The largest operator of California recycling centers, RePlanet, has closed all 284 of its centers, including two in Santa Clarita, officials said Wednesday.
RePlanet officials elected to stop operations because of increased business costs and falling prices of recycled aluminum and PET plastic, President David Lawrence said in a statement.
This decision, which resulted in the lay-off of all 750 employees, comes three years after RePlanet closed 191 of its recycling centers and laid off almost 300 employees.
The closures leaves fewer options for Santa Clarita residents to redeem their recyclables, which is especially concerning for those who rely on recycling for income.
Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit that studies issues in California’s recycling industry, estimated in a recent report that more than 40 percent of the state’s redemption centers have closed in the last five years.
These closures mean that statewide, California consumers are getting back only about half of their deposits on bottles and cans, according to the report.
As the California Refund Value (CRV) fee applies to all applicable beverage containers for recycling at the time of purchase, this seems to present a major issue when so many refund locations have been annihilated, officials said.
Consumer Watchdog noted that in 8 out of 9 other states that have similar refund systems, beverage retailers are required to take empty containers back in-store in addition to redemption centers.
CRV fees aside, the closures of RePlanet could also present a possible impact on the environment, as officials said it increases the likelihood of more pollutant containers being introduced into circulation in the form of more bottles made of aluminum and polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, which often end up in landfills.
People are more likely to either throw their recyclables directly into the garbage or place them in curbside recycling bins, which are often filled with contaminated material that must be discarded, according to officials.
While international routes are still an alternative, other countries such as China, which has bought much of the U.S.’s recyclable material, has become stricter about what kinds of material they will accept.
Environmental advocates have urged states to reform how it subsidizes recycling centers based on the concern that more recyclables will end up in landfills.
Earlier this year, California lawmakers proposed legislation that would require plastic and other single-use materials sold in the state to be either reusable, fully recyclable or compostable by 2030. The bill, AB 1080, passed the Assembly and is currently under consideration in the Senate.
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Yesterday I read this very story on another news site, word for word.
Since this is directed to SCV residents, why not find out where those
two sites are and let us in on the story?
What he said!
Exactly what I was going to say!
The guys at the Albertsons location were so rude and picky that a lot of people left for other places anyway.
This is the first time I’ve agreed with something you’ve posted here.
Where were the 2 Santa Clarita locations? That is important for your readers to know.
REPORTING 101
Who…………………..RePlanet
What………………….Going out of business
When…………………Wedmesday
Where………………..??????
Why…………………..increased business costs and falling recycled prices
SPELLING 101… Is Wedmesday called humb day two??
It took me a minute to Google the two locations. Seems like the reporter could have done this as well. Re-Planet is (was) located at the Albertsons in Saugus on Bouquet and at the Ralphs in Valencia on McBean.
Thanks… This reported blundered to say the least
“Reporter” blundered to say more.