Bill > AB333

This bill addresses recycling and market development for glass beverage containers by establishing a new program to incentivize the use of glass that would otherwise be sent to landfills. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to provide market development payments to businesses that purchase "noncontainer glass products" - items manufactured using empty glass beverage containers that cannot be recycled into new beverage containers. The department can spend up to $20 million annually on these payments, with individual payments not exceeding $50 per ton of material. The bill's legislative findings highlight that approximately 79% of processed glass in the United States ends up in landfills, despite potential uses in industries like adhesives, fiberglass, and construction materials. By creating financial incentives for businesses to use this otherwise discarded glass, the bill aims to reduce waste, support alternative glass recycling markets, and potentially lower carbon emissions, as ground glass can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of cement production. The payments will be made from the existing California Beverage Container Recycling Fund, subject to available funds, and are designed to encourage in-state manufacturing and purchase of products made from recycled glass.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB333