Collecting bottles/cans for recycling refunds?

[tontamoo]

Does anyone do this as a source of additional income (however slight)?

In California the refund value is $0.05 for bottles (aluminum, plastic, glass, etc) < 24 ounces and $0.10 for bottles > 24 ounces.

Personally, I do not drink enough sodas and the like to get any substantial amount of money out of it. My office collects bottles and cans but they are given to our clients. I'm considering asking my neighbors to give me their bottles and cans, instead of giving them to our curbside recycling program, but I'm a little embarassed to as this is usually something one would probably see some pre-teen doing for a fundraiser or whatnot; I'm 24. heh I'm undecided if it is worth it to fish bottles out of park trash cans and such either.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone does this more than just casually.

[jdp]

I myself don't do it but I have various friends that do. Its a small community. Everyone knows that rather than put a certain item out for trash or recycling collection by the city to call or email them instead. It only pays for them to take things up by the truckload since the nearest collection site that pays is about 30 miles away.

Just a tip - if you get over the fear of judgement from your friends or neighbors - if you truly want them to be helpful to you, make it as painless as possible for them and simple for yourself. Drop off your own collection containers (whatever you choose, from fancy plastic specialty bins to boxes that'll stack nicely in whatever mode of transport you'll have for pick up), label them with what you want and your contact info. See if they'd prefer to contact you when full for pickup or to put things out at a certain time for you.

I truly don't mind doing for the one guy who collects ours. He dropped off boxes, I put them out 2x/wk vs. the 1x/wk the city offers so I don't get bogged down with what I call "re-clutter".

Also, his info is on the inside of the box lid so when I moved into a new place I called to change my address with him and also saw that on that list I can call for pick up of unwanted junk like non-working appliances, etc. He even came in, unhooked, moved them out. Yay!

[lucille]

When we lived in CA it was worth it to recycle at 5 cents each item. We used the money from recycling to buy beer. Where we are at now it is just not worth it to me I think they give something like 25 or 50 cents a pound. We got sick of having mountains of bags of cans in the garage so we gave them to the recycler that does our garbage. Since we don't buy much in bottles or cans anymore it is kind of a moot point.

If someone asked me for ours I would put them aside. Maybe having a specific cause your saving toward might make it a bit more positive sounding when you ask someone?

[Julie Rains]

I used to collect bottles for refunds when I was a kid -- I wouldn't search for them but pick them up on my walks (the mile or so from my house to the 7-11 where I bought slushies). I never asked anyone for their bottles b/c it was common for adults to turn theirs in at the grocery store. Refunds aren't offered where I live anymore.

[72Tiger]

It's honest money - I don't see anything wrong with it. There are no deposits here in TN.

[amyschiff]

Here in MI we pay a 10cent deposit on soda cans/bottles in the first place... so you HAVE TO recycle them just to break even

[Looby]

Here we pay between 5 and 20c deposit on bottles, but almost everyone leaves them out for homeless people to collect and return for cash.
Only in the more suburban areas do you really see people return their own.
I don't mind as long as they get recycled, I rarely buy bottled drinks anyway, so it's not a big issue for me.

[angeljzmom]

I tell all my friends that I collect cans/plastic bottles and many offer to give me theirs. I cash in about $30-$45 a month. It sure helps me out.

[gt0163c]

Originally Posted by amyschiff

Here in MI we pay a 10cent deposit on soda cans/bottles in the first place... so you HAVE TO recycle them just to break even

I grew up in Michigan and regularly picked up any bottles or cans that I saw and turned them in to make extra cash. When I was in high school my sister and I had a deal with Mom, if we took the cans and bottles back we could use the money for gas for the car or anything in the grocery store (magazines and candy regular purchases). Mom disliked spending the time to take the bottles back, so it worked out well for everyone.

Sadly, Texas doesn't have a can or bottle return law. I still recycle what I use or what I pick up near my house, but there's a lot less incentive to do so now.

[hermione]

We don't do it because we just have so much else to deal with. Plus I don't think there is even a place to go get the refunds within 40 miles of our house. Our sanitation company sorts all the trash and I guess they go and collect the refunds, which is okay by me, because then I don't have to feel guilty for just tossing bottles straight in the trash.