1. (a) A mobile unit shall operate in one or both of the following ways:

   1. (1) The mobile unit arrives at the location where the mobile unit will redeem empty beverage containers at the beginning of the mobile unit's business day and vacates that location at the conclusion of the mobile unit's business day. This includes, but is not limited to, a mobile unit consisting of a reverse vending machine, whether staffed or not, a bag drop receptacle, whether staffed or not, and a mobile unit consisting of a staffed location where material is weighed by an attendant for immediate payment of the refund value.
   2. (2) The mobile unit collects empty beverage containers at one or more consumer address(es).
2. (b) An anchor recycling center shall not operate a mobile unit that is not owned, leased, or rented by the anchor recycling center operator.

3. (c) A mobile unit shall operate in accordance with all of the following:

   1. (1) Accept from consumers all types of beverage containers.

   2. (2) Begin operation within 60 days of approval under section 2047(c)(1). Failure to begin operating within 60 days shall result in invalidation of the approval by the department.

      1. (B) The mobile unit shall notify the department electronically in writing 10 days before making a change to the hours and address(es) of operation specified in the mobile unit application. If the notice specifies a new address(es) of operation, the notice shall include formal acknowledgement, such as a use agreement or letter, signed by the property owner or property manager that permission is given to use the location(s) for the mobile unit.

      (3)(A) Except as specified in subparagraph (B), operate in accordance with the hours and address(es) specified in the mobile unit application.

   3. (4) Deliver all collected empty beverage containers to its anchor recycling center at the conclusion of the business day during which the empty beverage containers were received.

      1. (i) A sign having a minimum size of two feet by two feet (576 square inches) informing the public that the mobile unit is approved by the state as a beverage container recycling mobile unit.
      2. (ii) The signage described in sections 2500(e)(1) and (e)(2), which satisfies the dimensions specified in (e)(2)(A) and excludes the signage described in (e)(2)(B).
      3. (iii) A sign with the address of the anchor recycling center with a notice that consumers can receive immediate payment of the refund value for all beverage container types at that address. If the mobile unit charges a bag fee or a transaction fee to the consumer, the sign shall specify that the anchor recycling center is staffed and the consumer is able to redeem empty beverage containers at the anchor recycling center without being charged a bag fee or transaction fee.
      4. (iv) A duplicate of the certification sign provided by the department for the anchor recycling center. Alternatively, the mobile unit is authorized to make a duplicate or digital version of the certification sign provided by the department for the anchor recycling center available upon request instead of posting it.
      5. (B) All signs required pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be legible.

      (5)(A) Post the following signs on the mobile unit in a conspicuous location that can be easily seen by the public:

   4. (6) Comply with the payment per count provisions specified in section 2535(b).
   5. (7) If the mobile unit will collect empty beverage containers at the consumer's address, as described in section 2500.5(a)(2), comply with the consumer daily weight limits specified in section 2500.2(b).
   6. (8) If the mobile unit will collect empty beverage containers at the consumer's address, as described in section 2500.5(a)(2), prepare and maintain records of an up-to-date list of all pickup locations that includes the first and last name of the consumer, the consumer's address, and the consumer's primary phone number.

   7. (9) Not operate in a convenience zone in which a recycling center other than its anchor recycling center, a pilot project recycler, or a dealer cooperative operates.

      1. (B) The mobile unit shall notify the department electronically in writing 10 days before making a change to any storage or operation location of the mobile unit specified in the mobile unit application.

      (10)(A) Except as specified in subparagraph (B), only store or operate the mobile unit in a location specified in the mobile unit application.

   8. (11) Not operate for any of the following in addition to its anchor recycling center: another recycling center, a pilot project recycler, or a dealer cooperative.
   9. (12) Comply with section 2500.2(i) relating to the security of the bag drop receptacle.

4. (d) A mobile unit that consists of a bag drop receptacle or reverse vending machine shall do all of the following:

   1. (1) Comply with the consumer daily weight limits specified in section 2500.2(b).
   2. (2) Comply with section 2500.2(d) relating to ineligible material, except that the ineligible material shall be delivered to the anchor recycling center instead of a processor.
   3. (3) Provide the notice specified in section 2500.2(f).
   4. (4) Post the signage specified in sections 2500.2(g)(1)(A), (B), (F), and (G) on the bag drop receptacle or reverse vending machine, subject to section 2500.2(g)(2), and comply with section 2500.2(h).
5. (e) A mobile unit that consists of a bag drop receptacle or reverse vending machine, or that collects empty beverage containers at the consumer's address, as described in section 2500.5(a)(2), is authorized to charge consumers for the fees specified in section 2500.2(c), subject to the requirements of that subdivision.

6. (f) A mobile unit shall not deliver empty beverage containers to a recycling center other than its anchor recycling center or to a processor.

   1. (2) An anchor recycling center that is not eligible for handling fees on its own is not eligible for handling fees for empty beverage containers collected by its mobile unit.

   (g)(1) Notwithstanding section 2516, regardless of the hours or address(es) of operation of a mobile unit, an anchor recycling center is eligible for handling fees for empty beverage containers collected by its mobile unit if the anchor recycling center is eligible for handling fees on its own.

7. (h) Within three of the anchor recycling center's business days following delivery of empty beverage containers from its mobile unit, an anchor recycling center shall inspect the empty beverage containers delivered to it by its mobile unit and, subsequent to that inspection, pay the refund value to the consumer. Alternatively, a mobile unit is authorized to inspect and pay the refund at the time the empty beverage containers are accepted.

8. (i) An anchor recycling center or mobile unit shall provide immediate access to the department to any storage, operation, or inspection location, or to the mobile unit, upon request. An anchor recycling center or mobile unit shall not store empty beverage container material at a residential address.

   1. (2) For a mobile unit that inspects and weighs containers at a time and location other than when and where the containers are delivered, the anchor recycling center shall prepare and maintain records for empty beverage containers accepted by its mobile unit in accordance with sections 2525(c) to (k), inclusive.
   2. (3) For records prepared and maintained in accordance with section 2525, the certification number of the anchor recycling center shall be appended with an “M” (for example, “RC12345M”) and the listed address shall be the address at which the mobile unit accepted the empty beverage containers.
   3. (4) Except as specified in paragraph (5), the records for each mobile unit shall be maintained separately from the records for empty beverage containers redeemed at the anchor recycling center.

   4. (5) The anchor recycling center shall include the empty beverage containers accepted by its mobile unit each day in the daily summaries prepared by the anchor recycling center pursuant to section 2525(i).

      (k)(1) A mobile unit or an anchor recycling center that fails to comply with any applicable requirement of the Act or this chapter constitutes grounds for the department to rescind the approval of the mobile unit.

   5. (2) Within 15 days of the department notifying the operator of an anchor recycling center that the department intends to rescind the approval of the mobile unit due to the anchor recycling center or the mobile unit violating the Act or this chapter, the operator of the anchor recycling center is authorized to request an informal hearing conducted pursuant to the department's hearing regulations (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 17063.1-17063.32). The notification will be sent via email by the department to the contact person's email address provided in the certification application.

   (j)(1) For a mobile unit at which containers are inspected and weighed at the time and location containers are delivered, the anchor recycling center shall prepare and maintain records for empty beverage containers accepted by its mobile unit in accordance with sections 2525(a), (b), and (d) to (k), inclusive.

9. (l) A mobile unit or an anchor recycling center that fails to comply with any applicable requirement of the Act or this chapter constitutes grounds for the department to revoke the anchor recycling center's certificate pursuant to section 2130. The department shall only proceed with revocation under this subdivision if it determines that rescinding the approval of the mobile unit under subdivision (k) is inadequate considering the severity of the violation of the Act or this chapter.

Note: Authority cited: Section 14536, Public Resources Code. Reference: Section 14538, Public Resources Code.

History

1. New section filed 8-11-2025 as an emergency; operative 8-11-2025 (Register 2025, No. 33). This action is deemed an emergency pursuant to Public Resources Code section 14536(b) and shall remain in effect until revised by the director

2. Amendment of subsection (k)(2) filed 5-12-2026; operative 7-1-2026 (Register 2026, No. 20).