Container Recycling Institute Newsletters
Weekly Headlines from CRI – FREE
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A convenient way to get news on deposit legislation around the world, plus beverage and recycling industry news, all in one place. CRI compiles articles from various news sources and sends them to your inbox once a week.
Container Recycling Institute Newsletter – Members Only
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CRI’s print newsletter contains current information on states, provinces and countries considering new or expanded bottle bills, as well as other current information on container and packaging recycling.
Publications
Why Modernizing the Bottle Bill Would Help Fight Climate Change – December 5th,2023
CA AB 179 Budget Act of 2022 Deposit Program Funding Breakdown (September 5th, 2022)
CRI letter toAssembly Committee on Appropriations to Support SB1013 – July 25th, 2022 (updated)
SB 1013 would add wine and spirits containers to the Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, also known as a container deposit law or bottle bill.
Download PDF [PDF, 932KB]
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]
UPDATED: The Status of EPR-PPP and DRS Around the World (Factsheet) – October 2025
CRI supports SB 1013 – California – April 19th, 2022
We are writing in support of SB1013, “An act to amend Sections 14504 and 14550 of the Public Resources Code, relating to recycling, and making an appropriation therefor…
Download PDF [364KB]
Beverage Container Redemption in Connecticut: A Model for Successful Modernization – August 2025
Background on California’s Convenience Zone Structure and Current Status – May 5 2021 (Updated)
A “convenience zone” is defined as the area within a half-mile radius of a supermarket that has gross annual sales of at least $2 million. By statute, the intent is to have one redemption center in each convenience zone. This would ensure that it is just as easy to return an empty beverage container for refund as it is to purchase the beverage in the first place. Download PDF [PDF, 373KB]
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]
Updating the Massachusetts Beverage Container Deposit Law: Estimated Unclaimed Deposits – March 2024
Estimates of Deposit Beverage Containers Captured Through Curbside and Dropoff Programs – February 2024
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 recycling and litter programs. The bill sunsets this fee after three years. Download PDF [PDF, 806KB]
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]
Winners and Losers Under Iowa House File 575: An Analysis – March 2018
The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) has analyzed Iowa HF 575, successor to HSB 163.1 It would repeal the beverage container deposit law (“bottle bill”), and would impose a 1¢ “recycling program fee” on carbonated beverages. Download PDF [PDF, 684KB]
Massachusetts Container Deposit Return System: 2016 Employment and Economic Impacts in the Commonwealth (June 2017- Addendum April 2018)
This report examines a suite of economic impacts associated with the existing Massachusetts “Bottle Bill” (originally passed as the Beverage Container Recovery Law; H.2943/S.1588).
Get Download Link [PDF, 471KB]
Addendum April 10th, 2018 – Download PDF [PDF, 32KB]
Updated Imagery included here: Download PDF [PDF, 283KB]
California’s Beverage Container Redemption Center Crisis: THE BIGGEST LOSERS (July, 2017)
California needs to help restore redemption center coverage in the “recycling deserts” in the state. Here’s why. (July 2017)
Download PDF [PDF, 29KB]
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 PDF [PDF, 602KB]
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 glass containers. Get a Download Link
Encorp’s response letter to the BC Case Study – Download Here
Comparative Table of Container Deposit States Inclusion of Cider in Respective Container Deposit Laws – July 2015
Comprehensive list of Container Deposit States that do include Cider in their container deposit laws.
Download PDF
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]
Estimating Beverage Container Litter Quantities and Cleanup Costs in Michigan – April 2015
This paper looks at litter cleanup efforts and associated costs in Michigan, and attempts to determine the proportion of litter composed of discarded beverage containers.
Download PDF
“International Embrace” by CRI President Susan Collins (Plastics Recycling Update) – Winter 2020
Over the past several years, container deposit programs have been adopted at a rapid rate in nations across the globe. What’s pushing the trend? And is it a preview of things to come in the U.S.? Download PDF [PDF, 908KB]
Beverage Container Recycling Rate March 2015 Update
Listing of Beverage Container Recycling Rates by State for Deposit Containers Only.
Download PDF
CRI’s Comments on the NYSP2I “Impact Study of NYS Bottle Bill Expansion
CRI has undertaken a limited review of RIT’s “Impact Study of NYS Bottle Bill Expansion” (Nov. 2019), which assesses economic impacts on various stakeholders if glass liquor and wine bottles (excluding plastic and aluminum containers) were to be covered by a deposit. Download PDF [PDF, 874KB]
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
California’s CRV Beverage Container Recycling Program: Quantifying Payments to Curbside and Drop-off Programs (2017) – Updated August 2019
Summary of Findings: The operators of curbside and drop-off programs in California received $193 million in revenue from CalRecycle payments and scrap sales for CRV beverage containers in 2017. The estimated cost for handling those containers was $43 million, leading to a calculation of $150 million in gross profits, or a 349% profit. Download PDF [PDF, 449KB]
Comparison of Container Deposit Programs in the United States (September 2014)
This paper compares state specific container deposit program information. Because of different reporting requirements across beverage container deposit states some information was obtained from some states, while the same information was not available from other states.
Download PDF
Background on California’s Convenience Zone Structure and Current Status – April 2019
A “convenience zone” is defined as the area within a half-mile radius of a supermarket that has gross annual sales of at least $2 million. By statute, the intent is to have one redemption center in each convenience zone. This would ensure that it is just as easy to return an empty beverage container for refund as it is to purchase the beverage in the first place. Download PDF [PDF, 373KB]
Sierra Club Report: Analysis of S.379: An Act Improving Recycling in the Commonwealth
An analysis of the effects of passage of S.379 on litter, recycling, employment, and state and local financing.
Download PDF [PDF, 117KB]
Examining the Potential for Increased Revenues in California’s Beverage Container Deposit-‐Return Program (August 13, 2014)
CRI’s analysis suggests that there may be nearly 3.7 billion units (3,690,008,614 units) for which no deposit has been paid. These “free-‐riders” in the system are worth more than $206 million in potentially uncollected CRV.
Get Download Link
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 glass containers.
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.
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.
Returning to Work:Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers
December 2011 | While the recycling’s impact on jobs has been the subject of several studies in recent years, Returning to Work is the first report to take into account the vital importance of material quality, throughput quantities, processing dynamics and end-user needs to analyze the net gains in domestic jobs when beverage containers are recovered through recycling.By Clarissa Morawski and Jeffrey Morris for the 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 to a single-stream system.
By Clarissa Morawski
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
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 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 this issue in the current context of processing fees on bimetal cans.
CRI Supports TX SB 728 – April 15, 2025
CRI supports Texas SB 728 to establish Texas’ beverage container recycling program.
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 TX HB 2048 – April 23, 2025
CRI supports Texas HB 2048 to establish Texas’ beverage container recycling program.
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 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 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 CA SB 674 – April 11, 2025
CRI supports California SB 674, which would reduce the deposit amount for wine/spirits in bladders, boxes, and pouches <24oz from 25 cents to 10 cents.
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 Hawaii HB 1610 – April 13, 2026
CRI opposes HI HB 1610, a bill that would remove auditing and documentation requirements for all deposit beverage distributors.
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.
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