are you recycling everything that is recyclable?

Aluminum cans are the 5th most recycled item, and for good reason. They are relatively easy to find and collect and are a common item you have in your home. If you are looking for a fun new hobby that is both beneficial for the environment and a great way to earn a bit of extra money, then recycling cans may be right up your alley. Here are ways you can maximize your profits when recycling so you can enjoy your efforts while gaining a nice chunk of change in the process.

Check key locations

Parks, local restaurants, and even your neighborhood are great places to look for cans for recycling. You can ask local restaurants if they would be willing to donate their cans to you so they don't have to go through the efforts of recycling them on your own. Restaurants often go through many cans of sauces, vegetables, ale or soda that you can collect on a regular basis. You can also collect cans from the garbage bins around your local bars, where cans and bottles of liquor are disposed of on a regular basis. Local parks often have trash cans loaded with cans of juice and soda that park goers throw away. Check with your municipality if it is OK for you to use a garbage picker to collect these items for recycling. You can ask your neighbors if you can collect their aluminum cans after they are done with them, or set up a bin in your yard for your neighbors to deposit their cans so you can take them in for recycling yourself. These are all great ways to collect more cans for your own recycling so you can maximize your profits.

Know when to recycle

The amount you get per pound of recycled aluminum is based upon the current price of the metal. Just as gold and silver prices are ever-changing, aluminum and other metals are always changing as far as value as well. You can contact your local recycling center for the current aluminum rate or you can check daily rates online to see when the best time is to take your cans in for cash.

Consider recycling bottles

In addition to recycling cans, you can recycle plastic or glass bottles as well. Some states offer a recycling redemption value for every can or bottle you recycle, and if you live in a state that does this, the earnings can really add up. Some people even earn a small living collecting cans and bottles in states that give you extra cash for recycling. Even if this is not true for your state, adding glass and plastic bottles to your recycling collection gives you other areas where you can make money using the same techniques and resources you use to collect cans.

Recycling cans for profit is a great way to earn extra money while helping out the environment at the same time. Whether you want to recycle cans as a simple hobby or to earn a sizable income, if you know where to find the most cans, are willing to hold onto them until the aluminum rate is higher, and you add plastic and glass collecting to your recycling efforts, you can make a better profit.  

Click here for info about recycling programs in your area.