Why no recycle? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: to buy, wages, taxes)

[MountainGuy74]

Recently moved here from Southern California and have always saved aluminum cans and plastic water bottles. I'd take them in when I collected a few large trash bags full and recycle them for $30-$40 each visit to the recycling center.

I've been saving them here in Phoenix ever since I moved in July and have quite a few bags but when I try and find a place that recycles I find out they only pay 30 cents or so per pound compared to $2 per pound in CA for aluminum and about $1.25 per lb on plastic. Am I not looking in the right area or does AZ really not recycle? At the current AZ rate I think I'll just take them back with me when I go visit family back in CA rather than just throw them away here.

Anyone information would be appreciated.

[adriver]

We have enough methheads that will dig through the trash to separate and sell them anyways. 30 cents a pound is probably just enough to keep them off glue and spray paint, but not enough to buy heroin.

[phx1205]

Originally Posted by MountainGuy74

Recently moved here from Southern California and have always saved aluminum cans and plastic water bottles. I'd take them in when I collected a few large trash bags full and recycle them for $30-$40 each visit to the recycling center.

I've been saving them here in Phoenix ever since I moved in July and have quite a few bags but when I try and find a place that recycles I find out they only pay 30 cents or so per pound compared to $2 per pound in CA for aluminum and about $1.25 per lb on plastic. Am I not looking in the right area or does AZ really not recycle? At the current AZ rate I think I'll just take them back with me when I go visit family back in CA rather than just throw them away here.

Anyone information would be appreciated.

What do you mean "Does AZ really not recycle"? I can't speak for every city in the state, but at least in Phoenix and Scottsdale you put your recycling in the bin the city gives you and they come pick it up from the curb. You mean in CA you have to actually take it somewhere?

[DrDog]

Arizona does a lot of curbside pickup recycling, but unlike California, there is no surcharge when you buy cans and bottles so you can only sell them for what the aluminum is worth, not what the cans are worth based on the surcharge refund.

[wit-nit]

Every city here has a pick-up recycling program. Yes there are a few recycling businesses you can take your stuff to. Aluminum cans just a few years ago were only .05 cent lb so your .30 cents is a bargain today. Remember compared to California our cost of living is cheaper. Our gas is cheaper, groceries are cheaper, taxes are cheaper, our wages are cheaper etc etc than in CA, So it's the law of averages and what the market will bring.

[DetroitN8V]

Yes, we recycle. We just don't get paid for doing so.

[locolife]

As someone else mentioned, it's the surcharge. In CA you're getting a refund for the cans that are charged as a fee when you buy them, here you are simply getting whatever the market value for the aluminum is.

[More Rock]

Let's package up our refuse so some company can make money off of it. Not.

[DetroitN8V]

Have we not learned anything from Seinfeld?

[adriver]

In all reality, the entire metro area recycles. Most of it is done at separation stations. The city pays people to do it.