Six people were arrested in two separate cases for illegally redeeming CRV beverage containers from out of state.
Agents estimate the fraud to be worth roughly $425,000.
"Fraud against the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is theft from the people of California," CalRecycle Director Caroll Mortensen said.
When a consumer purchases a covered beverage in California, the CRV of 5 cents or 10 cents is added to the price of the beverage. That nickel or dime is placed in a fund that consumers can redeem when they recycle the container.
Out of state containers are not eligible for CRV so any any redemption of out of state containers constitutes a criminal act. Illegal redemption also hurts the solvency of the bottle bill fund that has successfully lead to recycling of nearly 80% of all covered containers. Thanks to CAW-sponsored bill AB 1933 (Gordon), CalRecycle has been given more authority and tools to help combat out-of-state fraud.
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