California Redemption Value
California Refund Value (CRV) is a fee paid on purchases of certain recyclable beverage containers in California. The consumer pays CRV on the purchase of beverages with aluminum, plastic, glass, and bimetal containers and can be reimbursed if the containers are brought to a recycling center. The symbol on beverage containers eligible for reimbursement is "CA CRV". Currently, CRV is 5 cents for containers less than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger.[1]
The charge for California Refund Value (CRV) is not a deposit, but a fee imposed on the distributor of the beverage. The fee is passed along to the retailer and to the consumer. Although separately stated, the fee is subject to tax as part of the taxable selling price of the beverage.[2]
California Redemption Value is easily confused with California Refund Value, which is the amount recycling centers pay to consumers in exchange for empty bottles and cans. This discrepancy is usually unimportant because the redemption (or deposit) value is usually the same as the refund value, although they are different at times. The initialism "CRV" is often used to denote either.
[edit] Types of beverages
CRV is paid on the following types of beverages:
- Carbonated and noncarbonated water
- Carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks and sport drinks
- Coffee and tea drinks
- Beer and other malt beverages
- 100% fruit juice in containers smaller than 46 fl oz.[3]
CRV is not paid on the following:
- Milk, white or flavored
- Medical food
- Infant formula
- Wine
- Distilled spirits
- 100% fruit juice in containers 46 fl oz or more[3]
- 100% vegetable juice in containers more than 16 fl oz[3]
- Products not in liquid or "ready to drink" form
- Products not intended for human consumption
- Containers not made of glass, metal, or plastic
