Last updated Feb. 19, 2023 by Peter Jakes
Every year, millions of plastic bottles are manufactured and sold, many of which end up in landfills. So, why not make money from things that others simply discard? Here’s how to make money with plastic bottle redemption.
Bottle redemption is one of the easiest ways to make money. It demands no investments, and it comes with no risks.
All it needs is your time. In 2018, recycling centers in the U.S. made a total of $7.8 billion, but there was only a 1% growth from 2013 to 2019.
Although this money-making venture is less likely to make you rich, it can provide quick cash for your financial expenses.
What is Bottle Redemption?
Bottle redemption is the act of redeeming thrown bottles for recycling purposes. These bottles, when redeemed, are paid for and taken to recycling firms.
Is Bottle Redemption the Most Lucrative Recycling?
No. Recycling aluminum brings in more than $800 million annually. This is the most profitable way to recycle that we know of. On the other hand, cartridges have a reputation for being expensive in the printer business.
Changes in scrap metal prices mean that profit margins are always up for grabs. The process starts with a median scrap price of $0.
At 20 cents per pound, the 500,000 pounds of plastic scrap have made a profit of $100,000. Recycling and reusing materials are the first steps to reducing waste at manufacturing plants.
Related: 6 Ways to Make Money Recycling Paper
How to Make Money With Bottle Redemption (Step-by-step Guide)
1. Conduct Research on Bottles
There are different kinds of bottles. And each of these bottles comes with different pricing. So before getting into the bottle redemption business, you need to research the type of bottles available in your area and how much they can be sold for.
In addition, you must double-check the bottles for the imprint of your state. For example, bottles in Maine come with an “M.N.” abbreviation, while bottles in California are imprinted with “CRV, ” meaning California Redemption Value.
Only bottles with state imprints on them are eligible for redemption. Most bottles imprint the amount you can get for redeeming them.
2. How to Collect Plastics
Get creative with how you collect the plastic bottles, and you might be able to make more money if you also start gathering scrap metals for money. Speak with local businesses with a large staff or an on-site customer base concerned about collecting their plastic.
Some people may pay you to collect their plastic items. If not, you can still set up drop boxes and schedule pick-up dates and times.
3. Sort the Collected Bottles Out
Plastics may need to be organized into categories for repurposing at recycling centers. Most bottles will be labeled with a code that indicates what they are. Here are a few plastic types to look for:
- PET or PETE — clear bottles with hard bases
- P.P. — plastic bottles, caps, or medicine bottles
- LDPE — squeeze bottles
- HDPE — opaque plastic bottles
Once your bottle collection is organized, divide it into these categories and place it in large garbage bags or boxes. Mark the container to ensure you know which is which for easy dispensing. This will also allow you to estimate the value of any deposits.
4. Find a Factory to Exchange your Bottle
If you are looking for where to recycle plastic bottles for cash, your next step is to find a company that collects bottles in exchange for cash near you. The laws on bottle redemption differ from state to state. Research your state’s bottle redemption laws.
The type of plastic and quantity determines the number of bottles that recycling centers will pay for per bottle. Michigan charges 10 cents per bottle, while most other states charge anywhere from a few pennies to 5 cents per bottle.
Check the rules of the recycling center you intend to use. Some prefer that you leave the caps on the bottles, while others will not accept them at all.
Places To Find Bottles for Your Bottle Recycling
If you are having problems finding used bottles, here are some places and ways you can find bottles for your redemption business.
Grocery Stores
You can find used bottles behind the parking lots of most grocery stores, and you will see most gleaners that recycle glass hard and bottles for money always coming to pick them up. But you need to be granted permission by the store owner before you collect the bottles for redemption.
Gas Stations and Convenience Shops
Most petrol stations and convenience stores have a lot of used bottles. In addition, most gas stations and convenience stores act as a place where you can exchange bottles for cash. Visit your local gas stations and enquire if they provide this service.
Ask Your Friends and Family To Collect Bottles For You
Asking your friends and neighbors for beverage containers is a good way to get extra bottles for your redemption business.
Contact Bars And Restaurants
Local bars and restaurants may be interested in collaborating with you. Just tell the owners you’ll bring your containers, offer convenient pick-up times, and appear to be doing them a favor.
In addition, you can distribute flyers and make arrangements with a few bar owners who will be delighted to assist you.
Craigslist
Craigslist is also a site that provides information on restaurants with used bottles.
Start with Your House
Observe the containers in your fridge and pantry to see if they have the label ’10c refund at collection depots when sold in S.A.’. You’d be surprised how many beverage containers apply for the container deposit refund.
Make a space in your backyard to collect containers that you can sell. Four tubs would be ideal: one for plastic bottles, one for aluminum cans, one for glass bottles, and one for cardboard fruit juice and milk cartons.
Before throwing away any drink container, check the label to see if you can recycle it, remove any cap or lid, and ensure the container is completely empty before placing it in the appropriate tub. It won’t be long before your savings begin to grow.
When your four tubs are full, place them in strong garbage bags in the trunk of your car and drive to the Recycling Center.
How Much Can I Make Returning Used Cans?
You’re probably wondering how much money you’ll get now that you know where you can return your bottles for cash.
As previously stated, there are ten states with beverage container laws, and each state has rules for what containers it will accept.
Therefore, the amount you receive for returning bottles and other containers varies by state. So you won’t get rich doing this, but you will make some extra money.
If you had 50 beverage containers per month and received $5 for each one, you could earn $30 per year. You’d make $60 if you got ten for each one.
That is not a large sum of money. However, with bottle redemption, you get money for something you would otherwise throw away.
So it’s essentially free money! If you have a large family or consume a lot of bottled water or wine, you may have more than 50 beverage containers per month, allowing you to earn more money.
How do Bottle Redemption Centers Make Money?
Bottle redemption centers are centers that collect used bottles. But how do they make money by collecting used bottles? Most bottle redemption centers are affiliated with bottle recycling firms.
These recycling firms pay the redemption center for the number of bottles they bring in. This is how they generate income.
The distributor receives a deposit for each container purchased when a retailer purchases beverages from a distributor. When a consumer purchases a beverage, the retailer pays the deposit.
Customers receive a refund when they return the empty container to the grocery store, gas station, convenience store, or redemption center.
The distributor will then reimburse the retailer or redemption center for the deposit. The distributor pays the center or retailer a handling fee in most states.
How Much are Plastic Bottles & Cans Worth?
You’re probably wondering how much money you’ll get now that you know where you can return your bottles for cash.
As previously stated, there are ten states with beverage container laws, and each state has its own set of rules for what containers it will accept.
Therefore, the amount of money you receive for returning bottles and other containers varies by state. So you won’t get rich doing this, but you will make some extra money.
If you had 50 beverage containers per month and received $5 for each one, you could earn $30 per year. You’d make $60 if you got ten for each one.
That is not a large sum of money. However, with bottle redemption, you get money for something you would otherwise throw away.
So it’s essentially free money! If you have a large family or consume a lot of bottled water or wine, you may have more than 50 beverage containers per month, allowing you to earn more money.
Some states have their bottle price as follows:
- Maine: 15¢* for wine and liquor and 5¢ for all other containers.
- Vermont: 15¢ for liquor and 5¢ for all other containers.
- Michigan: 10¢
- Oregon: 10¢
- California: 5¢ for containers less than 24 oz. and 10¢ for 24 oz. or greater containers.
- Hawaii: 5¢
- Connecticut: 5¢
- Iowa: 5¢
- Massachusetts: 5¢
- New York: 5¢
Tips for Collecting Bottles Redemption
- Bring bags with you.
Always keep a garbage bag with you because you never know when you’ll come across a litter you can sell.
- Always wear protective clothing.
My final piece of advice is always to wear protective gear. Gloves are extremely important.
For starters, broken glass or a sharp edge can easily cut your hands. Second, if you’re collecting extra bottles, you never know what you’ll find.
Unfortunately, syringes and other potentially hazardous materials are also thrown on the floor. Wearing gloves and long-sleeved clothing is a great idea.
- Keep an eye out for litter.
There is usually even more litter after events such as a marathon or a street fair. So getting some extra bottles and cans right after events is a good idea.
You not only save money by picking up litter, but you also improve the appearance of your neighborhood and town and help the environment!
You should not only pick plastics, you can also pick and recycle glass bottles and jars for cash.
Also, come prepared! If you don’t have extra trash bags stashed in your backpack or purse, you can miss out on bottles and cans aplenty.
On the other hand, if you keep them around, you’ll always have them on hand if you spot a heap of cans. Happy gleaning!
Bottle Redemption Laws in Some States of the U.S
Californians: can make money from beverages such as beer, malt, wine, and distilled spirit coolers. In addition, you can earn money on all non-alcoholic beverages except milk.
Vegetable juices larger than 16 oz. are not permitted. Covered containers include any container made of aluminum, glass, plastic, or bimetal; refillable are excluded.
Connecticut: You can make money in Connecticut by selling beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, and bottled water. Any bottle, can, jar, or carton made of glass, metal, or plastic is acceptable.
However, non-carbonated beverage containers larger than three liters and HDPE containers are excluded.
Hawaii: Except for dairy products, you can get money back for a beer, malt, mixed spirits, and wine, as well as all non-alcoholic beverages.
Any container with a capacity of up to 68 oz. made of aluminum, bimetal, glass, or plastic is acceptable.
Iowa: residents can receive money for returning beer, wine coolers, wine, liquor, carbonated soft drinks, and mineral water. So, you’ll get money for anything alcoholic or carbonated, as well as water. You can return any glass, metal, or plastic bottle, can, jar, or carton.
Maine: Except for dairy products and unprocessed cider, all beverages make money in Maine. That’s fantastic. You’ll be compensated for any container containing four liters or less and made of glass, metal, or plastic.
Massachusetts:
Get a redemption reward from beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, and mineral water in Massachusetts.
You can get paid for any bottle, can, jar, or carton made of glass, metal, plastic, or a combination of the three; biodegradables are not accepted.
Michigan: Michigan residents can be compensated for beer, wine coolers, canned cocktails, soft drinks, and carbonated and mineral water.
Any container of less than one gallon in size made of metal, glass, paper, or plastic will earn you a redemption reward.
New York: New Yorkers can get paid for beer, malt, wine products, carbonated soft drinks, soda water, and sugar-free water.
You can earn money by recycling any bottle, can, or jar that is less than one gallon in size and made of glass, metal, aluminum, steel, or plastic.
Oregon: Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, and bottled water are all redeemable in Oregon. All beverages are covered except for wine, distilled liquor, dairy products, milk substitutes (such as plant-based milk), and infant formula. Any bottle, can, or jar made of glass, metal, or plastic is acceptable.
Vermont: Vermont offers redemption rewards for beer, malt, mixed wine, liquor, and carbonated soft drinks. You can be compensated for any bottle, can, jar, or carton made of glass, metal, paper, plastic, or a combination of these materials.
Related: How to Make Money Recycling Paper (Magazines, Newspapers, Cardboard)
Bottom Line
Bottle redemption is lucrative if you are consistent and put in a lot of effort. If you live in a state that gives cash for bottles and cans, you should pay more attention to how much you recycle.
You’re throwing away free money! Some states will provide you with up to 15 for certain containers, so you can make a lot of money and help the environment simultaneously. So stay focused on your goal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you make money collecting bottles?
How much recycling centers pay per bottle depends on what kind of plastic you have and how many bottles you have.
Most states pay between a few pennies and 5 cents per bottle, but Michigan pays 10 cents per bottle. Find out the rules at the recycling center you want to use.
Q: How many plastic bottles do you need to make $100?
To make $100, you need to sell 1000 bottles. So if you can make between 5 and 10 cents per bottle, you will need around 1000 bottles to make, say, $100.
Q: Do recycling companies pay you?
Recycling may not be able to replace your full-time job, but it can help you make some extra money. For example, if you recycle your empty cans, you might get about $5 per pound. So if you save $5 a week, you’ll have an extra $260 at the end of the year.
Q: Is recycling a profitable business?
Recycling cardboard, paper, aluminum, and rigid plastics will be profitable soon and in the past, because the price is higher than the cost of processing. For example, each ton of PET plastic (drink bottles) would bring in $150 in profit, split between the city and the recycling company.
Q: How much does a bottle Redemption girl make a year?
As of Feb 4, 2023, the average annual pay for a Bottle Service in the United States is $38,812.
Q: How does bottle drop to make a profit?
A person buys a six-pack of beer from a store. The customer buys the beer from the store and leaves a 5-cent deposit for each bottle. The consumer gets the deposit back if they bring the empty bottle to a store or a BottleDrop return center.
Q: Can you turn plastic into money?
If you thought that plastic trash had no use other than to pollute our oceans and take up space in landfills, you were wrong. The Plastic Bank, a Canadian social enterprise, has turned it into money. This gives people in poor developing countries a way to fight plastic pollution while earning money or credit.
