Not only is recycling plastic good for the environment, but it can also make you money.
If you live in a state that has bottle deposit laws, usually referred to as bottle redemption , then you could make money recycling plastic caps and bottles. All you need to do is collect bottles and caps, and take them to a local recycling center to cash them in.
If you’ve wanted to know, “Where can I recycle plastic for cash near me?”, then check out our quick and easy guide below.
If you live in a state that has bottle deposit laws, you can earn money when you recycle plastic bottles.
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You cannot recycle plastic bottles for money unless your state has a bottle bill. Some states without bottle bills do have curbside recycling programs and recycling centers where you can drop off empty, clean plastic bottles and other recyclables, but, these do not pay you.
So, if you want to make money recycling plastic, then you will need to live in one of the ten states that have a bottle bill.
Depending on the state you live in, you could earn between 5 cents and 10 cents per plastic bottle. You can recycle things like plastic mineral water bottles, soda water bottles, and carbonated soft drink bottles.
Here are the states with bottle deposit laws, and how much you can earn.
California
If you live in California, you can get 5¢ for containers that are less than 24 oz. and 10¢ for containers that are 24 oz. or greater. Those in California can earn for any container that’s made from plastic, as well as those made from glass or bi-metal.
Connecticut
Earn from any can, bottle, jar or carton that’s made from plastic, glass, or metal. HDPE containers are excluded. You can earn 5¢.
Hawaii
Earn 5¢ for containers in Hawaii. You can get cash for any container up to 68 oz. that’s composed of plastic, aluminum, bi-metal, or glass.
Iowa
Earn 5¢ for containers in Iowa. You can get cash when you return any can, bottle, jar, or carton that’s made from plastic, glass, or metal.
Maine
Maine will allow you to earn money for any container that’s four liters or less, and made from plastic, glass, or metal. You can earn 15¢ for wine and liquor and 5¢ for all other containers.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts will pay you 5¢ for any can, bottle, jar, or carton composed of plastic, glass, metal, or a combination. Excludes biodegradables.
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Michigan
Michigan will give you a redemption reward for any container that’s less than one gallon, and made of plastic, metal, paper, or glass. You can earn 10¢ for beverage containers.
New York
In New York, you can earn 5¢ from any bottle, can, or jar that’s less than one gallon and made from plastic, steel, glass, metal, or aluminum.
Oregon
Oregon will pay you 10¢ for beverage containers. Any bottle, can, or jar that’s composed of plastic, metal, or glass is accepted.
Vermont
Vermont pays you for any can, jar, or carton that’s made from plastic, glass, metal, paper, or a combination. You can get 15¢ for liquor and 5¢ for all other containers.
Where Can I Recycle Plastic for Cash Near Me?
You can recycle plastic bottles for cash in those states above that have bottle bills.
There are lots of places to recycle plastic for cash, including:
Bottle and can redemption centers
You can also return plastic bottles, and other recyclables, for cash at redemption centers if you live in a state with bottle deposit laws.
All you need to do to get started is open up Google, or whichever search engine you use, and enter the phrase, “bottle redemption near me.” You’ll get a list of nearby centers where you can get cash for bottles, cans, and other containers.
This is a great way to make money recycling plastic.
Grocery stores
Many grocery stores and supermarkets in states that have bottle deposit laws have machines for plastic bottles and other recyclables. These machines can typically be found behind the store or in the store’s parking lot.
You can use these machines to get cash for your plastic bottles.
Ask your local store whether they have a machine for recycling bottles. After you have loaded all of your recyclables into the machine, most stores will give you a slip of paper. You can redeem this slip of paper with a cashier.
If you’re at the grocery store anyway, you may as well take your plastic bottles with you and make some extra cash on your regular grocery shopping trip.
Gas stations and convenience stores
Many gas stations and convenience stores in bottle bill states will allow you to return bottles, and other items, like cans, for cash.
All you need to do is call or visit your local gas station/convenience store and ask if they offer bottle redemption.
How Much Money Can I Make Recycling Plastic?
If you live in a bottle bill state, you can earn from $0.05 to $0.10 per bottle.
This means that if you have 50 plastic bottles to recycle, you’d earn $2.50 in a state that pays 5 cents per container and $5 in a state that pays 10 cents per container.
That’s not a ton of money, but it is extra money for what is essentially trash.
The more plastic bottles your house goes through, the more you will make. If your family drinks a lot of bottled mineral water or bottled soft drinks, you could make more.
If you are looking to earn extra though, you will need to source bottles from places in addition to those you collect in your own home.
How to Find Extra Plastic Bottles to Recycle
If you are just looking to make a little extra cash from the bottles you already have at home, then you’re all set. You can make money from something that you’d otherwise just throw out.
If you’re looking to maximize your income though, you’ll want to get your hands on as many plastic bottles as you can. After all, the more plastic bottles you have, the more money you will make.
Here are some places where you can find extra plastic bottles and other recyclables, because, remember, you can get paid for aluminum cans and glass bottles too.
Friends and family
Simply ask friends and family if they have any plastic bottles they would be willing to give to you. Most people are happy to have someone deal with their unwanted bottles for them.
Neighbors
Ask your neighbors if they have any plastic you could recycle for them. It’s likely you have neighbors who don’t recycle their plastic, and they would be happy to give these unwanted recyclables to you. Just make sure you get your neighbor’s permission to get their plastic and don’t just go rooting through their trash without asking. It’s illegal in many states and it’s poor etiquette too.
Bars and restaurants
You could offer to pick up empties from bars and restaurants. This is a good way to get extra plastic bottles, as well as other recyclables, that you can cash in.
Simply contact local bars and restaurants and ask if you can collect their empties to recycle them.
Some places might be willing to partner with you, especially if you offer the owner convenient times for pickup. It’s a win-win since the bar or restaurant gets rid of their unwanted containers, and you make money.
Workplace
Ask management if they’d mind you collecting discarded plastic. Many places would be happy to agree since you’re helping them to recycle. Set up a separate bin in the break room with a note that says, “plastic recyclables only.”
Make sure you stay on top of your plastic collection and don’t let the plastic pile up. It’s important to keep your workplace neat, and, therefore, management happy. So, check the bin daily either during lunch or after work each day.
Outdoor spaces
Unfortunately, many people litter, meaning you’ll often find plastic bottles just scattered on the floor in outdoor areas. If you’re looking for extra plastic bottles, check the following areas:
- Sidewalk
- Parks
- Roadside
- Parking lot
- Under bushes
- The beach
After events like a street fair, concert, festival, marathon and other sports events, there’s usually even more litter. Picking up litter not only gives you extra cash, but it also helps the environment and makes your town look better.
No Bottle Deposit Laws in Your State? Recycle Aluminum Cans!
What if you don’t live in a state with bottle bill laws? After all, only 10 states in the country actually do bottle redemption. That leaves 40 states without a way to make cash recycling plastic bottles.
As I said earlier, you can take your plastic to a recycling center, but most of these don’t pay you. There’s a company called TerraCycle, that was previously reported to pay for recycling, but now it simply gives you points for qualifying waste that you can redeem for a donation to charity.
Does this mean that you are left without a way to make money recycling?
Heck no!
You can still make money from recycling, but not plastic. Instead, you will want to try recycling aluminum cans.
You can still get cash for aluminum cans, even if you don’t live in a state with bottle deposit laws. Outside of bottle bill states, you won’t earn money per can, but will instead be paid for cans based on their weight.
The market value for aluminum changes all the time. You can use iScrap App to check current prices for aluminum cans.
Currently, the price for aluminum cans is $0.64 per pound. Make sure you have a read of my guide on how to make money recycling aluminum cans to learn more.
Summary
If you live in one of the ten states that have bottle redemption laws, you can make some extra cash recycling plastic. You can earn anywhere from 5 cents to 10 cents per plastic container.
You can also get paid for other recyclables too, such as aluminum cans and glass bottles.
So, start earning money from recycling!
FAQs
How much are empty plastic bottles worth? ›
California Redemption Value
CRV is 5 cents for each beverage container less than 24 ounces and 10 cents for each container 24 ounces or greater.
Start by figuring out if you have a bottle bill where you live and finding your local recycling center. Collect bottles and cans, sort them, and turn them in. Recycling centers will pay you by the weight or number of items turned in.
Can you make money off plastic bottle caps? ›Can You Get Money for Plastic Bottle Caps? If you have a lot of bottle caps, you can consider selling them on Etsy or eBay. While you can't make a ton of money, for an assortment of around 400 caps, you can make about $10.
Can you sell plastic bottles UK? ›Recycle Plastic Bottles For Cash
If you find your recycling bins overflowing with plastic bottles. You are able to take advantage of one of the many supermarket recycling initiatives available. Sainsbury's will give you a 5p coupon for every bottle you insert in their reverse vending machines.
The minimum refund value established for each type of eligible beverage container is 5 cents for each container under 24 ounces and 10 cents for each container 24 ounces or greater.
How much money do you get for a plastic water bottle? ›You'll typically be able to get 5 to 10 cents per bottle. We recycle plastic bottles to the tune of millions of pounds of carbon dioxide, as well as paper, glass, and metal, and many of us are aware that we can recycle all manner of things like plastic, paper, and glass bottles.
What type of bottles can be recycled for money? ›' Most empty 150-millilitre to 3-litre drink containers are eligible for a 10-cent refund when presented to a NSW return point. The best way to identify an eligible container is by the 10c refund marking.
Is there a charity that collects plastic bottle tops? ›You can donate all your milk bottle tops to raise money for Friends of Water Search and Rescue Team. These milk bottle tops are then turned into pellets that go into the manufacture of items such as traffic bollards and traffic cones.
How would you sell an empty bottle interview question? ›Sell Me a Water Bottle | Byju's Interview Question 8 - YouTube
Can you get money for recycling bottles in the UK? ›There are a number of supermarkets that will pay you (either cash or store credit) to recycle your used plastic bottles. Have a lookout for Reverse Vending Machines in shops like Iceland, Sainsbury's or Tesco. With Tesco, you get paid 10p per bottle to use as store credit.
Can I make money from recycling plastic UK? ›
If you have more plastic bags than you need at home, now's your chance to recycle them and make money in the process. Some supermarkets and online food stores will give you money in return for your old plastic bags. Ocado will give you 10p for each Ocado bag you return to them.
What plastic bottles can be recycled? ›The most commonly recycled plastics are: 1 – Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – water bottles and plastic trays. 2 – High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) – milk cartoons and shampoo bottles. 5 – Polypropylene (PP) – margarine tubs and ready-meal trays.
Are bottle caps worth money? ›They are worth money, although the exact amount they are worth largely depends on the market. Usually, the price per bottle cap made from steel ranges from 5 cents to 9 cents. However, for food-grade quality aluminum, it is worth far more than that. It goes as high as 35 to 45 cents.
How much is a water bottle worth? ›On average, a 20-ounce bottle of water costs approximately $1.50.
Should you crush plastic bottles for recycling? ›It turns out plastics have to be separated based on melting points. The Association of Plastic Recyclers recommends crushing empty bottles and placing the cap back on the bottle, though rinsing them isn't necessary.
How much is a pound of recycled plastic worth? ›The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars keeps moving up, currently at 8.63 cents per pound, compared with 7.58 cents per pound this time last month. The price of recycled PET containers has increased nearly 30% over the course of 2021.
How many empty water bottles is a pound? ›Since 453.59 grams equals 1 pound there is roughly 19 of the 20 Ounce PET bottles to the pound.
How much does a 500ml bottle of water cost? ›Bisleri 500ml Water Bottle, Capacity: 500 Ml at Rs 8.5/bottle in Chennai | ID: 15493262048.
How much is a bottle of water 2022? ›| USA - Bottled water - price, June 2022 | |
|---|---|
| USD | 1.980 |
| EUR | 2.033 |
Mathematically, consumers need to deposit 20,000 bottles or cans for getting $1000.
What are the 5 most profitable things to recycle? ›
...
Now let's start using trash for cash!
- Aluminum Cans. ...
- Plastic and Glass Bottles. ...
- Ink Cartridges. ...
- Cardboard. ...
- Electronic Waste. ...
- Scrap Metal.
Most drink containers between 150ml and three litres are eligible. This includes glass, plastic, aluminium, steel and some cartons.
How many bottle caps does it take to make a wheelchair? ›In the case of bottle caps, 450 kg of bottle caps is needed for a wheelchair.
How do you answer the question sell me this pen? ›- Be Positive and Enthusiastic. ...
- Emphasize the Features the Interviewer Will Value. ...
- Don't Be Afraid to Ask a Few Questions. ...
- Be Ready to Sell. ...
- Probe for Reservations About the Product or Service. ...
- Make an Attempt to Close. ...
- Don't Be Afraid to Employ Some Creativity.
Take the plastic bottles to the recycling center. Ask the recycling center representative how to cash in the plastic bottles. For example, some centers cash the printed recycling redemption on the bottles whereas others give a cash value according to the number of bottles you bring in.
Can you make money selling bottled water? ›In 2018, the United States had a bottle water producer revenue of approximately 18 billion dollars. The profit margin for a case of soda is 60 to 100 percent, while the profit margin for a bottle or can is more than 200%. Investing in a bottled water business is still profitable and lucrative in 2021.
What is PET in plastic bottles? ›Polyethylene terephthalate, also called PET, is the name of a type of clear, strong, lightweight and 100% recyclable plastic. Unlike other types of plastic, PET plastic is not single-use -- it is 100% recyclable, versatile, and made to be remade.
How many plastic bottles end up in the ocean? ›How many plastic bottles are in the ocean? The number of plastic bottles in the sea is unknown, but over 250 billion were not recycled. Around 8-9 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year. That's the equivalent of a garbage truck emptying plastic into the ocean every single minute.
What is made out of PET plastic? ›PET containers are popular for packaging sodas, water, juices, salad dressings, cooking oil, peanut butter, shampoo, liquid hand soap, mouthwash, pharmaceuticals, even tennis balls. Virtually all single-serving and 2-liter bottles of carbonated soft drinks and water sold in the U.S. are made from PET.
How are PET bottles recycled? ›Processing. These compressed bales of PET bottles are then sent to a processing centre. It is here that the bottles are processed so they can be turned into recycled PET (rPET) ready to be turned back into packaging. The PET bottles are separated into their colour streams and then ground up into small crushed flakes.
Which number plastic bottles are safe to use? ›
To make a long story short: plastic recycling numbers 2, 4 and 5 are the safest. Whereas plastic numbers 1, 3, 6 and 7 must be avoided. But it does not indicate that you can fearlessly use safer plastic. All plastic products can leach toxic chemicals when heated or damaged.
What is Coke PET bottle? ›On average, our plastic bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic – 25% recycled and 75% virgin PET. Coca‑Cola European Partners are committed to increasing the amount of recycled plastic to 50% this year.
Where do plastic water bottles end up? ›More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day – a total of about 22 billion last year. Six times as many plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US in 2004 as in 1997.
Will there be fish in 2050? ›An estimated 70 percent of fish populations are fully used, overused, or in crisis as a result of overfishing and warmer waters. If the world continues at its current rate of fishing, there will be no fish left by 2050, according to a study cited in a short video produced by IRIN for the special report.
How much plastic waste is single-use? ›We are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes – utilized for just a few moments, but on the planet for at least several hundred years.
Which plastic is best for water bottles? ›Most reusable plastic water bottles are manufactured from plastic polymers such as polypropylene and copolyester, which makes them light and durable. (Reusing single-use water bottles, which are often made from No.
What is the difference between PET and PETE plastic? ›PET (also abbreviated PETE) is short for polyethylene terephthalate, the chemical name for polyester. PET is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that is widely used for packaging foods and beverages, especially convenience-sized soft drinks, juices and water.
Can you reuse PET 1 plastic bottles? ›Health advocates advise against reusing bottles made from plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE), including most disposable water, soda, and juice bottles. 3 Such bottles may be safe for one-time use but reuse should be avoided.