Bottle deposits and recycling (Alhambra, Fair Oaks: how much, costs, storage)

[muffincake]

How does this work in California? Am I correct in believing water bottles have deposits and if so, how do I recycle them and get my deposit money back? In NY, they have bottle return machines in grocery stores that print out tickets to get 5 cents per bottle, but I've never seen anything like that here. What do I do with my empty water bottles?

[felinius]

Look for Nexcycle locations closest to you. You bring a bag of your bottles, dump it into the trashcan, and the person there will weigh it for you. You bring the ticket they give you inside to the store (usually Safeway) and there it'll be cashed out.

Or you can just put it in the blue bin and the recycling truck will pick it up.

[caligirlz]

I found it was much easier to put the bottles/cans in the recyclable trashcan for pickup, as the amount I got back wasn't worth the storage, and driving to the local recycler.

[muffincake]

Originally Posted by felinius

Look for Nexcycle locations closest to you. You bring a bag of your bottles, dump it into the trashcan, and the person there will weigh it for you. You bring the ticket they give you inside to the store (usually Safeway) and there it'll be cashed out.

Or you can just put it in the blue bin and the recycling truck will pick it up.

I'm confused. You get money back based on weight and not per-bottle? How much money does that come out to per bottle then?

[cb73]

Originally Posted by muffincake

I'm confused. You get money back based on weight and not per-bottle? How much money does that come out to per bottle then?

It's supposed to come out exactly the same.

But I agree with the above poster. I've stood in line for over 30 minutes, in what smells like the debris of last night's beer party with three or four bags of water bottles to get my receipt for $3.50. Then you go into the store and stand in line again to cash it in.

All mine go in the county recycle bin now.

[ryuns]

I agree--generally not worth it, unless you go through a lot of plastic or aluminum, smash 'em up real good, and have a place to store them for a while.

[caligirlz]

Originally Posted by cb73

I've stood in line for over 30 minutes, in what smells like the debris of last night's beer party with three or four bags of water bottles to get my receipt for $3.50. Then you go into the store and stand in line again to cash it in.

Well, and considering most people who are operating the recycle centers look like homeless bums....I know then recycle stop at Safeway on Alhambra & the one out on Fair Oaks Blvd is definitely run by bums.

[NickB1967]

Originally Posted by caligirlz

Well, and considering most people who are operating the recycle centers look like homeless bums....I know then recycle stop at Safeway on Alhambra & the one out on Fair Oaks Blvd is definitely run by bums.

This actually works--a whole industry by and for the homeless. They get work, metal and glass and plastic get recycled. Win-Win.

[ryuns]

Originally Posted by NickB1967

This actually works--a whole industry by and for the homeless. They get work, metal and glass and plastic get recycled. Win-Win.

No joke. And those people work hard for not much money. I wish there was a way to incentivize all sorts of good behavior. Pick up some trash, get a nickel. Clean some graffiti, get a buck. Crap in a toilet and not the American River Parkway, get a quarter. Etc.

[d from birmingham]

Originally Posted by ryuns

No joke. And those people work hard for not much money. I wish there was a way to incentivize all sorts of good behavior. Pick up some trash, get a nickel. Clean some graffiti, get a buck. Crap in a toilet and not the American River Parkway, get a quarter. Etc.

The problem is the Beverage industry doesn't want these bottle laws in place since it costs them a good deal of money. Of course lots of people love it. Reduces pollution, littering, makes the material cost lower since it is cheaper to recycle the stuff then produce it.