California recycling cops arrest group suspected of hauling tons of cans into the state
A group of suspected recycling fraudsters allegedly hauled tons of bottles and cans into California from neighboring states in a scheme that cost a California recycling fund $2 million, state officials announced on Monday.
The 11 suspects allegedly brought cans from Arizona and Nevada, states where residents do not pay the 5- or 10-cent California Redemption Value deposit, into Los Angeles County, where they would recycle the cans and claim the deposit.
The suspects were arrested and charged with felony recycling fraud, conspiracy and grand theft following a four-month investigation by the California Department of Justice and CalRecycle.
“CalRecycle’s fraud prevention strategies are constantly evolving to protect public funds and make clear that fraudulent CRV redemption schemes will result in arrests, fines, and jail time,” CalRecycle Acting Director Ken DaRosa said in a statement.
Between Jan. 13 and Jan. 17, state law enforcement agents executed search warrants that netted more than 17,600 pounds of aluminum, more than 7,500 pounds of plastic and more than 2,400 pounds of glass, all with a potential redemption value of $38,899.
“Based on evidence and interviews, the scheme is estimated to have defrauded the California Redemption Value fund out of more than $2 million,” according to a CalRecycle statement.
Californians recycled 18.5 billion bottles and cans in 2018 and likely matched that volume in 2019, according to CalRecycle.
