CHAPTER 8.5. Reporting Requirements and Payment Prohibitions Related to Out-of-State and Other Ineligible Containers [14595. - 14599.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 8.5.

in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 14595. Section 14595.

The Legislature finds and declares that the redemption of beverage container material imported from out of state, previously redeemed containers, rejected containers, and line breakage presents a significant threat to the integrity of the beverage container recycling program and fund. It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that no refund value or other recycling program payments be paid to any person for this material. It is further the intent of the Legislature that any person participating in conduct intended to defraud the state’s beverage container recycling program shall be held accountable for that conduct.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 14595.4. Section 14595.4.

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply: (a) “Person” means any individual, corporation, operation, or entity, whether or not certified or registered pursuant to this division. (b) “Refund value” means, in addition to the definition in Section 14524, any payment by a certified recycler for beverage container material that is at least 15 percent more than the statewide average scrap value for that material type, as determined by the department for the month in which the payment was made, unless the department determines that a reasonable basis exists for that payment.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 14595.5. Section 14595.5.

(a) (1) No person shall pay, claim, or receive any refund value, processing payment, handling fee, or administrative fee for any of the following: (A) Beverage container material that the person knew, or should have known, was imported from out of state. (B) A previously redeemed container, rejected container, line breakage, or other ineligible material. (2) No person shall, with intent to defraud, do any of the following: (A) Redeem or attempt to redeem an out-of-state container, rejected container, line breakage, previously redeemed container, or other ineligible material. (B) Return a previously redeemed container to the marketplace for redemption. (C) Bring an out-of-state container, rejected container, line breakage, or other ineligible material to the marketplace for redemption. (D) Receive, store, transport, distribute, or otherwise facilitate or aid in the redemption of a previously redeemed container, out-of-state container, rejected container, line breakage, or other ineligible material. (b) For purposes of implementing subdivision (a), the department shall take all reasonable steps to exclude beverage container material imported from out of state, previously redeemed containers, rejected containers, and line breakage, when conducting surveys to determine a commingled rate pursuant to Section 14549.5.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 14596. Section 14596.

(a) Any person importing more than 25 pounds of empty aluminum, bimetal, or plastic beverage container material, or more than 250 pounds of empty glass beverage container material, into the state, shall report the material to the department and provide the department with all of the following: (1) Documentation on the source of the material. (2) Documentation on the destination of the material. (3) Any other information deemed necessary by the department as it relates to the importation of empty beverage container material. (4) An opportunity for inspection, in accordance with the regulations adopted by the department. (b) (1) (A) In addition to inspections required by the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (a), a vehicle entering the state that contains more than 25 pounds of empty beverage container material shall pass through the nearest plant quarantine inspection station maintained pursuant to Section 5341 of the Food and Agricultural Code, and shall obtain proof of inspection from the department. (B) The department may enter into an interagency agreement with the Department of Food and Agriculture to implement the requirements of this subdivision. (2) The operator of a vehicle that contains more than 25 pounds of empty beverage container material is in violation of this chapter if the operator does any of the following: (A) Fails to stop the vehicle at a plant quarantine inspection station. (B) Willfully avoids a plant quarantine inspection station. (C) Fails to stop upon demand of a clearly identified plant quarantine inspection station officer, an officer of the California Highway Patrol, or an officer of a state or local law enforcement agency, when the officer orders the operator to stop for the purpose of determining whether this operator is in violation of this section. (c) The department may impose civil penalties pursuant to Section 14591.1 or take disciplinary action pursuant to Section 14591.2 for a violation of this section. (d) Subdivision (c) does not prohibit the imposition of a criminal penalty pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 14591 for a violation of subdivision (b). A second or subsequent violation of subdivision (b) within three years of a prior conviction of a violation of subdivision (b) shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 14597. Section 14597.

(a) No person shall falsify documents required pursuant to this division or pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. The falsification of these documents is evidence of intent to defraud and, for purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 14591.1, constitutes intentional misconduct. The department may also take disciplinary action pursuant to Section 14591.2 against a person who engages in falsification including, but not limited to, revocation of any certificate or registration. (b) No person shall submit, or cause to be submitted, a fraudulent claim pursuant to this division. For purposes of this subdivision, a fraudulent claim is a claim based in whole or in part on false information or falsified documents. Any person who submits a fraudulent claim is subject to the assessment of penalties pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 14591.1. The department may take action for full restitution for a fraudulent claim, pursuant to Section 14591.4, and may also take disciplinary action pursuant to Section 14591.2 including, but not limited to, revocation of any certificate or registration.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 14599. Section 14599.

The department may adopt emergency regulations to implement this chapter. Any emergency regulations, if adopted, shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and for the purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of these regulations is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, any emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be filed with, but not repealed by, the Office of Administrative Law, and shall remain in effect until revised by the director.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026