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SACRAMENTO – The
Department of Conservation (DOC) is
encouraging Californians to put extra
effort into recycling this summer as
temperatures rise and energy use peaks.
Energy drinks are all
the rage, and in recent years beverages
that invigorate consumers have flooded
the marketplace. What many people might
not realize is that as the summer’s heat
intensifies and people reach for the
air-conditioning switch, the same
bottles and cans that provide them with
energy beverages could actually save the
kind of energy needed to power their
homes, air conditioners and televisions.
How much energy? Last
year, the 12 billion bottles and cans
recycled by Californians saved the
equivalent of enough energy to power up
to 522,000 homes, according to DOC
calculations.
“Most of us are well
aware that recycling bottles and cans
saves natural resources,” said
California Secretary for Resources Mike
Chrisman. “But when you add in the fact
that it often takes a lot less energy to
make a new product from recycled
materials than virgin materials,
recycling makes even more sense than
ever this summer and year-round.”
It takes 95 percent
less energy to make an aluminum can from
recycled aluminum than from processing
bauxite ore, and glass furnaces can run
at lower temperatures when using
recycled glass, thereby saving energy
and extending equipment life. Although
the number of bottles and cans recycled
in California in 2004 set an all-time
record, a staggering 8 billion plastic,
glass and aluminum beverage containers
still wound up in California landfills –
enough to fill every major league
baseball park in the state twice. That’s
a lot of wasted energy and natural
resources.
To help Californians
find the recycling bin instead of the
trash can this summer, the DOC has some
simple tips for bottle and can
recycling:
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Look for the “CA
Cash Refund” or similar symbol on
bottle labels or tops of aluminum
cans. California Refund Value (CRV)
containers are redeemable for cash at
any of California’s 2,000 privately
owned certified recycling centers.
Almost all beverage containers are
recyclable, and most in California are
even worth money (4 cents for smaller
containers and 8 cents for containers
24 ounces and larger). To find a
recycling center near you, call
1-800-RECYCLE or visit
www.bottlesandcans.com and click
on “Where to Recycle.”
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Own a business or
work in an office building, gym,
school, restaurant or other location
where people dispose of CRV
containers? Order a free “Recycling
Starter Kit” at
www.bottlesandcans.com.
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On the go? Hold
onto your empty beverage containers
until you find a recycling bin. Keep
an extra bag or box in your car so
that you can collect your beverage
containers without having them roll
around in your car.
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Throwing a party or
BBQ? Set up a separate bag or box for
recyclable beverage containers only.
Later, redeem them for cash or put
them in your curbside recycling bin.
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Keep it simple.
There is no need to rinse, clean or
remove labels from your empty beverage
containers.
Most beverages
packaged in aluminum, glass and plastic,
such as soft drinks, water, beer, sports
drinks, juices and coffee and tea
drinks, are included in the CRV program.
Among the notable products not included
in the program are milk, wine and
distilled spirits. Or check out a
comprehensive list of products subject
to CRV.
In addition to
promoting beverage container recycling,
the Department of Conservation maps and
studies earthquakes and other geologic
phenomena; classifies areas containing
mineral deposits; ensures reclamation of
land used for mining; regulates oil, gas
and geothermal wells; and administers
agricultural and open-space land
conservation programs.
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