How to Make Money by Recycling Plastic Drink Bottles
Earning Cash With Recycling Is Easy!
For many years, I have been interested in the environment, saving money, and tinkering. There are times when all three proclivities seem to converge or overlap. For me, this has always taken the form of recycling.
In this article, I will share some tips for saving money and earning extra cash by recycling plastic bottles. The article is directed at those who are highly motivated to earn some money on the side, whether between paychecks or in more substantial predicaments. Specifically, we will examine why you should recycle, how much money you can earn, and the best methods for collecting (and crushing) plastic items.
Why Should We Recycle?
Before examining how much money can be earned through recycling, it is important to understand "why" humans should recycle Every year, tons of plastic finds its way to the ocean or is disposed of in landfills. Unfortunately, plastic is finding its way everywhere and taking up valuable space. And, as it breaks down, it threatens life itself.
Unfortunately, the accumulation of plastic continues to grow steadily worldwide. What accounts for this steady growth? One of the main culprits is the sale of bottled water.
Bottled Water Sales
Bottled water sales have been steadily increasing for the past decade and are becoming a major problem: In 2009, consumers in the United States purchased 8.45 billion gallons of bottled water. This number increased to an astounding 14.4 billion gallons in 2019 and is expected to rise in the decades ahead. That's a lot of plastic!
Sadly, these figures are representative of only one country. Even though the U.S. is the leading purchaser (and producer) of bottled water, the rest of the world consumes it too. Even more alarming is the fact that most of this plastic ends up in the garbage and is shipped to local landfills
Did You Know?
In the United States, it is currently estimated that only 8.3% of all plastic is recycled. This means the vast majority of plastic-based products end up in landfills or the world's oceans.
The Dangers of Plastic
Keeping landfills free of plastic should be a major goal for everyone. Did you know a ton of recycled plastic represents 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space? In addition, the plastic that breaks down in landfills leaves tiny pieces—or micro-plastics—which can pollute the soil and water over time. This presents a danger to both humans and animals alike.
Recently, large areas of the ocean have been identified as garbage patches. This poses a significant threat to oceanic life which, in turn, impacts humans who depend on fish for survival.
Which Plastic Can You Recycle for Cash?
Now that we have identified “why” it is important to recycle, let’s turn our attention to the recycling process itself. Most of you are probably wondering how to make money recycling. But did you know that only a few types of plastic are recyclable and redeemable for cash? Let’s take a closer look at each type.
There are currently seven different types of plastic worldwide. These include the following:
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam)
- Other
Of these seven types, most recycling centers accept #1 and #2 plastics. "Plastics #3 to #6 are more difficult to recycle" but are sometimes accepted. However, plastic #7 is extremely difficult to repurpose and is "almost always excluded."
By and large, the most commonly recycled plastic is PET or PETE (sometimes referred to as #1 plastic or polyethylene terephthalate). This is the plastic used in single-use drink bottles and is transparent.
How to Determine the Different Types of Plastic
In order to determine which type of plastic you have, there are several ways to do it. The easiest way is to look for a "recycle symbol" on the bottom of an item. Products with a one (1) in the center indicate it is PET (#1 plastic). If you are unable to locate it, you can also read the product's label. This should indicate whether or not it contains recyclable PET.
Did You Know?
Most soda and water bottles can be recycled and repurposed for their original use. They can also be transformed into fiber products such as carpets and sweaters. Plastics numbered three through seven are rarely used for recycling. Once again, call recycling locations to be sure your plastic is accepted at their facility.
Should I Include the Cap When Recycling?
Yes and no. This depends entirely on the recycling center you are visiting. Sometimes, even the drinking bottles themselves will indicate whether or not you should include the cap when recycling. This often comes in the form of a graphic that indicates, "yes," recycle the bottle with the cap, or "no," don't include the cap.
In short, though, recyclers have different requirements depending on who they sell their recyclables to. In many cases, the way the vendor cuts up plastic—whether they shred, smash, or smelt it—will determine what is acceptable.
You should always call around to find a recycler who will accept your recyclables in the form you want. There is nothing more frustrating than going to a recycling center with a full load and finding out they do not accept what you have. Use the phone and know beforehand that your load is acceptable.
How to Crush and Transport Plastic Bottles to the Recycling Center
I used to buy large can liners to hold my recycled bottles, but no more! You can save a lot of money by using plastic grocery bags that we get everywhere. They are small, easy to carry, and get the job done. Best of all, they are free! Think about it. If you can go from $0.15 cents a bag to 0 cents a bag, do it.
Likewise, you should also crush your plastic bottles when possible. Many recycling centers require this to save space at their processing facilities. The video above provides some tips for crushing bottles. Simply crush the plastic bottle, ensure the excess air is squeezed out, and replace the cap to secure the vacuum.
How to Make Money Recycling Plastic
Now for the fun part! When recycling for cash, a motivated individual will want to avoid all costs if possible. So start saving those bottles and use the plastic bags you get from shopping at the grocery store.
As we discussed above, you will also need to crush your bottles. Thin-walled drinking bottles, if undamaged, will hold a vacuum. Crush them by squeezing out any remaining air and applying a cap to hold the vacuum. Again, you can save space (and money) by making your own bottle and can crusher.
The Internet has many examples. Let's look at two different ways you can crush bottles that cost nothing but a little time. Some of the best methods include the following:
- Crush Bottles By Hand: Sometimes, brute strength is the simplest approach to crushing bottles. To make the process easier, remove the lid, twist the bottle's top, and press down. Some may find it easier to stomp on the bottle instead. Either way works great.
- Flatten With Boards: You can also use two equal-size boards to crush your plastic bottles. Flat boards work best for this method. Simply place the bottle between the boards and press down in a "left to right" motion. Again, for best results, ensure the cap is removed before doing this.
Pro Tip!
While retrieving plastic bottles, pick up loose caps along the way. Not all of the bottles will have caps when you go to crush them. When this happens, use the extra caps to hold a vacuum.
How Much Money Can I Make Recycling Plastic Bottles?
This depends entirely on where you live. In “bottle bill” states with “bottle deposit laws,” individuals can expect to receive $0.05 to $0.10 per bottle they return to the recycling center. This means 50 bottles will earn you $2.50 to $5.00. Although this may not seem like a lot of money, you’d be surprised how many plastic bottles you go through in a month. This can really add up over time.
There are currently 10 states that have "bottle deposit laws" in place. These include the following:
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
- Oregon
- Vermont
Andrew James Crusher
Of course, anybody endeavoring to pick up petty cash with recycling will want recommendations on commercial-grade can and bottle crushers. After all, they make the process of crushing a lot easier and save a lot of time. I have purchased a couple over the years, but by far, the best was made by a company known as Andrew James.
This crusher has six moving parts, while the entire unit is made of steel. It has a bottle opener on the base and four screws for mounting. I mounted mine outside, so if you want to do that, you will need four masonry screws to hold it in place. Apart from its heavy gauge steel, the device also has a cushion grip handle to make the process easier on your hands.
Although the company claims the containers must have a 16 oz. capacity, I have found it will crush 28 oz. Gatorade, Propel, and Under Armour bottles with a bit of a push! To keep it functioning properly, I cover mine with plastic, so it doesn't rust outside. I also frequently lubricate the moving parts with oil.
I purchased mine on eBay for $25. But remember, you don't need to pay a penny for a crusher.
9 Amazing Facts Regarding Plastic Refuse
- The average American goes through more than 250 pounds of plastic waste every year.
- Recycling of plastics has been done since the 1970s.
- The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1 percent in 2018.
- In 2018, more than 35.7 million tons of plastic were generated in the United States alone.
- It is estimated that plastic takes five to 600 years to decompose in a landfill. On average, most plastic bottles will decompose in 450 years.
- By 2030, some 53 million tons of plastic will exist in our oceans, rivers, and lakes. In 1950, we created 2 million tons a year, which increased 200-fold by 2015.
- In 2018, only 8.7% of all plastic waste was recycled in the US.
- In 2018, 1.77 billion pounds of PET bottles were collected and sold to recyclers. This was 1% more than 2019.
- 91.3% of all plastic waste generated in the US was not recycled (2018).
Final Thoughts
My motivation for writing this article was, for the most part, twofold. My primary concern was to provide information that would be useful to curious individuals. In addition, I wanted folks who are feeling financial difficulties to feel motivated. For this latter group, my hope is that recycling will provide a little relief.
Although recycling won't make you rich, it does offer an opportunity to make some quick cash on the side. More importantly, you can feel good about doing something beneficial for the planet.
Do you recycle?
- 100% Yes
- 0% No
- 0% Sometimes
Resources
Almanac. “Which Plastics Are Recyclable By Number?” 13 April 2023. Accessed: 9 June 2023. Web.
- Park, William. “What Can and Can’t be Recycled.” BBC. 26 May 2022. Accessed: 9 June 2023. Web.
Ritchie, Hannah and Max Roser. “Plastic Pollution.” Our World in Data. September 2018. Accessed: 9 June 2023. Web.
Teague, Katie. “Don’t Recycle Your Plastics the Wrong Way. Here’s How to Do It.” CNET. 22 April 2022. Accessed: 9 June 2023. Web.
- Vallie, Sarah. “How to Recycle Plastic.” WebMD. 12 January 2023. Accessed: 9 June 2023. Web.
Zuckerman, Arthur. “60 Recycling Statistics: 2020/2021 Data, Trends & Predictions.” Compare Camp. 11 May 2020. Accessed: 9 June 2023. Web.
© 2023 John R Wilsdon
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