1. (a) Each method of redemption offered by the dealer cooperative.

2. (b) An education and outreach program that includes, at a minimum, all of the following:

   1. (1) Activities to promote awareness and maximize consumer and dealer participation in the stewardship program, including, but not limited to, providing educational and outreach materials to persons selling and purchasing beverages in beverage containers in the area covered by a dealer cooperative's stewardship plan.

   2. (2) Materials to be utilized that are distributed in languages suited to the area covered by a dealer cooperative's stewardship plan, including a list of the languages. At a minimum, materials shall be translated into each language that 5 percent or more of the non-English speaking people speak in each census tract in which the unserved convenience zone is located. The materials shall include the following:

      1. (A) Printed materials, including, but not limited to, public outreach materials and signage for dealer or redemption sites. The signage for a redemption site shall include, at a minimum, days and hours of operation. The signage for each dealer member shall include, at a minimum, either of the following posted at the front of the dealer member's retail location: days and hours of operation of the nearest redemption site or the internet website specified in subparagraph (B).

      2. (B) The inclusion of all of the following on an internet website with functionality for mobile platforms and maintained to ensure all information is up to date and accurate:

         1. (i) Redemption site addresses and the material types redeemed at each address.
         2. (ii) Redemption site contact telephone numbers.
         3. (iii) Redemption site days and hours of operation.
      3. (C) In addition to subparagraphs (A) and (B), non-printed materials may be used, such as a toll-free telephone number to provide redemption options and other program information. If a toll-free telephone number is to be used, it shall provide services for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals.
3. (c) A dispute resolution process for consumers in the event of non-payment or underpayment by the redemption contractor and a method to receive and resolve written complaints about the operation of the stewardship program from consumers, the public, or any other source.
4. (d) Opportunities for community input regarding collecting empty beverage containers in areas and communities that face unique challenges associated with empty beverage container redemption, such as poverty, language barriers, and littering of empty beverage containers.

5. (e) How the dealer cooperative will address factors that affect consumer convenience, such as safety and cleanliness of the redemption location, parking availability, and accessibility via public transportation or walking.

   1. (2) How the dealer cooperative will have the capacity to redeem an amount of beverage containers equal to 100 percent of the beverage containers sold by dealer members into the unserved convenience zones in which any of the dealer members operate.
   2. (3) How the dealer cooperative will provide “consumer convenience that is comparable to the requirements of section 14571 and section 14571.9 of the Act,” as defined in section 2370.
   3. (4) Not all redemption locations are required to redeem all beverage container material types; however, at least one redemption location in each unserved convenience zone covered by the stewardship plan shall redeem all beverage container material types with immediate payment of the refund value a minimum of 10 hours per week, with no less than five of those hours on a Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
   4. (5) A dealer cooperative may operate in more than one unserved convenience zone in which any of its dealer members operate, regardless of whether the unserved convenience zones are adjacent or overlap.
   5. (6) The stewardship plan may establish a redemption limit per customer per day per redemption method; however, at least one redemption location in each unserved convenience zone covered by the stewardship plan shall redeem all beverage container material types with immediate payment of the refund value up to the daily load limits established in section 2535(f) a minimum of 10 hours per week, with no less than five of those hours on a Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

   (f)(1) How the dealer cooperative will redeem all beverage container material types.

The stewardship plan shall include descriptions of all of the following:

Note: Authority cited: Sections 14530.5 and 14578.5, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 14571, 14571.9, 14578 and 14578.5, Public Resources Code.

History

1. New section filed 4-24-2025; operative 4-24-2025 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2025, No. 17).