How much is the California CRV?

California CRV (California Redemption Value) is 5¢ for containers under 24 oz and 10¢ for containers 24 oz and larger. This applies to most beverage containers including soda, beer, water, juice, tea, coffee, and sports drinks.

Should I redeem by weight or by count in California?

Count is almost always better for aluminum cans. At 5¢ per can by count, you'd need cans to weigh less than about 1 oz each for weight to win — and most empty cans weigh about 0.5 oz. For plastic bottles, count is also usually better. For glass, weight can sometimes win if you have heavy bottles.

Where can I recycle bottles in California?

California has certified recycling centers, buyback centers at grocery stores, and mobile recyclers. Use CalRecycle's website to find the nearest location. Many grocery stores are required to either host a recycler or pay a convenience fee.

What beverages are covered by California CRV?

California CRV covers a wider range than most states: beer, soda, water, juice, tea, coffee drinks, sports drinks, and most other non-alcoholic beverages. Wine and liquor are NOT covered. Milk and plant-based milks are also excluded.

Why are California recycling centers closing?

Many California recycling centers have closed due to low profit margins, rising rents, and operational costs. The state lost over 40% of its recycling centers between 2015 and 2024. This has made it harder for consumers to redeem CRV, leading to legislative efforts to improve the system.

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California Bottle Deposit & CRV Guide (2026)

      TL;DR: California CRV (California Redemption Value) is 5¢ for containers under 24 oz and 10¢ for 24 oz and larger — covering beer, soda, water, juice, tea, and sports drinks (not wine or milk). For aluminum cans, always redeem by count rather than weight since count pays more. California lost over 40% of its certified recycling centers between 2015 and 2024; use CalRecycle.ca.gov to find your nearest open location.
    

Last updated: March 2026

California's CRV (California Redemption Value) program is the most comprehensive bottle deposit system in the US. It covers more beverage types than any other state — but it's also the most confusing, with two deposit rates, weight vs count redemption, and a shrinking number of recycling centers.

This guide breaks it all down: how much you get back, where to redeem, and how to maximize your CRV refund.

California CRV Rates

Container Size	CRV Rate	Examples
Under 24 oz	5¢	Standard 12 oz cans, 16 oz bottles, small water bottles
24 oz and larger	10¢	24 oz tall cans, 2-liter bottles, large juice containers

What Beverages Are Covered?

California covers far more than other deposit states:

Beverage Type	CRV Covered?
Beer	Yes
Soda / soft drinks	Yes
Water (plain and sparkling)	Yes
Juice and juice drinks	Yes
Tea and coffee drinks	Yes
Sports and energy drinks	Yes
Wine and spirits	No
Milk and plant-based milk	No
Infant formula	No

California advantage: Because CA covers juice, tea, coffee, and sports drinks, you earn CRV on containers that are worthless in other deposit states. That Gatorade bottle? That Arizona tea can? They're 5¢ in California, $0 in New York.

Weight vs Count: Which Pays More?

California is unique — recycling centers can pay you by weight or by count. This matters because one method almost always pays more.

Aluminum Cans — Count Almost Always Wins

The CRV rate by count is 5¢ per can. By weight, centers pay the current scrap aluminum rate per pound. An empty 12 oz aluminum can weighs about 0.5 oz (14g), so ~32 cans = 1 pound.

At 5¢ per can by count: 32 cans = $1.60

By weight: 1 pound of aluminum ≈ $0.75-$1.10 (varies with market)

Verdict: Count wins by 50%+ for aluminum cans. Always choose count.

Plastic Bottles — Count Usually Wins

Plastic (PET) bottles are very light — about 0.5-0.9 oz empty. By count at 5¢ each, you'll almost always beat the weight rate. The exception might be thick, heavy bottles, but standard water and soda bottles = count wins.

Glass Bottles — Weight Can Win

Glass is heavy. A standard 12 oz glass beer bottle weighs about 7 oz. If you have a lot of heavy glass bottles, the per-pound rate can sometimes beat the per-count CRV. Do the math at the center — ask them to calculate both ways.

Know Your Count Before the Center

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Where to Recycle in California

Certified Recycling Centers

These are standalone businesses that buy back CRV containers. They pay by weight or count (your choice for loads under 50 of each type). Use CalRecycle's online locator to find one near you — search "recycling center near me" on their site.

Grocery Store Buyback

California law requires stores that sell CRV beverages to either host an on-site recycler or pay a convenience fee. Many large chains (Walmart, Safeway, Kroger) have buyback machines or partner recyclers in their parking lots.

The Recycling Center Crisis

California lost over 40% of its recycling centers between 2015 and 2024. Rising rents, thin margins, and operational costs pushed many out of business. This means:

Fewer locations, longer drives to find one that's open
Longer wait times at remaining centers
Some areas designated as "convenience zones" with no nearby recycler

If there's no recycling center within your convenience zone, the nearest large retailer must pay you CRV or accept your containers. Find centers: Bottle deposit near me

Maximize Your California CRV

1. Always Choose Count for Cans

As explained above, count beats weight for aluminum and plastic. Only consider weight for glass.

2. Don't Crush Cans

Some centers won't accept crushed cans or will only pay by weight for them. Keep cans intact for maximum flexibility. This also makes them easier to count.

3. Separate by Size

Split your containers into under 24 oz and 24 oz+ before you go. The big ones are worth 10¢ each — make sure they don't get lumped in with the 5¢ pile.

4. Know the 50-Container Rule

If you bring fewer than 50 of any material type (aluminum, plastic, glass), the center must let you choose count or weight. Over 50? They can choose the method. So if count is better (it usually is), consider making multiple trips under 50.

5. Count Before You Go

Know exactly how many containers you have. Use fast counting methods or the CNTEM'UP app to verify your count matches what the center says.

CRV math: At 5¢ each, 2,000 small containers = $100. At 10¢, 1,000 large containers = $100. A mix of both is typical — see our deposit calculator for exact earnings.

California vs Other Deposit States

Feature	California	New York	Michigan
Rate (standard)	5¢ / 10¢	5¢	10¢
Covers juice/tea	Yes	No	No
Weight option	Yes	No	No
Recycling center access	Declining	Moderate	Good (store machines)
Return rate	~70%	~65%	~90%+

Detailed state comparison: All deposit states guide

California Recyclers: Count Smarter

CNTEM'UP counts your bottles and cans automatically. Free to use, built for recyclers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the California CRV?: 5¢ for containers under 24 oz and 10¢ for containers 24 oz and larger. CRV applies to most beverages — soda, beer, water, juice, tea, coffee, sports drinks.
Should I redeem by weight or by count?: Count is almost always better for aluminum cans and plastic bottles. For glass, weight can sometimes win. If you bring under 50 of each material type, you get to choose the method.
Where can I recycle bottles in California?: Certified recycling centers, grocery store buyback programs, and mobile recyclers. Use CalRecycle's locator to find the nearest center. Many centers are closing, so call ahead to confirm hours.
Why are California recycling centers closing?: Low margins, high rents, and rising operational costs. California lost 40%+ of its recycling centers between 2015 and 2024. The state is working on reforms to make recycling more accessible.
What containers are NOT covered by California CRV?: Wine, spirits, milk (dairy and plant-based), infant formula, and medical/nutritional supplements. Everything else — soda, beer, water, juice, tea, coffee, sports drinks — is covered.
How many cans do I need for $100 in California?: At 5¢ per small container: 2,000 cans. At 10¢ per large container: 1,000 containers. A realistic mix might be 1,500-1,800 containers. See: How many cans to make $100