Penal Code section 319.5

Neither this chapter nor Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 330) applies to the possession or operation of a reverse vending machine. As used in this section a reverse vending machine is a machine in which empty beverage containers are deposited for recycling and which provides a payment of money, merchandise, vouchers, or other incentives at a frequency less than upon each deposit. The pay out of a reverse vending machine is made on a deposit selected at random within the designated number of required deposits.
The deposit of an empty beverage container in a reverse vending machine does not constitute consideration within the definition of lottery in Section 319.

Source: Section 319.5, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=319.­5.­ (updated Jul. 8, 1982; accessed Jul. 7, 2025).

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§ 319.5's source at ca​.gov