May 21 - Californians Recycle Record High Level of Containers

The California Department of Conservation has just announced that California has reached a record-high recycling level. 14.7 billion beverage containers were recycled by Californians in 2007, a 50% increase from just five years ago.

• Press Release: California Has Record-High Recycling Levels

• Factsheet: Benefits of New, High Recycling Rates

• Department of Conservation Press Release and new Recycling Rate Report

Recycling levels have been boosted by increased environmental awareness about the necessity to conserve recourses and also by last year's CAW-sponsored AB 3056 (Hancock) which increased refund values to five and ten cents. Among other benefits, these new high recycling levels have prevented the emissions of over 2 million tons of atmospheric CO2.

CAW and the Bottle Bill:

• CAW is working to expand the nation's flagship recycling program to include all plastic bottles to the Bottle Bill. SB 1625 (Corbett) would target the fastest growing component of the waste stream, plastics, and was the #1 recommendation of California's Ocean Protection Council on how to fight marine debris pollution.