Sorry folks. it's soapbox time! Here in Southern California........... we get it. We recycle at every opportunity.
Every time we purchase a can or bottle or plastic water bottle, we are hit with a "Recycle fee."
At least government would have you believe that you are paying that fee to encourage recycling. WHAT A CROCK!
The reason this tax still exists is that the state of California keeps all of the "unredeemed" CRV fees & those fees go right into the general fund. In other words, the CRV has nothing to do with recycling, it's a silent tax.
What about the items that are turned in to the recycling centers for cash? GUARANTEED ITS NOT THE FOLKS THAT PAID THE TAX TURNING THEM IN....we place them in our curbside recycle bins.
Recycle day on my street is a constant stream of people starting at 5:00am with grocery carts or pick up trucks from Baja digging through my recycle bin, stealing the bottles & cans that I've carefully saved as a responsible citizen.
Isn't stealing from recycle bins against the law? Of course it is. But who enforces it? The answer is no one. I shudder to think of the response if I called 911 to report someone stealing my bottles & cans.
Wouldn't it be great to go to Balboa park and find convenient recycle bins? Under the present system, they would be cleaned out 50 times a day and not by park employees.
For my money, it's time to end this silent tax. I understand there will be strong opposition from the convenience stores who's cigarette & liquor sales benefit from the money paid out.
Come on Sacramento. the best thing you can do to encourage recycling is to cut out this insane tax.
WE GET IT!