Californians recycled 61 percent of the beverage containers covered under the state´s redemption law in 2005, a total of about 12.4 million containers, according to the California Department of Conservation. The agency released its biannual report May 15 as required under the state´s recycling program.

In 2004, the state recycled 55 percent of the containers covered by the law. Aluminum cans remained the most frequently recycled container, rising from 70 percent in 2004 to 73 percent last year. Glass container recycling jumped from 50 percent in 2004 to 58 percent in 2005.