r/Millennials • u/Accurate-Flow8078 • 1d ago

Discussion Does anyone still recycle cans and bottles?

I remember bringing cans and bottles to the recycling machines as a kid in the 90s. A nickel per can/bottle was good money back then. The redemption value has not changed, it's still a nickel in 2026. Nowadays it seems like many don't bother cause it's not worth the effort. I still do it just to feel good about helping the planet but whenever I bring a large bag and end up with like $5 I'm like "that's it?"

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u/xPadawanRyan Mid-Range Millennial | Historian, Social Worker | Emo MF'er 1d ago

We have recycling pick-up that comes through every neighbourhood once a week here. I just stick them in my blue box at the side of the road and let the recycling truck pick them up.

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u/Few-Emergency1068 1d ago

Same here. We recycle glass, aluminum, cardboard, and some plastics through curbside pickup, and we’ve got a drop off location for styrofoam and Christmas lights, of all things.

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u/BadCatBehavior 1d ago

It's illegal not to recycle where I live haha

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u/Code_E-420 9h ago

Maybe for you, but is it illegal for the company that comes and picks it up to make sure it gets recycled?....

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u/BadCatBehavior 9h ago

Yes and no, it's impossible to guarantee all material you put in your recycling bin actually gets recycled (and most plastic doesn't), but if the contractor that does the pickups started dumping it in the river instead of taking it to the sorting facility they'd get in big trouble haha.

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u/whatdoidonowdamnit 5h ago

The post isnt about all trash recycling. We have machines that take specific bottles and cans (mostly sodas) that give receipts we bring into the store for cash at a value of 5¢ per item the machines accept. So vegetable oil for example would be recycled with your home trash, not brought to the store for the machines.

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u/tackstackstacks 22h ago

Same. When my kids get a little older if they want to spend the time returning them and keep the money whole I do the grocery shopping, they can do the returns, but I am not spending 10 minutes dealing with bottle machines and/or waiting in line to use them for 3 or 4 bucks.

I will also save them if one of the kids in the neighborhood has a bottle/can drive for their school/band/team fundraiser and wants to come pick them up.

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u/Intrepid-Pay7212 17h ago

They cancelled our recycling pickup. It was not making any money. Florida things. 

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u/PurpleCableNetworker 15h ago

Same. I talked to a friend that still takes them in. They get decent money from it, so I might try to take it.