California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery

What California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery does

CalRecycle, formally California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, is a state regulatory agency operating under the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) since its 1989 founding under the California Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939). It is the sole state-level authority responsible for administering California's recycling, waste diversion, and producer stewardship programs, including the California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage container program, the Covered Electronic Waste program, the SB 1383 short-lived climate pollutant/organics reduction framework, Extended Producer Responsibility programs for packaging (SB 54), textiles (SB 707), batteries (SB 1215), mattresses, carpet, paint, and pharmaceuticals/sharps, plus disaster debris recovery operations following wildfires and other events.

The agency's product surface is operational rather than commercial: it runs a public website portal at calrecycle.ca.gov backed by a stack of compliance and reporting systems — PEPRS for packaging EPR, DORIIS for beverage container reporting, RDRS for disposal/recycling reporting, SWIS for solid-waste facility data, WTMS for tire manifests, GMS for grants administration, and a public-facing Where-to-Recycle center locator. There is no public-facing API or developer documentation disclosed. Programs are delivered through certified recycling centers, Local Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), local government partners, and the network of 614+ California jurisdictions, 200+ state agencies, K-12 school districts, and regulated businesses (recycling, composting, transfer, and disposal facilities).

The business model is non-commercial: CalRecycle is funded through annual California state budget appropriations, supplemented by program-specific transaction and stewardship fees (CRV deposits and redemptions, e-waste recycling fees, the SB 1215 battery surcharge capped at $15, and producer responsibility fees routed through designated PROs such as Circular Action Alliance and Landbell USA). It disburses roughly $40 million+ in grants annually to local governments, businesses, and research initiatives. Customer segments span California residents (the public), local governments, K-12 schools, regulated businesses, state agencies, and producers subject to EPR registration; pricing is unit-based for CRV, transaction-based for surcharges, and program-specific for stewardship fees. As of mid-2026 the agency operates with 501–1,000 employees across headquarters in Sacramento and offices in Cerritos, San Diego, Riverside, and West Sacramento, led by Director Zoe Heller (appointed May 2024).

Name

California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery

Legal name

California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery

Website

https://calrecycle.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

CalRecycle is a California state regulatory agency that administers statewide recycling, waste-diversion, and extended-producer-responsibility programs for residents, local governments, businesses, and producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Recycling and Waste Management Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), All Other Waste Management Services (56299)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA), Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA), Waste Management & Hazardous Waste Compliance (RCRA, Universal Waste, Waste Characterization/Manifests) (EUAHABAC), Donation, Reuse & Sustainability Returns Programs (TLAIAHAJ)

Keywords

• Recycling program administration
• Waste management regulation
• Extended producer responsibility
• Beverage container redemption
• Organic waste diversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. State Budget Appropriations: CalRecycle is funded primarily through California state budget appropriations to operate recycling and waste management programs statewide.
2. Recycling Fees and Deposits: The Beverage Container Recycling Program operates through California Redemption Value (CRV) fees collected at point of sale, refunded upon redemption at recycling centers.
3. Producer Responsibility Fees: Under SB 54 Extended Producer Responsibility program, producers pay fees to the Producer Responsibility Organization (Circular Action Alliance) to fund recycling programs.
4. E-Waste Recycling Fee: A recycling fee on covered electronic devices sold in California since January 1, 2005.
5. Battery Surcharge: 1.5% surcharge on products with non-removable batteries under SB 1215, capped at $15, to fund lithium battery collection and recycling programs.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CalRecycle is California's designated state department for recycling and waste management, administering beverage container redemption (CRV), e-waste and battery-embedded product stewardship, multi-stream Extended Producer Responsibility programs for packaging, textiles, paint, mattress, carpet, and pharmaceuticals, organic waste reduction (SB 1383), tire and used oil management, disaster debris recovery, and grant/loan funding for recycling infrastructure. It delivers these through a public website portal, internal tracking systems, certified recycling centers, and local government and LEA partners across California.

Product overview

CalRecycle operates as California's state regulatory agency managing a comprehensive portfolio of recycling and waste diversion programs through a public website portal and associated tracking/reporting systems. The core offerings include: the Beverage Container Recycling Program (BCRP) with California Redemption Value (CRV) handling; Extended Producer Responsibility programs covering packaging (SB 54), textiles (SB 707), batteries, paint, mattresses, carpet, and pharmaceuticals/sharps; Disaster Debris Recovery Operations; E-Waste Management; Organic Materials Management including SB 1383 implementation; Plastics and Tire Management; Used Oil Recycling; and a broad Funding/Grants/Loans portfolio. Supporting infrastructure includes PEPRS for packaging EPR compliance tracking, DORIIS for beverage container reporting, RDRS for disposal reporting, SWIS for facility database, WTMS for tire management, and the Grants Management System. The agency also provides public-facing tools including a Recycling Center Map locator. This is a government regulatory and informational platform rather than a commercial software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CalRecycle Public Website Portal The official CalRecycle public website portal (calrecycle.ca.gov) provides access to recycling information, compliance tools, grant applications, reporting systems, and program resources across all CalRecycle initiatives for California residents, businesses, local governments, and regulated entities.
• Beverage Container Recycling Program (BCRP) / California Redemption Value (CRV) Manages the California Redemption Value (CRV) program where consumers pay a redeemable fee on eligible beverage containers (aluminum, glass, plastic, bimetal, and wine/spirits in boxes/pouches) and receive refunds upon redemption at certified recycling centers; CRV rates are 5¢ for <24 oz containers, 10¢ for ≥24 oz containers, and 25¢ for wine/spirits in boxes, bladders, or pouches (effective January 1, 2024).
• Disaster Debris Recovery Operations Works with local governments to safely clean up properties after disasters such as wildfires and debris flow mudslides, coordinating removal of contaminated debris at no cost to property owners; 3 wildfire properties have been cleaned up through the program.
• Electronic Waste / Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) Recycling Program Provides convenient recycling for unwanted electronics, manages a recycling fee on covered electronic devices sold in California since January 1, 2005, and the Covered Battery-Embedded Products program under SB 1215 covering products with non-removable batteries (1.5% surcharge, capped at $15, effective January 1, 2026).
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programs Oversees multiple EPR/stewardship programs including the Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707), Responsible Battery Recycling, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54), and Pharmaceutical and Sharps, Mattress, Carpet, and Paint Stewardship programs. The SB 54 packaging EPR launches January 1, 2027 enforced by Circular Action Alliance.
• Organic Materials Management Program (SB 1383) Manages California's organic waste reduction programs including SB 1383 implementation, composting and mulch initiatives, food waste prevention, mandatory commercial organics recycling, and the food recovery hierarchy with 92% of required communities reporting residential organic waste collection.
• Plastics and Packaging Programs Addresses plastic waste through recycling initiatives, plastic trash bag regulations (10% recycled content requirement), plastic market development, and the Recycled Fiber, Plastic, and Glass Grant Program.
• Tire Management Program Regulates and manages waste tires in California with programs including tire-derived aggregate grants, tire incentive programs, rubberized asphalt concrete grants, tire equipment loans, and the Waste Tire Management System (WTMS) for haulers, facilities, and enforcement agencies.
• Used Oil Recycling Program Promotes alternatives to illegal disposal of used motor oil, certifying 3,000+ used oil collection centers, providing payments to local governments, and offering grants for research and used oil/filter collection programs.
• Funding, Grants, and Loans Programs Administers financial assistance programs including Used Oil Payment Program, Beverage Container Recycling Grants, Farm and Ranch Cleanup Grants, Tire-Derived Aggregate Grants, Tire Incentive Program, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Loans, and Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) Loans to support California recycling infrastructure.
• PEPRS - Packaging EPR Producer and Entity Portal CalRecycle's compliance tracking system for the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility program under SB 54, used by producers to register with the Producer Responsibility Organization (Circular Action Alliance) and report supply data.
• DORIIS - Division of Recycling Integrated Information System Internal information system for the Beverage Container Recycling Program, used for reporting and tracking by program participants including manufacturers, distributors, and recyclers.
• RDRS - Recycling and Disposal Reporting System Reporting system used by regulated businesses including solid waste facilities, composting facilities, disposal facilities, transfer/processor facilities, contract haulers, and brokers to report disposal and recycling data.
• SWIS - Solid Waste Information System Searchable database providing information on solid waste facilities, sites, and operations throughout California, including permit status, enforcement actions, and facility details.
• WTMS - Waste Tire Management System Online system for waste tire haulers, facilities, and enforcement agencies to manage tire tracking, manifests, and compliance, with separate portals for core inspectors, haulers, and manifests.
• Grants Management System (GMS) Online portal enabling applicants to apply for CalRecycle grant programs, access application tools, forms, grant writing tips, and scoring criteria.
• Where to Recycle / Recycling Center Map Public-facing geographic search tool allowing residents to find nearby recycling centers, e-waste collectors, beverage container redemption locations, used oil collection centers, and other recycling services by ZIP code.
• SB 1383 Implementation Tools and Resources Compliance assistance platform for SB 1383 (Short-Lived Climate Pollutants) providing progress tracking, compliance tools, waiver processing, and food recovery requirements for jurisdictions, schools, and food facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91 billion beverage containers collected since 1988
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Circular Action Alliance (CAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Circular Action Alliance is the designated Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) administering California's packaging extended producer responsibility program under SB 54. Producers must register with CAA by June 1, 2026, with the EPR program launching January 1, 2027.
• California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026CalRecycle is under CalEPA umbrella. OEHHA conducted the nine-year crumb rubber study contracted by CalRecycle in 2015, finding no significant health risks from synthetic turf fields.
• Better Play InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026The Better Play Initiative is using CalRecycle's nine-year crumb rubber study findings to guide community decision-making on synthetic turf adoption nationwide.
• Landbell USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Landbell USA operates California's first textile recycling program under the Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707). Selected by CalRecycle as the Producer Responsibility Organization for textiles.
• Pasadena Department of Public WorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2025Pasadena Department of Public Works partnered with CalRecycle's Used Oil Payment Program to host free used oil filter exchange events, funded through CalRecycle's statewide program.
• RethinkWasteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024RethinkWaste co-sponsored SB 1215 (battery surcharge legislation) and advocates for proper battery disposal and recycling programs administered by CalRecycle.
• California Product Stewardship CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-sponsored SB 1215 legislation and advocates for product stewardship approaches to battery recycling under CalRecycle administration.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Recology: Recology is a California-headquartered employee-owned waste and recycling company that operates collection, MRFs, and organics processing in markets directly regulated by CalRecycle (San Francisco, the Bay Area, and Northern California). It is the most California-specific operational peer to CalRecycle's regulatory footprint.
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): Oregon DEQ runs Oregon's statewide recycling and waste-management regulatory program — including Oregon's own EPR legislation for packaging — making it the closest state-government peer to CalRecycle in terms of mandate, structure, and recent legislative trajectory.
• Circular Action Alliance (CAA): CAA is the designated Producer Responsibility Organization administering California's SB 54 packaging EPR program on behalf of producers, in a direct partnership relationship with CalRecycle; it is the closest operational counterpart to CalRecycle within the EPR ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management, Inc. Waste Management is the largest North American solid waste and recycling services company, directly operating many of the collection, MRF, transfer, and disposal facilities that CalRecycle regulates and licenses. It is the most significant counterpart at the operational layer of CalRecycle's regulatory domain in California and nationally.
• Clean Harbors, Inc. Clean Harbors is a major hazardous-waste services provider subject to California waste permitting and manifesting rules administered by CalRecycle; comparable as a regulated operator handling a waste stream that CalRecycle oversees.
• Veolia Environment (Veolia North America): Veolia operates hazardous waste and recycling infrastructure across California regulated by CalRecycle, including e-waste and special-waste handling; it is comparable as a regulated operator in the same waste-management and environmental-services domain.
• Republic Services: Republic Services is a major national hauler/MRF operator subject to CalRecycle permitting, reporting (RDRS/SWIS), and recycling-rate compliance. Its California operations make it a direct interaction point with CalRecycle across collection, organics, and EPR-adjacent streams.

Regional players

• Casella Waste Systems: Casella is a Northeast US-focused vertically-integrated recycling and waste services operator; comparable as a regulated MRF and organics operator in the same broad category CalRecycle regulates, though it operates in a different geography than CalRecycle's California-only footprint.

Emerging players

• PaintCare: PaintCare operates California's paint stewardship program under CalRecycle oversight (listed on CalRecycle's 'What Can I Recycle?' page). It is a directly comparable EPR product-stewardship program administrator within CalRecycle's statewide mandate.
• The Recycling Partnership: The Recycling Partnership is a nonprofit that supports curbside recycling and EPR implementation across the US, including California (where it supported SB 54 implementation planning per source). It is comparable as an adjacent program-administration and technical-assistance partner in the circular-economy ecosystem CalRecycle governs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/calrecycle
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CalRecycle
• Facebookfacebook.com/CalRecycle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calrecycle
• Instagraminstagram.com/CaliforniaEPA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery