of Laguna City of*

Due to the reduced availability of convenient CRV redemption sites and the lack of accurate online information, it is difficult for resident consumers to redeem CRV fees. Response: The City agrees with this finding. The closure of the former certified recycling center in Laguna Woods did make it more difficult for resident consumers to redeem CRV fees. However, at that time there were locations in Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo etc. But then some of those locations also closed. There are currently no certified recycling centers in Laguna Woods and only three obligated retailers in Laguna Woods providing in-store CRV redemption. Of the 10 certified recycling centers located nearest Laguna Woods, two are in the city of Aliso Viejo, four are in the city of Irvine, one is in the city of Lake Forest, and three are in the city of Mission Viejo. Furthermore, it has not been the City's experience that CalRecycle's online lists of certified recycling centers and obligated retailers are totally accurate, and to the extent that material inaccuracies exist, the City would agree that those inaccuracies would make it more difficult for resident consumers to redeem CRV fees.

Because redemption site locations have diminished in number, waste haulers are the beneficiaries to the CRV fees paid originally by resident consumers. Response: The City agrees with this finding. In Laguna Woods, it is reasonable to assume that with the reduced availability of convenient CRV redemption sites, resident consumers are increasingly choosing to dispose of beverage containers with CRV value in recycling containers collected by the waste hauler. To the extent that the waste hauler chooses to separate beverage containers and subsequently redeem CRV fees, the waste hauler would be the beneficiary of CRV fees paid originally by resident consumers.

CalRecycle is attempting to improve CRV redemption and reduce CRV recyclables from landfills and are offering financial incentives to do so. Orange County and its cities are not fully taking advantage of the grant or pilot program opportunities available through CalRecycle. Response: The City disagrees partially with this finding. The City agrees that CalRecycle is attempting to improve CRV redemption and reduce CRV recyclables from landfills and is offering financial incentives to do so. While the City is eligible to apply for CalRecycle's Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program, the program provides one-time funding for new or enhanced ongoing collection programs. The City has not applied for funding in recent years as it lacks the financial resources to ensure that new or enhanced ongoing collection programs are maintained beyond the grant term. With respect to CalRecycle's Beverage Container Redemption Pilot Project Grant Program, the City lacks sufficient resources to commit to conceptualizing, implementing, and administering a "new and innovative" type of redemption opportunity, and likewise is unable to provide reasonable assurance related to maintaining any prospective program beyond the pilot term. In light of the foregoing, the City disagrees that it is not fully taking advantage of the grant or pilot program opportunities available through CalRecycle. The City is not in a position to opine on efforts by the County of Orange or other cities.