(a) In order to facilitate increased recycling of empty glass beverage containers in the state, the department shall create the Increased Recycling of Empty Glass Beverage Containers Grant Program. The purpose of the grant program shall be to assist in funding regional pilot programs furnishing bins for collection of empty glass beverage containers from restaurants and on-sale retail licensed establishments licensed pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000) of the Business and Professions Code). Grants provided under this program may be used for any of the following:

1. (1) Purchase of bins for the collection of empty glass beverage containers at restaurants and other on-sale retail licensed establishments licensed pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000) of the Business and Professions Code).
2. (2) Collection and consolidation of contents from the bins.
3. (3) Transportation of the empty glass beverage containers that are collected to a glass processing facility.

(b) The following entities may be eligible for applying for grants from the grant program created pursuant to subdivision (a):

1. (1) Local or regional governmental agencies.
2. (2) Other entities proposing to establish a regional pilot program to provide empty glass beverage container bins, collection of the contents of those bins, and transportation of the empty glass beverage containers collected to a glass processing facility.