Back to California

SB-674 • 2026

Beverage containers: recycling: redemption payment and refund value.

Beverage containers: recycling: redemption payment and refund value.

Budget Crime Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Cabaldon
Last action
2025-08-29
Official status
August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how the reduced refund value will impact recycling rates.

Beverage Containers: Recycling Payment and Refund Value

This bill changes the refund value for small wine or distilled spirits containers in California from $0.25 to $0.10 starting January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the redemption payment and refund value for wine or distilled spirit beverage containers with a capacity of less than 24 fluid ounces from $0.25 to $0.10 beginning January 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who recycle wine and distilled spirits containers in California.
  • Retailers selling these beverage containers.
  • The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) managing the recycling fund.

Terms To Know

Redemption payment
Money that distributors pay to a state agency for each container sold, which is used to give refunds to people who recycle containers.
California Beverage Container Recycling Fund
A fund where redemption payments are deposited and used to support recycling efforts in California.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the reduced refund value will affect recycling rates.
  • It is unclear if there will be any changes to electronic waste recycling requirements beyond a minor adjustment.

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

  2. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  3. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  5. 2025-05-28 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  6. 2025-05-28 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1303.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  7. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1209.) (May 23).

  9. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  10. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  11. 2025-04-25 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 5.

  12. 2025-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 867.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  13. 2025-04-04 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 23.

  14. 2025-04-02 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

  15. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  16. 2025-03-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on RLS.

  17. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  18. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  19. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 674, as amended, Cabaldon.
Recycling: electronic waste.
Beverage containers: recycling: redemption payment and refund value.
The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, a violation of which is a crime, requires a distributor of beverage containers, as defined, to pay to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery a monthly redemption payment for every beverage container sold or transferred, as provided. The act requires the department to deposit those amounts into the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund. The fund is continuously appropriated to, among other things, pay refund values and administrative fees to processors that receive empty beverage containers from recyclers. The act specifies that a beverage container that is a box, bladder, or pouch, or similar container, containing wine or distilled spirits has a redemption payment and refund value of $0.25.
This bill would reduce the redemption payment and refund value for one of those wine or distilled spirit beverage containers, if it has a capacity of less than 24 fluid ounces, from $0.25 to $0.10, beginning January 1, 2026. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 requires a retailer selling a covered electronic device in this state to collect from a consumer at the time of retail sale a covered electronic waste recycling fee, as specified. The act requires all charges collected pursuant to the act to be deposited into specified subaccounts within the Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Account, and outlines certain other requirements related to the establishment, adjustment, and administration of the charge. Moneys in the account may be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act, for other specified purposes, including the administration of the act by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and to provide funding to DTSC to implement and enforce the hazardous waste control laws as they relate to
covered electronic devices. The act expressly authorizes DTSC to enforce the act, and all regulations adopted pursuant to the act, through the hazardous waste control laws.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the above provision regarding DTSC enforcement of the act through the hazardous waste control laws.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF