How to earn money by recycling

This man makes at least $200 a week recycling according to the recycling center manager

When you buy some beverages such as soda, beer, or water, in states like Maine, Hawaii, Oregon, Michigan, Connecticut, and California you are charged an additional tax called the "Cash Refund Value" tax (CRV.) You can get this money back by taking them to recycling centers. But did you know that you can earn even more cash by recycling other people's discarded cans and bottles while cleaning up the environment?

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles
• Trash cans or a trash bag (or any large container)
• Gloves (optional)
• Means of transportation (car, truck, stroller, bike, etc.)

Instructions

1. Gather up your cans and bottles from home. You can also find extra recyclables in many places. Try going to parks after big soccer games, if there is a sports park in your area this is a hot spot for cans and bottle the morning after the games or the night of. You might have to dig in some trash cans, but they wont be too gross like a dumpster, and you'll only be digging for a minute or so.

   Another good place to find cans and bottles is at the local high school, but watch out because the janitors like to stake their claim on them first!

   If you really wanted to, on trash day when everyone's cans are at the curb, some people have a recycling container that the city takes and they are either lazy or unaware of CRV and they put stuff that is worth money in there. If you do this, set out at about 3:00-4:00 in the morning. Beware of dogs, and be polite to cops. Explain that you're just trying to recycle to earn some money, and they should leave you alone. If not, then leave and do not make a big fuss. It is not illegal in most areas to take things from other people's garbage cans, but you should always do what the officer tells you regardless.

2. Smash aluminum cans and plastic bottles. If you do have glass, do not break it as the buyer will not be able to pay you if you are going to a CRV center. If you do not have a CRV center, simply find a scrap yard that pays for glass, plastic, and aluminum by the pound. Often times the scrap yards will give you more for your weight as CRV centers strictly pay the CRV and the scrap yard will have higher prices on the weights.

   Gather everything into separate bags. Aluminum in one bag, plastic in another, and glass in a third if you have any.

3. Take your bags of recyclables to the recycling center. They will have trash cans or wire carts set up for you to separate all of your materials into. Do not mix materials as the weights and prices are different for each material.

   As the friendly recycling center worker (the buyer) is willing to help you if you are unable to do it yourself because of a disability or if you have a large load, don't expect them to do all of the work for you. The buyer is only there to buy your materials from you, not to separate it and such. He gets paid to work the scale, you get paid by bringing him stuff to weigh. In other words, do your own dirty work.

Tips & Warnings

• Churches are wasteful when it comes to recycling, as are liquor stores. Hit them up by carefully looking through their garbage. You might even get a free beer or even a whole case!

• Gatorade, Poweraide, Sobe Life Water, Smart Water Bottles, and Vitamin Water bottles are all made with heavier plastic and will be worth more than the CRV by weight. You win!

• Be sure to drain your cans and bottles. The buyer is not paying you for liquid, and will actually take a percentage off of your weight to accommodate for weight added by liquid.

• Remember, not only are you getting cash but you are cleaning the environment as well!

• Do not smash glass bottles as the buyer cannot pay you for them.

• Dumpster diving can be dangerous and is not recommended. You can cut yourself on broken glass, poke yourself with a hypodermic needle, or come in contact with human waste (diapers, etc.)

• Things that a CRV center will not pay you for: Milk cartons, 100% juice bottles over 46 oz, non beverage containers, wine or liquor, no dietary supplement drinks like Slim Fast or Ensure or Pedialyte.

• Do not try to weigh your stuff down with sand, rocks, or metal slugs. The buyer knows how much things should weigh, and if approx. 60 cans weighs 10 pounds, he will know something is up and you will most likely be banned from that site. Not to mention, it is against the law (recycling fraud, punishable by jail or fine.)