”) and recent scrap prices, could unintentionally exempt most beverage manufacturers from having to comply with the recycled content law; thus nearly negating the entire intent of the law.

CRI opposes SF2378, “An Act relating to the redemption of and payment of refund value on beverage containers, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions.” – March 24, 2022

This bill would remove retail stores’ (“dealers’”) obligations to refund consumers’ 5¢ beverage container deposits after July 1, 2023. In other words, consumers would no longer be able to conveniently turn in their beverage containers at one of the 2,000 retailers where they are sold.

CRI Opposes CA SB 551 – July 2, 2024

CRI opposes CA SB 551, which allows certain beverage manufacturers to submit consolidated recycled content reports with other beverage manufacturers, rather than individually.

CRI Supports CA AB 457 – May 29, 2024

CRI supports CA AB 457, which would change the California refund value for boxes, bladders, pouches, and other similar containers containing wine or spirits from $0.25 to $0.10 (for < 24 fluid ounces) and $0.20 (for ≥ 24 fluid ounces).

CRI Supports CA AB 2511 – May 14, 2024

CRI supports CA AB 2511, which extends the inoperative date of the market development payment program to January 1, 2026. We also attached an addendum letter from 2023 outlining budget concerns for the BCRF.

CRI Testimony to Oregon House Committee on HB.4013 – February 14, 2024

This letter is a written response following CRI President Susan Collins’ testimony in Oregon’s House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. Our position on this bill is neutral, but this testimony highlights the importance of including glass wine bottles in a deposit return system. 

US bottles and cans wasted in 2005

The Current Waste Situation The Current Waste Situation   It is estimated that 134.1 billion beverage containers were not recycled in 2005–43.6 billion PET bottles, 6.8 HDPE bottles, 55.0 billion aluminum cans, and 28.8 billion glass bottles wasted.  That’s an increase of nearly 4 billion from 2004’s total of 130.3 billion.

End-markets for collected glass

Different methods for collecting recyclable materials result in different degrees of quality in the collected materials. Research for the 2009 report on single-stream recycling showed that only 40% of glass from single-stream collection is recycled into containers and fiberglass. Forty percent of glass winds up in landfills, while 20% is small broken glass (“glass fines”) used for […]

Glass recycling rates

The recovery rate for glass containers has shown minimal growth between 1994 and 1997, increasing from 29 percent in 1994 to just 31 percent in 1997. But, because glass container production has declined, the number of tons of cullet (crushed glass) recycled actually dropped from 3.14 million tons in 1994 to 2.92 million tons in […]

PET Recycling vs. Utilization Rates

Year Recycling Utilization 1995 39.7% 31.9% 1996 31.7% 26.0% 1997 27.1% 22.7% 1998 24.8% 19.6% 1999 23.7% 18.8% 2000 22.3% 18.0% 2001 22.1% 17.5% 2002 19.9% 15.3% 2003 19.6% 15.5% 2004 21.6% 17.3% 2005 23.1% 18.9% 2006 23.5% 19.4% 2007 24.6% 19.0% 2008 27.0% 20.9% 2009 28.0% 20.9% 2010 29.1% 20.8% 2011 29.3% 19.2% Source: […]

PET Sales, Wasting, and Recycling

SOLD RECYCLED WASTED YEAR thousand tons thousand tons Recycling rate thousand tons 1991 609 152 24.9% 457 1992 694 201 29.0% 493 1993 757 224 29.6% 533 1994 857 273 31.9% 584 1995 973 322 33.1% 650 1996 1,138 316 27.8% 822 1997 1,276 325 25.4% 951 1998 1,453 355 24.4% 1,098 1999 1,625 370 […]

Estimated yield rates from collected plastic

Plastics recyclers report that in general, material from single-stream MRFs has a yield rate of about 68%–70%, compared to dual-stream systems which usually yield about 75%-78%. Bales of PET from deposit return systems generally have a yield rate of about 85%. Chart from the 2009 report, Understanding economic and environmental impacts of single-stream collection systems

HDPE bottle sales and wasting in the US

HDPE Bottle Sales and Wasting in the U.S., 1991-2006* YEAR SOLD thousand tons RECYCLED thousand tons  Recycling rate WASTED thousand tons 1991 1,209 134 11.1% 1,075 1992 1,272 203 15.9% 1,069 1993 1,359 220 16.2% 1,139 1994 1,491 266 17.8% 1,225 1995 1,291 310 24.0% 980 1996 1,359 334 24.6% 1,025 1997 1,433 354 24.7% […]

Recycling rates in Sweden and the US

Related graphs: Recycling Rate for Aluminum Cans in Sweden and U.S. (1984-2004) Side-by-side comparison of Sweden and U.S. recycling rates for both aluminum and plastic  

Recycling rate for aluminum cans in Sweden and the US

Recycling Rates for PET Plastic and Aluminum in Sweden and the US (1984 – 2004) Recycling Rate for Aluminum Cans in Sweden and the U.S. (1984-2004) The Swedes have an impressive over 80% aluminum can recycling rate, which makes our US efforts look comparatively weak, at a rate of under 50% that’s been backsliding from […]

Number of aluminum cans recycled and wasted in the US

Number of Aluminum Cans Recycled and Wasted in the U.S. from 1972-2004 In the year 2004, 100.5 billion aluminum beverage cans were sold for domestic consumption. Of this, 55.0 billion were not recycled. The volume of wasted aluminum beverage cans has increased by 760% since 1972, when 6 billion cans were wasted.

Aluminum can recycling and access to curbside recycling

Aluminum Can Recycling and Acces to Curbside Recycling Aluminum Can Recycling and Access to Curbside Recycling       Curbside recycling expanded dramatically in the nineties, growing from 2,711 programs in 1990 to 9,257 programs in 1999. During that period, the number of Americans served by curbside recycling increased from 37 million to 133 million. The […]

Aluminum can recycling rates: 2 methods

Aluminum Can Recycling Rates (1990-2010) The U.S. aluminum can recycling rate dropped to 45.1% in the year 2004— twenty percentage points below the 1992 peak of 65%. NOTE: Recycling rates have been adjusted to reflect imported used beverage cans recycled in the U.S. but not produced or sold in the United States. In a letter […]

Market share by beverage and package

Market share by beverage and package Market share by beverage and package   Carbonated soft drinks in aluminum cans has held steady as the single largest component of the total beverage market in 2006 at 28%—63 billion units sold. For the first time, sales of PET plastic water bottles and aluminum beer cans are nearly […]

Sales by container type

Sales by container type 224 billion packaged beverages were sold in the U.S. in 2006, up from 190 billion in 2000. This equates to 750 bottles and cans sold per capita: more than three times as much as the average person consumed in 1972 (254 units). Market share by container type Of these 224 billion […]

Aluminum, plastic, and glass recycling rates

Aluminum, plastic and glass recycling rates   Aluminum cans are the most-recycled major container type in the United States, with a 45% U.S. recycling rate. This rate is down nine percentage points from the 54.5% aluminum can recycling rate in 2000, and it is down twenty percentage points from the peak of 65% in 1992. […]

Beverage containers wasted: 1986 and 2006

Beverage containers wasted by material: 1986 and 2006 In 1986, 648,315 tons of aluminum cans were wasted (not recycled), but in 2006 815,352 tons were wasted. In 1986, 276,711 tons of steel cans were wasted, but only 1,687 tons were wasted in 2006. 285,188 tons of PET bottles were wasted in 1986, while 2,076,000 tons […]

Energy Impacts of Replacing Beverage Containers Wasted

Energy Inpacts of Replacing Beverage Containers Wasted in 2005 (estimated) Energy Impacts of Replacing Beverage Containers Wasted in 2005 (estimated)   Container Type Energy Per Ton Wasted (MBtu) (a) Containers Wasted, 2005 (b) Energy Wasted Due to “Replacement Production” (c) Units (billion) Tons (million) Barrels of Crude Oil Equivalent (million) Households’ Total Annual Energy Needs […]

Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Replacing Beverage Containers Wasted

Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Replacing Beverage Containers Wasted in 2005e Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Replacing Beverage Containers Wasted in 2005e Container Type Greenhouse Gases Per Ton Wasted (MTCE) (a) Containers Wasted, 2005 (b) Greenhouse Gas Emissions Due to “Replacement Production” Units (billion) Tons (million) (million MTCE) # cars with equivalent annual emissions (million) (c) Aluminum […]

PET bottle sales and wasting in the US

PET Bottle Sales and Wasting in the U.S., 1991-2006* YEAR SOLD thousand tons RECYCLED thousand tons  Recycling rate WASTED thousand tons 1991 609 152 24.9% 457 1992 694 201 29.0% 493 1993 757 224 29.6% 533 1994 857 273 31.9% 584 1995 973 322 33.1% 650 1996 1,138 316 27.8% 822 1997 1,276 325 25.4% […]

Wasting and Recycling Trends:Conclusions from CRI’s 2008 Beverage Market Data Analysis

January 2009 | Three pronounced trends in American beverage consumption and recycling patterns have emerged since 2000: overall sales growth, non-carbonated sales growth, and stagnating recycling rates—all of which lead to increasing wasting. Using data from the 2008 Beverage Market Data Analysis, CRI has compiled a report discussing those trends.By Container Recycling Institute

Understanding economic and environmental impacts of single-stream collection systems

December 2009 | While single-stream recycling is more convenient for consumers and results in lower costs than other collection systems, it also results in more contamination of collected materials, lower material quality, and increased waste. Using data from industry reports and interviews with recyclers, this report that highlights the economic and environmental impacts of switching […]

A Common Theme: Single Stream Recycling

Is single-stream recycling service the salvation of all recycling programs or is there a better way forward? Our author digs into the untold story of real residue rates and a PREFERABLE METHOD to truly recycle more materials at materials recovery facilities.

Bottled Up (2000-2010) – Beverage Container Recycling Stagnates

Three pronounced trends in American beverage consumption and recycling patterns have emerged since CRI’s first BMDA looked at year 2000 data: overall sales growth, non-carbonated sales growth, and stagnating recycling rates—all of which are resulting in higher rates of landfilling, incineration and littering, and other negative environmental impacts.  

The Environmental and Economic Performance of Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling in British Columbia, Canada

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) undertook this case study of British Columbia’s container deposit-refund law (CDL) for two reasons: first, to expand CRI’s existing body of research on best practices for the recovery and quality recycling of packaging materials; and second, to investigate recent increases in container recycling fees (CRF) in the province, especially for […]

Exploring refillables in the United States – April 2021

Long before one-way beverage bottles and cans came to dominate drink packaging in the mid-20th century,1 refillables were how Americans—and people around the world—consumed beer, soft drinks, and milk. Download PDF [PDF, 1MB]

CRI Analysis of Massachusetts House Bill 2686*(repeal of Bottle Bill with penny fee on beverage containers for 3 years) – April 2018

House Bill 2686*, “An Act Improving Recycling in the Commonwealth” would repeal the existing beverage container deposit law (the “bottle bill”), and in its place would impose a 1-cent fee on all carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Collected revenues would be put into a “Municipal Recycling Enhancement Fund” (the Fund), with funding to be used for […]

Cost of Curbside Recycling for Beverage Containers – October 18th, 2018

As all recycling professionals know, recycling isn’t a zero-cost service, even though it is often provided for “free” to households. Providing recycling for “free” is a deliberate policy decision made by municipalities to incentivize participation by residents and businesses.  Download PDF [PDF, 228KB]

Cullet Comparisons – February 2017

Jurisdictions across North America are pondering how to handle the challenging economics of glass recovery. A beverage container recycling specialist adds to the conversation with an in-depth look at the numbers from different glass programs around the globe. Download PDF [PDF, 5.9MB]

Understanding Delaware’s Universal Recycling Law (Updated: February 2017)

The American Beverage Association (ABA) recently released an “Issue Analysis” which examines the impacts of Delaware’s new Universal Recycling Law, implemented in 2011. The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) has prepared this fact sheet to provide additional information not currently presented in ABA’s analysis.Download PDF [PDF, 602KB]

Integrity of California’s Beverage Container Deposit System Threatened by Processing Payment Shortfalls – Report (Updated: April 2016)

Declining scrap prices coupled with problematic compensation formulas have produced processing payment shortfalls that have already forced the closure of more than 400 redemption centers in California, posing a serious threat to the state’s beverage container recycling infrastructure and sharply constricting consumers’ ability to recover the CRV (container refund value) to which they are entitled.Download […]

Processing Payment Shortfall FactSheet (Updated: April 2016)

Though it would require a statutory change, CRI recommends that the processing payment calculation method be reevaluated to protect the solvency of the recycling centers upon which the California beverage container recycling infrastructure depends.Download PDF [PDF, 310KB]

BC Case Study: The Environmental and Economic Performance of Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling in British Columbia, Canada – August 2015

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) undertook this case study of British Columbia’s container deposit-refund law (CDL) for two reasons: first, to expand CRI’s existing body of research on best practices for the recovery and quality recycling of packaging materials; and second, to investigate recent increases in container recycling fees (CRF) in the province, especially for […]

Understanding Delaware’s Universal Recycling Law (February 2015)

The American Beverage Association (ABA) recently released an “Issue Analysis” which examines the impacts of Delaware’s new Universal Recycling Law, implemented in 2011. The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) has prepared this fact sheet to provide additional information not currently presented in ABA’s analysis.Download PDF

Container Recycling Institute Comments on CalRecycle’s Budget Change Proposal (BCP) for the Beverage Container Recycling Program (BCRP) – May 2nd, 2022

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) has been advocating for reform to California’s beverage container recycling program for more than a decade, and so we are delighted to see the conversation in the legislature turn toward bold proposals and acknowledgement of availability of funding for real program modernization. Download PDF [PDF, 286KB]

How many nips are actually sold in Connecticut per person? July 2021

CRI reviewed the per capita “nips” sales estimates in the “Connecticut Wine and Spirits Industry’s 2-Part Plan for 50 mls (Nips) and Glass Containers” and found that they differed dramatically from our BMDA derivations of “nips” sales (“2018 Beverage Market Data Analysis,” Container Recycling Institute, 2020). Download PDF [PDF, 267KB]

Zero Waste

Setting Our Sights on Zero Beverage Container Waste

Millions of consumers who recycle every day think that because they recycle their bottles and cans, everyone else is recycling too. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Americans waste (landfill, incinerate, or litter) twice as many beverage containers as we recycle.

In 2006, more than 138 billion beverage bottles and cans were not recycled. Nationwide, that’s about 460 per capita— up from 300 per capita just a decade ago. This trend continued in 2010, with more than 153 billion beverage bottles and cans not recycled; at 495 units wasted per capita! In the four years that passed between 2006 and 2010, the percentage of beverage bottles and cans not recycled increased by 10.9%.

Recycling and Jobs

Facts About Beverage Container Recycling and Jobs

Recycling advocates have long been reporting on the significant jobs benefits of diversion over disposal. Some have focused on the jobs potential in recovering a particular product, such as tires or electronics; some have considered the jobs impacts of recovering a particular material, such as plastics or precious metals; and still others have looked at the jobs benefits of a particular recovery method, such as curbside recycling or composting.

Bottle Bills

The Container Recycling Institute is one of the country’s foremost advocates of beverage container deposit legislation (commonly known as bottle bills). Beverage containers make up a large portion of litter in the United States, and deposit laws are known for achieving a high recycling rate for beverage containers and reducing litter where other recycling systems have failed. Did you know that containers on deposit in the United States have a recycling rate of 64%, while non-deposit containers only reach about 26%?

Extended Producer Responsibility: A Primer

By Pat Franklin
Executive Director
Container Recycling Institute

Presented on November 18, 1997, at the Take it Back! ’97 Producer Responsibility Forum

“The responsibility, that the waste generated during the production processes could be taken care of in a proper way, from an environmental and resource-saving point of view, should primarily be of the manufacturer. Before the manufacturing of a product is commenced it should be known how the waste which is a result of the production process should be treated, as well as how the product should be taken care of when discarded.

Bottled Water

In 2018, Americans bought more than 70 billion plastic water bottles of one gallon or less. 3 out of 4 of them ended up in a landfill or incinerator. Hundreds of millions end up as litter on roads and beaches or in streams and other waterways. In turn, taxpayers pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year for disposal and litter cleanup.

Single Stream Recycling

What is single-stream recycling?

Single-stream recycling is a system in which all recyclables, including newspaper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, junk mail, etc., are placed in a single bin or cart for recycling. These recyclables are collected by a single truck and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted into various commodity streams for sale to markets, where it is processed into feedstock which can be used in the manufacture of new products.

CRI Supports CA SB 1341 – June 15, 2026

CRI supports CA SB 1341, a bill that states that a processing fee for boxes, bladders and pouches containing wine or distilled spirits must be established in a way that does not impose an economic burden on beverage manufacturers, while generating sufficient funds to make processing payments to recyclers. In this letter, CRI also discusses […]

CRI Supports CA AB 1149 (Coalition Letter Sign-On) – May 27, 2026

CRI supports CA AB 1149, a bill that would extend CalRecycle’s authority to pay Plastic Market Development (PMD) payments in the state through 2029 and invest funds annually for PMD payments to plastic reclaimers and product manufacturers. CRI signed onto a coalition letter with 21 other organizations in the recycling space to support this bill. 

CRI Supports CA SB 955 – May 15, 2026

CRI supports California Senate Bill 955. The bill would specify that a single Reverse Vending Machine does not make an unserved convenience zone served as well as make some changes to the definition of a supermarket. 

CRI Opposes Connecticut SB 457 – May 4, 2026

CRI opposes the recently amended version of CT SB 457. While CRI recognizes the issue the bill is trying to solve (which is targeting retailers that are importing beverage containers into the state without paying or initiating deposits), we believe the amended language raises serious legal and practical concerns.

CRI Supports Hawaii SB 3138, with amendments – April 15, 2026

CRI supports HI SB 3138, with amendments. This bill would change the existing auditing requirements in the state and establish a 3-tiered system of self-auditing requirements. While we support this bill, we also include some recommendations for these new requirements. 

CRI Opposes Connecticut SB 457, unless amended – March 12, 2026

CRI opposes CT SB 457, a bill that would create a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for beverage containers in Connecticut. In this letter, CRI highlights our concerns with the bill and suggests amendments for improvement. This letter also shares solutions from other jurisdictions that Connecticut can adopt.

CRI Opposes Vermont H.915, unless amended – March 11, 2026

CRI opposes Vermont H.915, a bill that would seek to create a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for beverage containers in Vermont. This bill, as written, omits several key provisions of a strong PRO, creating loopholes that could allow noncompliance and an uneven playing field for producers. In this letter, CRI highlights the issues we find […]

CRI Opposes HI HB 1928 – February 4, 2026

CRI opposes HI HB 1928, a bill that would seemingly create a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for beverage containers in Hawaii. In this letter, CRI highlights the issues we find with the bill, and for each issue suggests amendments.

CRI Opposes CA AB 333 – January 16, 2026

CRI opposes CA AB 333, a bill that authorizes CalRecycle to allocate up to $5 million annually for market development payments for non-container glass end-users and also creates a new definition for MRF glass products that could allow these materials to bypass beneficiation facilities.

CRI Provides Neutral Comment on OR HB 3940  – April 30, 2025

This letter is written testimony on Oregon HB 3950, which would use funds from the OR bottle bill for wildfire mitigation. Our position on the bill is neutral, but this testimony highlights the importance of unclaimed deposits in funding program operations.

CRI Supports a Previous Version of CA SB 675 – April 15, 2025

SB 675 previously concerned putting a 10% reasonable financial return into statute for processing payments that are paid to recycling centers. Now, there is an amended version of the bill that does not include this. However, CRI still believed it was important to write to the California Senate about this matter.

CRI Supports CA SB 633 – April 11, 2025

CRI supports California SB 633, which would require manufacturers to (1) report the amount of imported postconsumer recycled plastic they use by country of origin, and (2) provide proof that the PCR content they use has been validated by a third party.

CRI Supports CT SB 1115 – March 17, 2025

CRI supports Connecticut SB 1115, which would prevent cross-border redemption fraud in the state. We also included clarification questions for the committee in this letter.

May 24th, 2012 – Single-Stream Recycling: Is There a Better Way?

May 24th, 2012 – Single-Stream Recycling: Is There a Better Way? Download Webinar:    or   (right click and select “Save link as…”)  Webinar Documents: PDF Single-stream comingled recycling has widely been viewed by municipalities and waste haulers as the most effective system for high volume collection of recyclables.  However, the cost savings on the collection […]

May 11th, 2012 – Creating Jobs Through Recycling

May 11th, 2012 – Creating Jobs Through Recycling Download Webinar:    or   (right click and select “Save link as…”)  Webinar Documents: PDF We all know that recycling is good for the environment, but is it also good for the economy?  The Container Recycling Institute has recently released a report quantifying the net benefits of job […]