Recycling Behavior and Convenience

Abstract This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the current state of California’s recycling policies. Specifically, we focus on the demand side of the recycling system and summarize some of the evidence around the efficacy of the California Department of Recycling’s (CalRecycle) deposit-refund recycling program – in conjunction with other recycling alternatives, such as curbside recycling pickup – in providing convenient recycling options to consumers. In Sect. 2, we provide some relevant background on recycling policy in California. In Sect. 3, we discuss the findings in Berck et al. (2021), which uses survey data to empirically assess who recycles and how the public defines convenience in recycling opportunities. Next, in Sect. 4, we present the main takeaways from Berck et al. (2020), which focuses on the consumer survey evidence to estimate California residents’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for current beverage container recycling methods, including curbside pickup services, drop-off at government-subsidized recycling centers, and drop-off at non-subsidized centers. Finally, in Sect. 5, we discuss avenues for future research.