How to Make Money Recycling Plastic Detergent Bottles

How to Make Money Recycling Plastic Detergent Bottles
••• a blue recycle symbol image by wayne ruston from Fotolia.com

Making money while recycling is like killing two birds with one stone: You get to make some extra cash while helping out the environment. Recycling has proven to earn some decent income for individuals who have the means to acquire enough recyclable material. There is a tax paid on each bottle and can that you buy that is redeemed when you recycle it a designated center. Other items, such as plastic and paper, also fetch money, but you get paid differently. Plastic items like detergent bottles will be paid by weight because there is no tax at checkout.

Find the nearest recycling center to you by using a mapping service like Google Maps, and get the numbers of each of the recycling centers

Call the nearest recycling center and ask if they pay by weight for plastic bottles other than soda bottles. Ask what the rate is to get an idea of how much money you can make.

Pass out flyers or post messages around your city where people will see them saying that you are recycling plastic detergent bottles. State in the flyer a designated day to leave them outside so you can pick them up. This works best doing it neighborhood by neighborhood. You can also give the option in the flyer to send an email when the bottle is ready to be picked up. This way you don't waste time and gas driving around looking for bottles.

Make the rounds, and collect each detergent bottle. Schedule as many neighborhoods as you can handle at a time to save time and gas. Use an online service like Google maps to make a route plan. Typically the best time to do a pickup is late Saturday or Sunday when people are home.

Deliver them to your closest recycling center in separate trash bags. They will empty each bag and weigh the total amount. Most recycling centers will give cash to those who bring in plastic.

Tips

  • Try asking for other recyclables like paper and other plastic items. These all can be redeemed for money and go by weight.