SB 168, which would require CalRecycle to establish by 2023 minimum recycled content standards for metal, glass, or plastic beverage containers, passed the California Senate on January 29 and awaits consideration in the Assembly.

Earlier bill language required the creation of a beverage container stewardship program to replace the current California beverage container recycling program; current bill language instead requires CalRecycle, by Jan. 1, 2020, to study and report to the Legislature on replacing the current California beverage container recycling program with an extended producer responsibility system.

The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986 created the "Bottle Bill" program. After more than 30 years, the program has not generated strong in-state markets for recycled materials and SB 168 is intended to change that.

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