"California Family Faces Charges in $7.6 Million Recycling Scheme"

Eight family members have been charged with smuggling 178 tons of aluminum cans and plastic bottles from Arizona to California in order to defraud California's beverage container recycling program of $7.6 million. The family members are facing charges of recycling fraud, grand theft, and conspiracy. California's recycling program allows people to redeem empty cans and bottles for a return, but only material from California is eligible. The state's Department of Justice seized over $1 million and more illegally imported beverage containers during their investigation.