In 2010 California matched its best-ever recycling rate for beverage containers, with 82% of all containers recycled, according to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Recycling rates were strong for the three major material types included in the California Redemption Value (CRV) program.

The CVR program offers a nickel (5 cents) for containers less than 24 ounces, a dime for containers 24 ounces (700 ml) or larger. Most beverages packaged in glass, aluminium, and plastic – including soft drinks, water, beer, sports drinks, juices, coffee and tea drinks – are included in the CRV program.

Notable exceptions are milk, wine, and distilled spirits.

In total Californians purchased some 20.2 billion CRV qualified beverage containers in 2010, a decline of 800 million, most likely due to weakness in the economy. Of those, 16.5 billion were recycled, the second-highest figure recorded, behind the 17.2 billion collected for recycling in 2009, which also saw an 82% recycling rate.

Aluminium recycling rose to 94% in 2010 from 91% the previous year; No. 1 plastic recycling declined to 68% from 73%; and glass recycling rose to 85% from 80%. Other types of plastic, as well as bi-metal cans, combined make up less than 3% of CRV beverage containers.

Most recycled aluminium and glass is used to make new cans and bottles, resulting in significant energy and natural resource savings when compared to the mining, transportation and processing required in the manufacture the products.

According to CalRecycle, plastic bottles, made from petroleum, are turned into fibre for clothing and carpet, or pellets that can be manufactured into items such as packaging or landscape materials, often at significant energy savings.

“California continues to help the environment through recycling,” said CalRecycle acting director Mark Leary. “Although the monetary incentive for recycling beverage containers is an important motivator for many, we all share the benefits of natural resource conservation, energy savings, and pollution reduction.”