A $100 Hour – Recycle Aluminum Cans

Posted on September 22, 2008
Filed Under $100 Hour, Snowflakes | Leave a Comment

Isn’t that what homeless people do? Isn’t it a waste of time? Isn’t the money you can get from recycling cans minuscule? No, I haven’t lost my mind. Recycling aluminum cans is, in fact, a viable way to make $100 or more in a relatively short period of time. How do I know this? When my in-laws lived with us, they recycled cans, and I took then to the recycling center for them. The last time I went, they had 231 lbs of cans, which netted them $115.50. Of course, it can take a long time to collect this many cans if you get them by walking down a lonely stretch of highway picking up peoples’ throw aways. Fortunately, there are better (and safer) alternatives.
My in-laws collected most of their cans on “recycling days.” Every other week, the local disposal company collects aluminum cans and other recyclables that are put in special containers and left curb side. On these days, they walked the neighborhood collecting the cans (They had had previously asked permission from the home owners to do this, which is probably a good idea. Most people don’t like strangers poking around in their trash early in the morning).
Another place they picked up quite a few cans was at a local park. During the summer, many people use the park for wedding receptions, company picnics, etc. After these events, the trash cans would have many aluminum cans (along with the trash of course). After getting permission from park personnel, they would collect these cans – making sure not to make a mess while sorting out the cans.
Other possibilities could include putting a can collection basket in a break area at work, asking friends and relatives to save cans for you, and even wandering a stretch of highway.
How much can you make (and how soon)? I turned in cans for my in-laws every other month (8 weeks). While $115.50 was the most they made in an 8 week period, the average was about $90, and they never made less than $70 – not bad for a few hours of work each week.

Cheers,
Ken

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