14502.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this division. 14503.
“Aluminum beverage container” means a beverage container that consists primarily of aluminum. 14504.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), “beverage” means any of the following products if those products are in liquid, ready-to-drink form, and are intended for human consumption:(1) Beer and other malt beverages.
(2) Wine and distilled spirit coolers.
(3) Wine, or wine from which alcohol has been removed, in whole or in part, whether or not sparkling or carbonated.
(4) Distilled spirits.
(5) Carbonated water, including soda and carbonated mineral water.
(6) Noncarbonated water, including noncarbonated mineral water.
(7) Carbonated soft drinks.
(8) Noncarbonated soft drinks and “sport” drinks.
(9) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), noncarbonated
fruit drinks that contain any percentage of fruit juice.
(10) Coffee and tea drinks.
(11) Carbonated fruit drinks.
(12) Vegetable juice in beverage containers of 16 ounces or less.
(b) “Beverage” does not include any of the following:
(1) Any product sold in a container that is not an aluminum beverage container,
a glass container, a plastic beverage container, a bimetal container, or a container made of a combination of those materials.
(2) Milk, medical food, or infant formula.
(3) One hundred percent fruit juice in containers that are 46 ounces or more in volume.
(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Infant formula” means any liquid food described or sold as an alternative for human milk for the
feeding of infants.
(2) (A) “Medical food” means a food or beverage that is formulated to be consumed, or administered enterally under the supervision of a physician, and that is intended for specific dietary management of diseases or health conditions for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation.
(B) A “medical food” is a specially formulated and processed product, for the partial or exclusive feeding of a patient by means of oral intake or enteral feeding by tube, and is not a naturally occurring foodstuff used in its natural state.
(C) “Medical food” includes any product that meets the definition of “medical food” in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 360ee(b)(3)).
(3) “Noncarbonated soft drink” means a nonalcoholic, noncarbonated naturally or artificially flavored water containing sugar or sweetener or trace amounts of various elements from both natural and synthetic sources.
14505.
“Beverage container” means the individual, separate bottle, can, jar, carton, or other receptacle, however denominated, in which a beverage is sold, and that is constructed of metal, glass, or plastic, or other material, or any combination of these materials. “Beverage container” does not include cups or other similar open or loosely sealed receptacles. 14505.1.
“Beverage container stewardship organization” or “organization” has the same meaning as defined in Section 42984.06.14505.2.
“Beverage container stewardship plan” has the same meaning as defined in Section 42984.06.14506.
“Beverage manufacturer” means any person who bottles, cans, or otherwise fills beverage containers, or imports filled beverage containers, for sale to distributors, dealers, or consumers. 14506.3.
“Bimetal container” means a beverage container that consists of one or more metals and that is composed primarily of steel. 14508.
“Consumer” means every person who, for their use or consumption, purchases a beverage in a beverage container from a dealer. “Consumer” includes, but is not limited to, a lodging, eating, or drinking establishment, and soft drink vending machines. 14509.
“Container manufacturer” means any person who produces beverage containers for filling by beverage manufacturers, including any person who imports these beverage containers from outside of this state for filling by beverage manufacturers. 14509.3.
“Cullet” means scrap glass that is derived from postfilled food, drink, or beverage container glass produced or imported for sale in the state. 14509.4.
“Convenience zone” means an area designated by the beverage container stewardship organization pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 42984.13.14509.5.
“Curbside program,” “curbside collection program,” or “curbside recycling program” means a recycling program that meets all of the following criteria:(a) The program picks up empty beverage containers from individual or multiple family residences, or both, and the empty beverage containers are separated from waste materials prior to being picked up.
(b) The program is operated by, or pursuant to a contract with, a city, county, or other public agency, or is acknowledged, in writing, by a city, county,
or other public agency.
(c) The program accepts empty beverage containers from consumers with the intent to recycle them, but does not pay the refund value.
14510.
“Dealer” means a retail establishment that offers the sale of beverages in beverage containers to consumers. However, any lodging, eating, or drinking establishment, or soft drink vending machine operator that engages in the sale of beverages in beverage containers to consumers shall not be deemed a dealer for the purposes of this division, except that these sales are subject to Section 14560.14510.5.
“Department” means the Division of Recycling in the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. 14510.6.
“Director” means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery. 14510.7.
“Distilled spirit” means an alcoholic beverage that is obtained by distillation from wine or other fermented fruit or plant juice or from a starchy material that has first been brewed.14511.
“Distributor” means every person who engages in the sale of beverages in beverage containers to a dealer in this state, including any manufacturer who engages in these sales. “Distributor” includes any person who imports beverages from outside of this state for sale to dealers or consumers in this state. 14511.5.
“Drink” means fruit juice or any other noncarbonated drink. 14511.7.
“Dropoff or collection program” means any person, association, nonprofit corporation, church, club, or other organization that is certified by the department and that accepts or collects empty beverage containers from consumers with the intention to recycle them, or any waste reduction facility that separates beverage containers from the waste stream with the intent to recycle them. “Dropoff or collection program” does not include a certified recycling center or curbside program. 14512.
“Empty beverage container” means a beverage container that meets all of the following requirements:(a) Has the seal or closure installed by the manufacturer broken or removed.
(b) Does not contain foreign materials other than the residue of the beverage originally packaged in the beverage container by the manufacturer.
(c) Bears the message required by Section 14561, or is a refillable
beverage container.
(d) Has a refund value established pursuant to Section 14560.
14512.5.
“Food or drink packaging material” means any material that is not a beverage container in which a food or drink is sold in a retail establishment and the food or drink is not intended for consumption on the seller’s premises. 14512.6.
“For recycling” means, with regard to an empty beverage container, that the container has been received by a processor who has an arrangement whereby that container will actually be recycled. 14512.7.
“Fund” means the Beverage Container Recycling Program Fund established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 14580. 14513.
“Glass beverage container” means a beverage container that has a body consisting primarily of glass. 14513.2.
(a) “Glass container manufacturer” means a person who manufactures commercial containers, whose principal component part or parts consist of virgin glass, postfilled glass, or any combination of both, for sale in California or for export to other states or countries.(b) “Glass container manufacturer” includes, but is not limited to, all commercial manufacturing operations that produce beverage containers, food or drink packaging material made primarily of glass, or any combination of both of those items. For beer or other malt beverages manufactured outside the state, the container manufacturer shall
be deemed to be the person or entity named on the certificate of compliance issued pursuant to Section 23671 of the Business and Professions Code.
14513.3.
“Glass food or drink container” means any nonbeverage container, whose principal component part or parts consist of virgin glass, postfilled glass, or any combination of both, in which any food or drink is sold or offered for sale in California. 14513.4.
“Incentive payment” means the amount paid by the beverage container stewardship organization to a certified recycling center for every beverage container redeemed by that certified recycling center. 14514.
“Managing employee” includes, but is not limited to, any person who manages the operation of a facility or is authorized by the certified operator to sign shipping reports. 14514.6.
“Not for recycling” means, in regard to an empty beverage container, that the container has been received by a processor who does not have an arrangement whereby that container will actually be recycled. 14514.7.
“Nonprofit convenience zone recycler” means a recycling center that meets either of the following conditions:(a) The recycling center meets all of the following criteria:
(1) It is operated by an organization established under Section 501(c) or 501(d) of Title 26 of the United States Code.
(2) It is certified by the department pursuant to Section 14538.
(3) It is located within a convenience zone, but is not necessarily a supermarket site.
(b) The recycling center meets all of the following criteria:
(1) It is operated by an organization established under Section 501(c) or 501(d) of Title 26 of the United States Code and has operated in the same location for a period of not less than five years.
(2) It is certified by the department pursuant to Section 14538.
(3) It is located within one mile of a supermarket that is in a convenience zone.
14515.
“Other beverage container” means a beverage container that has a body consisting of metal, glass, plastic, other materials, or a combination of these, but that is not an aluminum, bimetal, glass, or plastic beverage container. 14515.1.
“Out-of-state container” means a used beverage container or used beverage container component that is not subject to Section 14560, and that is brought into this state. 14515.2.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, operation, or entity, whether or not certified or registered pursuant to this division. 14517.
“Plastic beverage container” means a beverage container that has a body consisting primarily of plastic. 14517.5.
“Postfilled container” means any container that had been previously filled with a beverage or food. 14518.
“Processor” means any person, including a scrap dealer, certified by the department who purchases empty aluminum beverage containers, bimetal beverage containers, glass beverage containers, plastic beverage containers, or any other beverage containers, including any one or more of those types of beverage containers, that have a refund value established pursuant to this division, from recycling centers in this state for recycling, or, if the container is not recyclable, not for recycling, and who cancels, or who certifies to the department in a form prescribed by the department the cancellation of, the refund value of these empty beverage containers by processing empty beverage containers, in any manner that the department may prescribe. However,
the department shall not take any action regulating scrap dealers or recycling centers who are processors or recycling centers unless authorized by and pursuant to the goals of this division. 14519.
“Recycle,” “recycled,” “recycling,” or “recyclable” refers to the reuse or refilling of empty beverage containers, or the process of sorting, cleansing, treating, and reconstituting empty postfilled beverage containers for the purpose of using the altered form. “Recycle,” “recycled,” “recycling,” or “recyclable” does not refer to processes for merely sorting, shredding, stripping, compressing, storing, landfilling with, or disposing of an empty beverage container. 14519.5.
“Recycler” means a recycling center, dropoff or collection program, or curbside program. 14520.
“Recycling center” means an operation that is certified by the department and that accepts from consumers, and pays or provides the refund value pursuant to Section 14570.2 for, empty beverage containers intended to be recycled. 14520.5.
“Recycling location” means a place, mobile unit, reverse vending machine, or other device where a certified recycling center accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers from consumers, and pays or provides the refund value for one or more types of empty beverage containers. 14520.6.
“Noncertified recycler” means a person, entity, or operation that is not certified by the department and that purchases empty beverage containers from consumers or from dropoff or collection programs. 14521.
“Recycling rate” means the proportion of empty beverage containers by type returned to processors for recycling, measured in the manner prescribed in Section 14551. 14522.5.
To “redeem” means to return to a recycling center or location an empty beverage container for a refund of at least the refund value, and “redemption” is the act of redeeming. 14523.5.
“Redemption rate” means the proportion of empty beverage containers returned to processors measured in the manner prescribed in Section 14551. 14524.
“Refund value” means the amount established for each type of beverage container pursuant to Section 14560 that is paid by the following:(a) A certified recycling center to the consumer or dropoff or collection center program for each beverage container redeemed by the consumer or dropoff or collection center.
program. With respect to consumers returning containers to recycling centers, the refund value shall not be subject to tax under the Personal Income Tax Law (Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) or the Corporation Tax Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(b) The beverage container stewardship organization to a certified recycling center, for each beverage container redeemed by the certified recycling center from a consumer or dropoff or collection program.
(c) A dealer to a distributor for every beverage
container sold or transferred to a dealer.
14525.
“Refillable beverage container” means any aluminum beverage container, bimetal beverage container, glass beverage container, plastic beverage container, or other beverage container, holding 150 fluid ounces or less of beverage, that has a minimum deposit of three cents ($0.03) and that ordinarily would be returned to the manufacturer to be refilled and resold. 14525.5.
“Reverse vending machine” means a mechanical device that accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers and issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container’s refund value. The refund value payments shall be aggregated and then paid, if more than one container is redeemed in a single transaction. 14525.6.
“Rural region” means a nonurban area identified by the department on an annual basis using the loan eligibility criteria of the Rural Housing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Administration, Development, or its successor agency. Those criteria include, but are not limited to, places, open country, cities, towns, or census designated places with populations that are less than 10,000 persons. The department may designate an area with a population of between 10,000 and 50,000 persons as a rural region, unless the area is identified as part of,
or associated with, an urban area, as determined by the department on an individual basis. 14525.7.
“Rural region recycler” means a recycler that is certified for a rural region and that accepts or collects empty beverage containers from consumers pursuant to Section 14570.2 with the intention to recycle them. 14526.
“Scrap value” means the value of the material that an empty beverage container is composed of.14526.5.
“Supermarket” means a full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of four million dollars ($4,000,000), or more, that sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood items and some perishable items. For purposes of determining which dealers are supermarkets, the department shall use the annual updates of the Progressive Grocer Marketing Guidebook and any computer printouts developed in conjunction with the guidebook. 14526.6.
“Supermarket site” means any certified recycling center that redeems all types of empty beverage containers in accordance with Section 14570.2, that is located within, or outside and immediately adjacent to the entrance of, or at, or within a parking lot or loading area surrounding, a supermarket or dealer that is located within the convenience zone, and that is accessible to motor traffic. 14527.
“Use or consumption” includes the exercise of any right or power over a beverage incidental to the beverage’s ownership, including, but not limited to, drinking the beverage. “Use or consumption” does not include the sale, or the keeping or retention, of a beverage for the purposes of sale. 14528.
“Universal product code” is an 11-digit, all-numeric code that represents a beverage container or other consumer package of a particular brand, size, type, and manufacturer by using a series of alternating bars and spaces for electronic scanning. 14528.3.
“Wine” means the fermented juice of fresh grapes used as a beverage.14528.5.
“Wine and distilled spirit cooler” means a beverage containing wine or distilled spirits to which is added concentrated or unconcentrated juice or flavoring material and containing not more than 7 percent alcohol by volume.
CHAPTER
3.5. Certifications and Registrations
14538.
(a) (1) The department shall certify an operator of a recycling center pursuant to this section.(2) The department shall review whether an application for certification or renewal is complete within 30 working days of receipt, including compliance with subdivision (c). If the department deems an application complete, the department shall approve or deny the application no later than 60 calendar days after the date when the application was deemed complete.
(b) The director shall
adopt, by regulation, a procedure for the
certification of recycling centers, including standards and requirements for certification. These regulations shall require that all information be submitted to the department under penalty of perjury. A recycling center shall meet all of the standards and requirements contained in the regulations for certification. The regulations, in addition to any other appropriate provisions, shall require that all of the following conditions be met for certification:
(1) The operator of the recycling center demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the department, that the operator will operate in accordance with this division.
(2) If one or more certified entities have
operated at the same location within the past five years, the operations at the location of the recycling center exhibit, to the satisfaction of the department, a pattern of operation in compliance with the requirements of this division and regulations adopted pursuant to this division.
(3) The operator of the recycling center notifies the department promptly of any material change in the nature of the operator’s operations that conflicts with information submitted in the operator’s application for certification.
(c) (1) An applicant for certification as a recycling center, and a recycling center applying for renewal of a certification, shall complete
the precertification training program required by this subdivision and meet all other qualification requirements prescribed by the department, which may include, but are not
limited to, a requirement that the applicant obtain a passing score on an examination administered by the department.
(2) The department may use staff or industry experts, or may seek expertise available in other state agencies, to provide the training program required by this subdivision, which shall include providing technical assistance to better prepare recycling centers for successful participation in this division, thereby reducing the potential for errors, fraud, or other activities that compromise the integrity of the implementation of this division.
(d) A certified recycling center shall comply with all of the following requirements for
operation:
(1) The operator of the recycling center shall not pay a refund value for, or receive a refund value from the beverage container stewardship organization for, any food or drink packaging material, or any beverage container or other product that does not have a refund value established pursuant to Section 14560.
(2) The operator of a recycling center shall take actions that satisfy the department to prevent the payment of a refund value for any food or drink packaging material or any beverage container or other product that does not have a refund value established pursuant to Section 14560.
(3) Unless exempted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 14570.2, a certified recycling center shall accept, and pay at least the refund value for, all empty beverage containers, regardless of type.
(4) A certified recycling center shall not pay any refund values to a noncertified recycler.
(5) A certified recycling center shall not pay any refund values on empty beverage containers or other containers that the certified recycling center knew, or should have known, were coming into the state from out of the state, or are otherwise ineligible for redemption.
(6) A certified recycling center shall not claim refund values on empty beverage containers that the certified recycling center knew, or should have known, were received from noncertified recyclers or on beverage containers that the certified recycling center knew, or should have known, come from out of the state, or are otherwise ineligible for redemption.
(7) A certified recycling center shall prepare and maintain the following documents involving empty beverage containers, as specified by the department by regulation:
(A) Shipping reports that are required to be prepared by the recycling center, or that
are required to be obtained from other recycling centers.
(B) Consumer transaction receipts.
(C) Consumer transaction logs.
(D) Rejected container receipts on materials subject to this division.
(E) Receipts for transactions with beverage manufacturers on materials subject to this division.
(F) Receipts for
transactions with distributors on materials subject to this division.
(G) Documents authorizing the recycling center to cancel the refund value of empty beverage containers.
(H) Weight tickets.
(8) A certified recycling center shall comply with any operational requirements established by the beverage container stewardship organization in its plan under Section 42984.13.
(e) The department shall conduct regular, unannounced inspections of certified recycling centers for the purpose of determining
that the requirements of this division are satisfied. The department shall assess civil penalties pursuant to Section 14591.1 for violations at certified recycling centers.
(f) For purposes of this section, a “recycling center” includes a mobile recycling program.
14539.
(a) (1) The department shall certify processors pursuant to this section.(2) The department shall review whether an application for certification or renewal is complete within 30 working days of receipt, including compliance with subdivision (c). If the department deems an application complete, the department shall approve or deny the application no later than 60 calendar days after the date when the application was deemed complete.
(b) The director shall adopt, by
regulation, requirements and standards for certification. The regulations, in addition to any other appropriate provisions, shall require that all of the following conditions be met for certification:
(1) The processor demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the processor will operate in accordance with this division.
(2) If one or more certified entities have operated at the same location within the past five years, the operations at the location of the processor exhibit, to the satisfaction of the department, a pattern of operation in compliance with the requirements of this division and regulations adopted pursuant to this division.
(3) The processor notifies the department promptly of any material change in the nature of the processor’s operations that conflicts with the information submitted in the operator’s application for certification.
(c) (1) An applicant for certification as a processor and a processor applying for renewal of a certification shall complete the precertification training program required by this subdivision and meet all other qualification requirements prescribed by the department, which may include, but are not limited to, a requirement that the applicant obtain a passing score on an examination administered by the department.
(2) The department may use staff or industry experts, or may seek expertise available in other state agencies, to provide the training program required by this subdivision, which shall include providing technical assistance to better prepare processors for successful participation in this division, thereby reducing the potential for errors, fraud, or other activities that compromise the integrity of the implementation of this division.
(d) A certified processor shall comply with all of the following requirements for operation:
(1) Unless exempted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 14570.2, the processor
shall accept all empty beverage containers, regardless of type, for which the processor is certified.
(2) A processor shall take the actions necessary and approved
by the department to cancel containers to render them unfit for redemption.
(3) A processor shall prepare or maintain the following documents involving empty beverage containers, as specified by the department by regulation:
(A) Shipping reports that are required to be prepared by the processor or that are required to be obtained from recycling centers.
(B) Processor reports regarding empty beverage containers received.
(C) Cancellation verification documents.
(D) Documents authorizing recycling centers to cancel empty beverage containers.
(E) Processor-to-processor transaction receipts.
(F) Rejected container receipts on materials subject to this division.
(G) Receipts for transactions with beverage manufacturers on materials subject to this division.
(H) Receipts for transactions with distributors on materials subject to this division.
(I) Weight tickets.
(4) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (2), a processor shall cooperate with the department and make available its records of scrap transactions when the review of these records is necessary for an audit or investigation by the department.
14539.5.
(a) The department shall certify dropoff and collection programs pursuant to this section. The director shall adopt, by regulation, requirements and standards for certification, and a dropoff or collection program shall meet all of the standards and requirements contained in those regulations for certification. The regulations shall require that all information be submitted to the department under penalty of perjury. The regulations shall require, in addition to any other conditions that may be imposed by the department, that both of the following conditions be met for certification:(1) The dropoff or
collection program demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the department, that the dropoff or collection program will operate in accordance with this division.
(2) The dropoff or collection program notifies the department promptly of any material change in the nature of its operations that conflicts with the information submitted in the application for certification.
(b) A certified dropoff or collection program shall not receive a refund value on an empty beverage container that the certified dropoff or collection program knew, or should have known, was received from a noncertified recycler, on any beverage container that the certified dropoff or collection program knew
or should have known came from out of this state, or any other beverage container or other product that does not have a refund value established pursuant to Section 14560.
14539.7.
(a) The department shall register the operators of curbside programs pursuant to this section.(b) Each curbside program that recycles empty beverage containers shall register with the department for an identification number. A curbside program shall not receive compensation for recycling empty beverage containers without a valid identification number.
(c) The director shall adopt, by regulation, a procedure for the registration of curbside programs. This procedure shall include standards
and requirements for registration. These regulations shall require that all information be submitted to the department under penalty of perjury. A curbside program shall meet all of the standards and requirements contained in the regulations for registration.
(d) The department shall require that the identification numbers received pursuant to this section be used on shipping reports pursuant to Sections 14538 and 14539 for material collected by curbside programs and on all other reports or documentation required by the department to administer this division.
(e) An operator of a curbside program registered pursuant to this section shall be deemed a certificate holder
for purposes of this division.
14540.
The department may review and verify all applications for certification of recycling centers and processors, and may conduct a comprehensive field investigation of any applicant in any manner that the department deems necessary to promote the purposes of this division. This division does not prohibit the department from certifying the same location or entity as both a processor and a recycling center. 14541.
(a) The department may issue a certificate pursuant to an initial or renewal application for certification as probationary, and the department may issue any other certificate as probationary pursuant to an enforcement action.(b) A probationary certificate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued for a limited period of not more than two years. Before the end of the probationary period, the department shall issue a nonprobationary certificate, extend the probationary period for not more than one year, or, after notice to the probationary certificate holder, revoke the probationary certificate. Subsequent to
the revocation, the former probationary certificate holder may
request a hearing, which, notwithstanding Section 11445.20 of the Government Code, shall be conducted in the same form as a hearing for an applicant whose original application for certification is denied.
(c) If a hearing is requested pursuant to subdivision (b) and the party requesting the hearing fails to appear on the date scheduled, and does not notify the department at least five days before the hearing date that the party will not appear, the department may recover from the party all costs and fees incurred by the department, including attorney’s and expert’s fees, and any other cost associated with preparing for, or conducting, the hearing.
(d) If conditions are imposed on the certificate holder as part of a disciplinary proceeding conducted pursuant to Section 14591.2, the certificate shall be considered probationary. If, at any time, the certificate holder violates any term or condition of the probationary certificate, the certificate may be revoked or suspended, after three days’ notice, without any further hearing by the department.
14541.2.
The department may charge a fee for any certification, or renewal thereof, issued pursuant to this chapter. The fee shall not exceed the reasonable costs of the department to certify, register, or renew the certification or registration.14541.4.
Any certification or registration granted by the department is a privilege and not a vested right or interest. 14550.
(a) (1) Every processor shall report to the department for each month the amount of empty beverage containers, by material type and weight of container or material, excluding refillable beverage containers, received from a recycler for recycling. Every processor shall also report to the department for each month the amount of other postfilled aluminum, glass, and plastic food and drink packaging materials sold filled to consumers in this state and returned for recycling.(2) The department shall treat all information reported pursuant to this section by a processor as commercial or financial information
subject to the procedures established pursuant to
Section 14554.
(b) Every distributor who sells or offers for sale in this state beverages in aluminum beverage containers, nonaluminum metal beverage containers, glass beverage containers, plastic beverage containers, or other beverage containers, including refillable beverage containers of these types, shall report to the department for each month the number of beverages sold in these beverage containers in this state that are labeled pursuant to Section 14561, by material type and size and weight of container or any other method as the department may prescribe.
(c) Every distributor who sells or offers for sale in this state beverages in
refillable beverage containers and who pays a refund value to distributors, dealers, or consumers who return these
containers for refilling, shall report to the department for each month the number of these beverage containers returned empty to be refilled, by material type and size of container or any other method which the department may prescribe.
(d) The reports required by this section shall be submitted within 10 days after each month, in the form and manner that the department may prescribe. However, a distributor may, upon the approval of the department, submit these reports annually to the department.
14551.
(a) The department shall establish reporting periods for the reporting of redemption rates and recycling rates. Each reporting period shall be six months. The department shall determine all of the following for each reporting period and shall issue a report on its determinations, within 130 days of the end of each reporting period:(1) Sales of beverages in aluminum beverage containers, bimetal beverage containers, glass beverage containers, plastic beverage containers, and other beverage containers in this state, including refillable beverage containers.
(2) Returns for recycling, and returns not for recycling, of empty aluminum beverage containers, bimetal beverage containers, glass beverage containers, plastic beverage containers, and other beverage containers in this state, including refillable beverage containers returned to distributors pursuant to Section 14570.3. These numbers shall be calculated using the average current weights of beverage containers, as determined and reported by the department. To these numbers shall be added and separately reported the following, if greater than, or equal to, zero:
(A) All empty postfilled aluminum, glass, and plastic food or drink packaging materials sold in the state, returned for recycling, and reported by weight to the
department that do not have a refund value less the number specified in subparagraph (B).
(B) The number of beverage containers that comprise the first five percentage points of the redemption rate without including the empty postfilled aluminum, glass, and plastic food or drink packaging materials sold in the state, returned for recycling and reported by weight to the department that do not have a refund value.
(3) An aluminum beverage container redemption rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty aluminum beverage containers returned, including refillable aluminum beverage containers and empty postfilled aluminum food or drink packaging
material included in paragraph (2), and the denominator of which shall be the number of aluminum beverage containers sold in this state.
(4) An aluminum beverage container recycling rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty aluminum beverage containers returned for recycling, including refillable aluminum beverage containers, and the denominator of which shall be the number of aluminum beverage containers sold in this state.
(5) A bimetal beverage container redemption rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty bimetal beverage containers returned, and the denominator of which shall be the number of bimetal beverage containers
sold in this state.
(6) A bimetal beverage container recycling rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty bimetal containers returned for recycling, including refillable bimetal beverage containers, and the denominator of which shall be the number of bimetal beverage containers sold in this state.
(7) A glass beverage container redemption rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty glass beverage containers returned, including refillable glass beverage containers and empty postfilled food or drink packaging materials included in paragraph (2), and the denominator of which shall be the number of glass beverage containers sold in this
state.
(8) A glass beverage container recycling rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty glass beverage containers returned for recycling, including refillable glass beverage containers, and the denominator of which shall be the number of glass beverage containers sold in this state.
(9) A plastic beverage container redemption rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty plastic beverage containers returned, including refillable plastic beverage containers and empty postfilled food or drink packaging materials included in paragraph (2), and the denominator of which shall be the number of plastic beverage containers sold in this state.
(10) A plastic beverage container recycling rate, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty plastic beverage containers returned for recycling, including refillable plastic beverage containers, and the denominator of which shall be the number of plastic beverage containers sold in this state.
(11) A redemption rate for other beverage containers, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty beverage containers other than those containers specified in paragraphs (1) to (10), inclusive, returned, and the denominator of which shall be the number of beverage containers, other than those containers specified in paragraphs (1) to (10), inclusive, sold in this state.
(12) A recycling rate for other beverage containers, the numerator of which shall be the number of empty beverage containers other than those containers specified in paragraphs (1) to (10), inclusive, returned for recycling, and the denominator of which shall be the number of beverage containers, other than those containers specified in paragraphs (1) to (10), inclusive, sold in this state.
(13) The department may define categories of other beverage containers, and report a redemption rate and a recycling rate for each such category of other beverage containers.
(14) The volumes of materials collected from
certified recycling centers, by city or county, as requested by the city or county, if the reporting is consistent with the procedures established pursuant to Section 14554 to protect proprietary information.
(b) The department shall determine the manner of collecting the information for the reports specified in subdivision (a), including establishing procedures, to protect any proprietary information concerning the sales and purchases.
14551.4.
The department shall make available the information collected pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 14551, concerning the volumes of materials collected from certified recycling centers, only to a governmental agency that requests the information, including a city or county, or an entity specifically designated by the city or county to receive the information if the entity requests the information, if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The request is made in writing.
(b) All information provided by
the department is provided using the aggregate amounts collected in the city or county unless the city or county, or an entity specifically designated by the city or county to receive the information, requests the information provided by each individual certified recycling center.
(c) All information provided to the governmental agency, including a city or county, or an entity specifically designated by the city or county to receive the information, is considered proprietary and confidential in nature and protected in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 14551 of the Public Resources Code, Section 14554 of the Public Resources Code, and subdivision (e) of Section 6254.5 of the Government Code.
14551.5.
(a) On or before March 1 of each year, a manufacturer of a beverage sold in a plastic beverage container subject to the refund value shall report to the department the amount of virgin plastic and postconsumer recycled plastic used by the manufacturer for plastic beverage containers subject to the refund value for sale in the state in the previous calendar year. The manufacturer shall submit this information to the department under penalty of perjury.(b) The department shall post the information reported pursuant to subdivision (a) on the department’s internet website.
(c) This section does not apply to a refillable plastic beverage container.
14551.6.
Every glass container manufacturer shall report to the department each month, by a method as determined by the department, the amount of total tons of new glass food, drink, and beverage containers made in California by that glass container manufacturer and the tons of California postfilled glass used in the manufacturing of those new containers.14552.
(a) The department shall establish and implement an auditing system to ensure that the information collected complies with the purposes of this division. (b) (1) The department may audit or investigate any action taken up to five years before the onset of the audit or investigation and may determine if there was compliance with this division and the regulations adopted pursuant to this division, during that period.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of
law establishing a shorter statute of limitation, the department may take an enforcement action, including, but not limited to, an action to impose penalties, at any time within five years after the department discovers, or with reasonable diligence, should have discovered, a violation of this division or the regulations adopted pursuant to this division.
(c) (1) During the conduct duration of any inspection, including, but not limited to, an inspection conducted as part of an audit or investigation, the entity that is the subject of the inspection shall, during its normal
business hours, provide the department with immediate access to its facilities, operations, and any relevant record that, in the department’s judgment, is necessary to carry out this section to verify compliance with this division and the regulations adopted pursuant to this division.
(2) The department may take disciplinary action pursuant to Section 14591.2 against any person who fails to provide the department with access pursuant to this subdivision including, but not limited to, imposing penalties and the immediate suspension or termination of any certificate or registration held by the operator.
(3) The department shall protect any information obtained pursuant
to this section in accordance with Section 14554, except that this section does not prohibit the department from releasing any information as to which the department determines release to be necessary in the course of an enforcement action.
(d) The auditing system adopted by the department shall allow for reasonable shrinkage in material due to moisture, dirt, and foreign material. The department, after an audit by a qualified auditing firm and a hearing, shall adopt a standard to be used to account for shrinkage and shall incorporate this standard in the audit process.
14553.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), all reports, claims, and other information required pursuant to this division and submitted to the department shall be complete, legible, and accurate, as determined by the department by regulation, and shall be signed by an officer, director, managing employee, or owner of the certified recycling center, processor, distributor, beverage manufacturer, container manufacturer, or other entity.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person submitting the reports, claims, and other information specified in subdivision (a) shall use the Division of Recycling Integrated
Information System (DORIIS) or other system designated by the department for providing information required pursuant to this division.
(c) The department may inspect the operations, processes, and records of an entity required to submit a report to the department pursuant to this division to determine the accuracy of the report and compliance with the requirements of this division.
(d) (1) A violation of this section is subject to the penalties specified in Section 14591.1.
(2) The department may take an enforcement action against a certified
recycling center or processor that fails to comply with this section, including, but not limited to, imposing penalties or terminating the certification of the certified recycling center or processor.
14554.
The department shall establish procedures to protect any privileged, confidential, commercial, or financial information obtained while collecting information for carrying out the requirements of this division. Any privileged, confidential, commercial, or financial information obtained in confidence by the department is not a public record for purposes of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code. 14556.
(a) The department shall annually provide to the Legislature, pursuant to subdivision (b), at least the following information, based on information provided by the beverage container stewardship organization, if applicable, for the current fiscal year and the budget year:(1) An updated fund condition statement that includes the revenues, transfers, and expenditures into and out of the fund.
(2) The recycling rate, by beverage container material type.
(3) An explanation of significant changes to the fund condition statement from the prior report and significant changes to the methodology used for forecasting the fund condition statement.
(4) Projected sales, which include all actual data available since the last reporting period, by beverage container material type and size, and actual or projected returns, which include all actual data available since the last reporting period, by beverage container material type, including an explanation in any case where the actual returns are more than 100 percent of actual sales.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 9795 of the
Government Code, the department shall annually provide a written copy of the information
required pursuant to subdivision (a) to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature and shall also post the most recent information required pursuant to subdivision (a) on the department’s internet website.
CHAPTER
5. Minimum Refund Value and Labeling
14560.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a beverage container with a capacity of 24 fluid ounces of or less, sold or offered for sale in this state, shall have a refund value of not less than five cents ($0.05). A beverage container with a capacity of 24 fluid ounces or more shall have a refund value of not less than ten cents ($0.10).(b) If the department determines that, in each of the two calendar years 2029 and 2030, or in each of any two consecutive calendar years thereafter, the aggregate
recycling rate for all beverage containers subject to this chapter is less than 75 percent, the department shall provide recommendations to the Legislature within six months of that determination on ways to increase the aggregate recycling rate.
(c) The refund value established pursuant to this section does not apply to a refillable beverage container.
14560.5.
(a) In accordance with the methodology established pursuant to Section 42984.13, a dealer shall forward to the distributor any refund values for beverage containers filled with a beverage sold by the distributor to the dealer, and the distributor shall forward those moneys to the beverage container stewardship organization.(b) To the extent technically and economically feasible, a dealer may separately identify the amount of any refund value that is applied to the purchase of a beverage container on the customer cash register receipt provided to the consumer by the dealer.
(c) (1) A dealer at a dealer location with a sales and storage area totaling more than 4,000 square feet shall separately identify the amount of any refund values imposed on a beverage container in all advertising of beverage products and on the shelf labels of the dealer’s establishment. The separate identification shall be accomplished by stating one of the following:
(A) The price of the beverage product plus a descriptive term, as described in paragraph (2).
(B) The price of the beverage product plus the amount of the applicable refund value and a descriptive term, as described in paragraph
(2).
(C) The price of the beverage product plus the amount of the applicable refund value, a descriptive term, as described in paragraph (2), and the total of these two amounts.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the refund value shall be identified by one of the following descriptive terms: “California Redemption Value,” “CA Redemption Value,” “California Refund Value,” “CA Refund Value,” “CRV,” “California Cash Refund,” “CA Cash Refund,” or any other message specified in Section 14561.
(3) A dealer shall not include the refund value in the
total price of a beverage container in any advertising or on the shelf of the dealer’s establishment.
(4) The penalties specified in Sections 14591 and 14591.1 shall not be applied to a person who violates this subdivision.
(d) With regard to the sale of beer and other malt beverages, wine, distilled spirits, or wine and distilled spirits cooler beverages, any amount of refund value imposed by this division is subject to Section 25509 of the Business and Professions Code.
14561.
(a) A beverage manufacturer shall clearly indicate on all beverage containers sold or offered for sale by that beverage manufacturer in this state the message “CA Redemption Value,” “California Redemption Value,” “California Refund Value,” “CA Refund Value,” “CA Cash Refund,” “California Cash Refund,” or “CA CRV,” by either printing or embossing the beverage container or by securely affixing a clear and prominent stamp, label, or other device to the beverage container.(b) Any refillable beverage container sold or offered for sale is exempt from the labeling requirements of subdivision (a). However, any
beverage manufacturer or container manufacturer may place upon, or affix to, a refillable beverage container, any message that the manufacturer determines to be appropriate relating to the refund value of the beverage container.
(c) A person shall not offer to sell, or sell to a consumer, a beverage container subject to subdivision (a) that has not been labeled pursuant to this section, except for a refillable beverage container that is exempt from labeling pursuant to subdivision (b).
(d) The department may require that a beverage container intended for sale in this state be printed, embossed, stamped, labeled, or otherwise marked with a universal product code or similar
machine-readable indicia.
(e) A beverage container labeled with the message specified in subdivision (a) shall have the minimum refund value established pursuant to Section 14560.
CHAPTER
6. Recycling and Convenience Zones
14570.
Unless otherwise specified by this chapter, the methods and processes for the redemption and recycling of empty beverage containers described in the beverage container stewardship plan developed under Section 42984.13 shall apply. 14570.1.
Every dealer shall post a clear and conspicuous sign of at least 10 inches by 15 inches at each public entrance to the dealer’s place of business, which specifies one of the following:(a) The name and address, as provided by the department, of at least the certified recycling center, location, or locations, nearest to the dealer, that redeems all types of empty beverage containers and the toll-free telephone number and internet website established by the department for the purpose of disseminating information regarding beverage container recycling opportunities.
(b) If no recycling location has been established in a convenience zone, procedures for redeeming beverage containers, as established by the beverage container stewardship organization under Section 42984.13.
14570.2.
(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a certified recycling center shall accept from any consumer or dropoff or collection program any empty beverage container, and shall pay to the consumer or dropoff or collection program the refund value of the beverage container.(2) A recycling center may pay the refund value based on the weight or quantity of returned containers. If the recycling center pays the refund value based on weight of returned containers, the certified recycling center shall, for beverage containers redeemed by consumers, pay the refund value using the
applicable segregated rate, as defined in paragraph (43) of subdivision (a) of Section 2000 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on September 1, 2013.
(b) Any recycling center or processor that was in existence on January 1, 1986, and that refused, as of January 1, 1986, to accept at a particular location a certain type of empty beverage container may continue to refuse to accept at the location the type or types of empty beverage containers that the recycling center or processor refused to accept as of January 1, 1986. A certified recycling center that refuses, pursuant to this subdivision, to accept a certain type or types of empty beverage containers is not eligible to receive incentive payments unless the center agrees to accept all types of empty beverage containers and is a supermarket site. This subdivision
does not preclude the certified recycling center from receiving an incentive payment for beverage containers redeemed at supermarket sites that do accept all types of containers.
(c) The department shall develop procedures by which recycling centers and processors that meet the criteria of subdivision (b) may recertify to change the material types accepted.
(d) (1) Only a certified recycling center may pay the refund value to consumers or dropoff or collection programs.
(2) A person shall not receive or retain, for empty beverage containers that come from out of state, any refund values.
14570.3.
A certified recycling center, other than a reverse vending machine, shall accept from any consumer or any dropoff or collection program and pay the applicable deposit for any refillable empty beer and other malt beverage container. The certified recycling center shall return, or cause to be returned, the refillable beer and other malt beverage container to the beer and other malt beverage distributor or any willing purchaser, who shall then pay the deposit to the recycling center. The beer and other malt beverage distributor or other purchaser shall also negotiate an incentive payment with the recycling center for the return of these containers. 14570.4.
A processor shall make a payment to a recycling center or dropoff or collection program, for all types of empty beverage containers, by type of beverage container, received by the processor from the recycling center or dropoff or collection program, upon receipt by the processor of a shipping report from the supplier of the material, in a form and an amount determined in accordance with the methodology established under Section 42984.13.14570.6.
A dropoff or collection program shall not pay any refund value to the consumer. 14571.
The beverage container stewardship organization shall annually designate all convenience zones, as specified in Section 42984.13.14571.6.
In any convenience zone where no recycling location has been established that satisfies the requirements of this division and the requirements established under the beverage container stewardship plan, and in any convenience zone that has exceeded the 60-day period for the establishment of a recycling center pursuant to Section 14571.7, the beverage container stewardship organization shall, until a recycling location has been established in that zone, pay to the department for deposit in the fund the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) per day.14571.7.
In any convenience zone where a recycling location or locations were initially established, but where the location or locations cease to operate in accordance with this division and in accordance with requirements established under the beverage container stewardship plan, the department shall notify the beverage container stewardship organization that a recycling location is required to be established within 60 days within that convenience zone, and the beverage container stewardship organization shall establish, or cause to be established, a recycling location within that convenience zone.14571.8.
A lease entered into by a dealer after January 1, 1987, shall not contain a leasehold restriction that prohibits or results in the prohibition of the establishment of a recycling location. 14572.
(a) The department shall supply all certified processors with a standardized rejection form that shall include, but not be limited to, the names of the parties rejecting the postfilled beverage container material, the date of the rejections, the reasons for the rejections, the amount of rejected material, and a detailed accounting of the steps taken by the processor and container manufacturer to avert landfilling or disposal of the material, as required by subdivision (c) of Section 14573.(b) Every container manufacturer shall fill out the standardized rejection form specified in subdivision (a) whenever
that container manufacturer rejects a load of redeemed beverage container materials physically delivered to the manufacturer’s place of business and offered for sale by a certified processor. The rejection form shall be filled out by the container manufacturer at the time of the rejection and immediately given to the certified processor for submission to the department. Any container manufacturer who refuses to fill out the standardized rejection form required by this subdivision is in violation of this division and is subject to the fines and penalties in Sections 14591 and 14591.1.
(c) If a processor has made a good faith effort, as determined by the department, to locate a willing purchaser and is unsuccessful, the processor may fill out the standardized rejection form specified
in subdivision (a) and submit it to the department. The processor rejection form shall include, but is not limited to, the name of the processor, the container manufacturers manufacturers, and other potential purchasers contacted, a detailed accounting of the methods used to contact the potential buyers, the date of the rejections, the reasons given for the rejections, the amount of postfilled beverage container material rejected, and any other steps taken to avert landfilling or disposal of the material.
(d) If a container manufacturer rejects a load of postfilled containers by telephone, written correspondence
of any kind, or other similar method, the container manufacturer shall, in a manner prescribed by the department, keep accurate logbooks of the offer of loads by the certified processor, and make that logbook available for inspection by the department upon demand. The logbook shall contain, in addition to any other information, the same information required in the rejection form pursuant to subdivision (a).
(e) The standardized rejection form specified in subdivision (a) shall be submitted to the department by the certified processor with the written request to dispose of the redeemed material submitted pursuant to Section 14573. This material shall not be disposed of without a written authorization to do so by the department pursuant to Section 14573. The department shall provide
a copy of the rejection form to the beverage container stewardship organization.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to lessen certified processors’ and container manufacturers’ responsibilities relating to beverage container recycling, or diminish in any way the department’s authority to carry out the intent and goals of this division.
14573.
(a) (1) A certified processor seeking to dispose of rejected postfilled containers shall not dispose of rejected postfilled containers unless the certified processor first submits to the department, in writing, a request to dispose of the rejected material. A certified processor shall not dispose of the rejected material prior to obtaining written permission from the department, except that if the department fails to respond to a written request to dispose of rejected postfilled beverage container materials within 10 days of receipt of the request, the processor’s request for disposal shall be deemed approved by the department.(2) If the department approves a request for disposal, or a request is deemed approved pursuant to paragraph (1), the certified processor shall notify the beverage container stewardship organization.
(b) All rejected loads of postfilled containers shall be made available to, and shall be subject to inspection by, the department.
(c) All possible steps to avert the disposal of the loads of postfilled containers, as determined by the department, shall be taken by all container manufacturers and processors. All transactions or attempted transactions involving rejecting postfilled containers shall be thoroughly documented on the standardized rejection form
pursuant to Section 14572. The container manufacturer and the certified processor are jointly and severally responsible for this effort.
CHAPTER
7.5. Penalties for Unfair Recycling Competition
14588.
It is the intent of the Legislature that incentive payments paid to supermarket site recycling centers by the beverage container stewardship organization only be used to offset the unique costs of providing convenient recycling opportunities to consumers at supermarket sites, and that those fees shall not be expended for the purpose of engaging in unfair and predatory competition in order to reduce recycling rates of other recycling centers certified pursuant to this division. 14588.1.
As used in this chapter, “unfair and predatory pricing” means the payment to consumers by a supermarket site, that receives incentive payments for the redemption of beverage containers, in an amount that exceeds the sum of both of the following:(a) The California refund value for that container.
(b) The scrap value for that container.
14588.2.
(a) To ensure that incentive payments paid to a supermarket site are not used for the purpose of engaging in unfair and predatory pricing, and to otherwise further the intent of this chapter, the department shall follow all of the requirements of this section upon the complaint of either of the following:(1) Any certified recycler located within five miles of the supermarket site alleged to have engaged in unfair and predatory pricing if not located in a rural region.
(2) Any certified recycler
located within 10 miles of the supermarket site alleged to have engaged in unfair and predatory pricing if located in a rural region.
(b) (1) (A) Within 50 days of receiving the complaint, the department shall complete an audit of the payments for the redemption of beverage containers being paid by the supermarket site, and by other certified recycling centers, as specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C), for the purpose of determining whether the supermarket site is engaged in unfair and predatory pricing.
(B) If the supermarket site is not located in a rural region, certified recycling centers located within a 5-mile
five-mile radius of the supermarket site.
(C) If the supermarket site is located in a rural region, certified recycling centers located within a 10-mile radius of the supermarket site.
(2) The department shall withhold from public disclosure any proprietary information collected by the department in the course of the audit mandated by paragraph (1). The department shall exercise its discretion in determining what information is proprietary.
(c) (1) If the director determines there is probable cause that a supermarket site, against which a complaint has been made, has engaged in unfair and
predatory pricing, the director shall, within 60 days of receiving the complaint, convene an informal hearing before the director, or the director’s designee.
(2) At least 10 days before the hearing, the director shall forward the results of the audit to the complainant and respondent.
(3) At the hearing, the director, or the director’s designee, shall review the audit conducted pursuant to subdivision (b) and any evidence presented by the complainant that a supermarket site has engaged in unfair and predatory pricing. The director, or the director’s designee, shall also review any evidence presented by the respondent that the respondent has not engaged in unfair
and predatory pricing.
(4) The respondent shall be given the opportunity, if believed to have been engaged in unfair and predatory pricing, to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director, or the director’s designee, that the respondent made a good faith effort to ascertain the scrap value within 30 days before the date of the alleged violation and used that value as ascertained in setting payments to consumers. This shall be deemed to not be unfair and predatory pricing.
(5) The director, or the director’s designee, may dismiss a complaint made pursuant to subdivision (a) upon determining either of the following:
(A) The complaint is without basis.
(B) The complaint is repetitious of prior similar complaints against the same supermarket site for which the director or the director’s designee has determined that no unfair and predatory pricing occurred.
(d) Within 20 days of the completion of the hearing, the director, or the director’s designee, shall determine whether the supermarket site has engaged in unfair and predatory pricing. This determination shall be based upon the audit conducted pursuant to subdivision (b), and upon any clear and convincing evidence of unfair and predatory pricing presented at the hearing.
(e) During the time period from the date of the receipt of a complaint pursuant to subdivision (a), until the date the director makes a determination pursuant to subdivision (d), the supermarket site against which the allegation of unfair and predatory pricing is made shall not receive incentive payments that were earned during the period commencing with the date of the alleged unfair and predatory pricing. However, nothing in this subdivision shall
affect the payment of incentive payments to a supermarket site that is found not to have engaged in unfair and predatory pricing pursuant to this section, or to the activities of a supermarket site prior to the date of the alleged unfair and predatory pricing.
(f) (1) If, after complying with the procedure established pursuant to this section, the director, or the director’s designee, determines that a supermarket site has engaged in unfair and predatory pricing, the site is ineligible to receive incentive payments as specified by this section.
(2) If the determination of unfair and predatory pricing is the first for the
site, the site is ineligible to receive incentive payments for six months from the date that the respondent is found to have engaged in unfair and predatory pricing.
(3) If the determination of unfair and predatory pricing is the second for the site, the site is ineligible to receive incentive payments for one year from the date that the respondent is found to have engaged in unfair and predatory pricing.
(4) If the determination of unfair and predatory pricing is the third or more for the site, the site is ineligible to receive incentive payments for five years after the date that the respondent is found to have engaged in unfair and predatory pricing.
(g) The complainant or respondent may obtain a review of the
determination made pursuant to this section by filing in the superior court a petition for a writ of mandate within 30 days following the issuance of the determination. Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall govern judicial proceedings pursuant to this subdivision, except that the court shall exercise its independent judgment. If a petition for a writ of mandate is not filed within the time limits set forth in this subdivision, the determination made pursuant to this subdivision is not subject to review by any court or agency.
(h) If either party appeals the determination of the director, or the director’s designee, pursuant to subdivision (g), and the department prevails, the department may recover any costs associated with its defense of the
complaint.
CHAPTER
8. Severability and Enforcement
14590.
If any provision of this division or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the this division that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this division are severable. 14591.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), in addition to any other applicable civil or criminal penalties, a person convicted of a violation of this division, or a regulation adopted pursuant to this division, is guilty of an infraction, which is punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for each initial separate violation and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent separate violation per day.(b) (1) Every person who, with intent to defraud, knowingly takes any of the following actions is guilty of a crime:
(A) Fails to accurately report the number of beverage containers sold, as required by subdivision (b) of Section 14550.
(B) Redeems out-of-state containers, rejected containers, line breakage, or containers that have already been redeemed.
(C) Returns redeemed containers to the California marketplace for redemption.
(D) Brings out-of-state containers, rejected containers, or line breakage to the California marketplace for redemption.
(E) Submits a false or fraudulent claim for incentive payments pursuant to Section 14585.
(2) If the money obtained or withheld pursuant to paragraph (1) exceeds nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), a person convicted of a crime pursuant to paragraph (1) is subject to punishment by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months, 2 two years, or 3
three years, by a fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or twice the late or unmade payments plus interest, whichever is greater, or by both that fine and imprisonment. If the money obtained or withheld pursuant to paragraph (1) equals, or is less than, nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), the person is subject to punishment by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(c) For purposes of this section and Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 14595), “line breakage” and “rejected container” have the same meanings as defined in the regulations adopted or amended by the department pursuant to this division.
14591.1.
(a) (1) The department may assess a civil penalty upon a person who violates this division in an amount greater than one thousand dollars ($1,000) pursuant to this division and any regulations adopted pursuant to this division only after notice and hearing in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.(2) The department may assess a civil penalty upon a person who violates this division in an amount equal to, or less than, one thousand dollars ($1,000), using a notice of violation process established by regulation
and may use an informal hearing process pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 11445.10) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(3) Each violation of this division is a separate violation and each day of the violation is a separate violation. The department shall deposit all revenues from civil penalties in the Penalty Account specified in subdivision (c) of Section 14580.
(b) Any person who intentionally or negligently violates this division may be assessed a civil penalty by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each separate violation, or for continuing violations, for
each day that violation occurs.
(c) Any person who violates this division by an action not subject to subdivision (b) may be assessed a civil penalty by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each separate violation, or for continuing violations, for each day that violation occurs.
(d) A person shall not be liable for a civil penalty imposed under subdivision (b) and for a civil penalty imposed under subdivision (c) for the same act or failure to act.
(e) In determining the amount of penalties
to be imposed pursuant to this division, the department shall take into consideration the nature, circumstances, extent extent, and gravity of the violation, the costs associated with bringing the action and, with respect to the violator, the ability to pay, the degree of culpability, compliance history, and any other matters that justice may require.
14591.2.
(a) The department may take disciplinary action against any party responsible for directing, contributing to, participating in, or otherwise influencing the operations of an entity certified under this division. A responsible party includes, but is not limited to, the certificate holder, registrant, officer, director, or managing employee. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the department shall provide a notice and hearing in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code before taking any disciplinary action against a certificate holder.(b) All of the following are grounds for disciplinary action, in the form determined by the department in accordance with subdivision (c):
(1) The responsible party engaged in fraud or deceit to obtain a certificate or registration.
(2) The responsible party engaged in dishonesty, incompetence, negligence, or fraud in performing the functions and duties of a certificate holder or registrant.
(3) The responsible party violated this division or any regulation adopted pursuant to this division.
(4) The responsible party is convicted of any crime of moral turpitude or fraud, any crime involving dishonesty, or any crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a certificate holder.
(c) The department may take disciplinary action pursuant to this section, section by taking any one of, or any combination of, the following:
(1) Immediate revocation of the certificate or registration, or revocation
of a certificate or registration as of a specific date in the future.
(2) Immediate suspension of the certificate or registration for a specified period of time, or suspension of the certificate or registration as of a specific date in the future. Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may impose a suspension of five days or less through an informal notice, if the action is subject to a stay on appeal, pending an informal hearing convened in accordance with Article 10 (commencing with Section 11445.10) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(3) Imposition on the certificate or registration of any condition that
the department determines would further the goals of this division.
(4) Issuance of a probationary certificate or registration with conditions determined by the department.
(5) Imposition of civil penalties pursuant to Section 14591.1.
(6) Suspension for a specified period of time or permanent revocation of eligibility of a supermarket site, rural region recycler, or a nonprofit convenience zone recycler to receive incentive payments at one or more of the certificate holder’s certified recycling centers.
(d) The department may do any of the following in taking disciplinary action pursuant to this section:
(1) If a certificate holder or registrant holds certificates or is registered to operate at more than one site or to operate in more than one capacity at one location, such as an entity certified as both a processor and a recycling center, the department may simultaneously revoke, suspend, or impose conditions upon some, or all, of the certificates held by the responsible party.
(2) If the responsible party is an officer, a
director, a partner, a manager, an employee, or the owner of a controlling ownership interest of another certificate holder or registrant, that other operator’s certificate or registration may also be revoked, suspended, or conditioned by the department in the same proceeding, if the other certificate holder or registrant is given notice of that proceeding, or in a subsequent proceeding.
14591.3.
In any civil or administrative action brought pursuant to this division in which the department prevails, the department may assess against the defendant or respondent any costs and fees, including attorney’s and expert’s fees, and the cost of the investigation and hearing, that are a result of bringing the civil or administrative action against the defendant or respondent. In the same action, the defendant or respondent may claim from the department any costs and fees incurred in defending or responding to any action brought by the department in which the defendant or respondent prevails, upon a finding that the department’s action was clearly frivolous or lacking in significant merit. 14591.5.
After the time for judicial review under Section 11523 of the Government Code has expired, the department may apply to the small claims court or superior court, depending on the jurisdictional amount and any other remedy sought, in the county where the penalties or other remedy was imposed by the department, for a judgment to collect any unpaid civil penalties or to enforce any other remedy provided by this division. The application, which shall include a certified copy of the final agency order or decision, shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment. The court clerk shall enter the judgment immediately in conformity with the application. The judgment so entered shall have the same force and effect as, and shall
be subject to all the provisions of law relating to, a judgment in a civil action, and may be enforced in the same manner as any other judgment of the court. The court shall make enforcement of the judgment a priority. 14591.6.
(a) When a person is engaged in recycling activity that violates this division, any regulation adopted pursuant to this division, or an order issued under this division, the department may issue an order to that person to cease and desist from that activity.(b) If a request for a hearing is filed in writing within 10 days of the date of service of the order described in subdivision (a), a hearing shall be held in accordance with Article 10 (commencing with Section 11445.10) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The director or the director’s designee shall determine
whether to sustain or reverse the cease and desist order. If sustained, the order shall become effective and final upon the issuance and service of the order.
(c) If no written request for a hearing is filed within 10 days of the date of service of the order described in subdivision (a), or if a party requesting the hearing does not appear at the hearing, the order shall be deemed the final order of the department and is not subject to review by any court or agency. This order shall become effective and final after the expiration of the 10-day period within which a hearing may be requested.
(d) If a hearing is requested pursuant to subdivision (b) and the party
requesting the hearing does not appear on the date scheduled, and fails to notify the department at least five days prior to the hearing date that the party will not appear, the department may recover from the party all costs and fees incurred by the department, including attorney’s and expert’s fees, and any other costs associated with preparing for, or conducting, the hearing.
(e) Upon the failure of any person or persons to comply with any cease and desist order issued by the department, the Attorney General, upon request of the department, shall petition the superior court for the issuance of a preliminary or permanent injunction, or both, as may be appropriate, restraining the person from continuing the activity in violation of the cease and desist order.
(f) The court shall issue an order directing defendants to appear before the court at a certain time and place and show cause why the injunction should not be issued. The court may grant the prohibitory or mandatory relief that may be warranted.
14594.5.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 14591.1, the department may assess upon any person, entity, or operation that redeems, attempts to redeem, or aids in the redemption of, empty beverage containers that have already been redeemed, or redeems, attempts to redeem, or aids in the redemption of, otherwise ineligible beverage containers, including, but not limited to, out-of-state containers or empty beverage container materials imported from out of state, a civil penalty of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per transaction, or an amount equal to three times the damage or potential damage, whichever is greater, plus costs as provided in Section 14591.3, pursuant to notice and hearing in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section
11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.(b) For purposes of this section, the act of labeling a beverage container pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 14561 shall not, in and of itself, be deemed to aid in the redemption of ineligible beverage containers.
CHAPTER
8.5. Reporting Requirements and Payment Prohibitions Related to Out-of-State and Other Ineligible Containers
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. 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. 14595.4.
For purposes of this chapter, “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.14595.5.
(a) (1) No A person shall not pay, claim, or receive any refund value or incentive payment 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) A person shall not, 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 beverage container stewardship organization shall take all reasonable steps to exclude beverage container material imported from out of state, previously redeemed containers, rejected containers, and line breakage when determining payments to curbside programs pursuant to a plan under Section 42984.13.
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 Department 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.
14597.
(a) A person shall not 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) A person shall not 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. A 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 disciplinary action pursuant to Section 14591.2, including, but not limited to, revocation of any certificate or registration.