Dec 24 - Californians Cash in on Recycling

As initially reported by CAW earlier this month, today's (December 24, 2007) Los Angeles Times features a story on how more Californians are recycling, boosting recovery rates for beverage containers to record levels in 2007.

The story, by Times Staff Writer Tami Abdollah, includes quotes from CAW Executive Director Mark Murray, California Department of Conservation Director Bridgett Luther, and a growing cadre of California consumers redeeming their beverage containers for cash.

In January, the state increased the California Refund Value to a nickel for small beverage containers and a dime for large ones. The respective one- and two-cent hikes, they believe, may have changed a lot of perceptions.

"If you see four pennies on the ground and you're walking on the street, are you going to bother to pick them up?" asked Mark Murray, executive director for Californians Against Waste, a statewide environmental organization that focuses on recycling. "Whereas you see a nickel or dime on the ground, you're likely to pick that up. The same thing goes to just seeing that value in a can and thinking, 'I'm tossing a nickel in the trash.' "

For the complete story click here.