SB 402: Governor crushes opportunity to expand recycling

Even with strong support from retailers, water bottlers, cities, environmental groups and beer producers, the governor vetoed SB 402 (Wolk), which would have expanded California’s successful Bottle Bill. The governor’s veto dashed hopes of expanding the California Redemption Value system, balancing the Beverage Container Recycling Fund and restoring funding to the California Conservation Corps. The demise of SB 402 may result in the elimination of up to 5,000 recycling-related jobs and the closing of nearly 1,200 supermarket-based recycling centers.