Get paid to recycle
 

Well, get paid back would be more accurate -

https://spanishnewstoday.com/get_pai...0267552-a.html

I read this with my usual scepticism, but is already working elsewhere so...

Re: Get paid to recycle
 

Been a 'thing' in German and many other places for years.
The UK used to have a scheme once, but plastic took over, and it was cheap compared to glass.
I think it's a good idea; we were up at Benidorm Cross last week, and there were cans strewn all over the place (the lack of rubbish bins doesn't help).
It will also give the 'beggars' something to do instead of just sitting around waving a cup.

Im going to get ahead of the game and start collecting all the cans and bottles I can find, who knows this time next year I might be a millionaire....

Re: Get paid to recycle
 

I'm glad to see that glass bottles aren't included initially - it will put off the day we have to do the walk of shame to Mercadona with the empty wine bottles!

Do you have to take the plastic bottles and cans back to where you bought them from, or not? The only time we buy either (apart from olive oil in plastic bottles) is usually when we're out somewhere and might buy a small bottle of water, we don't buy fizzy drinks in cans.

Re: Get paid to recycle
 

Haha, I thought about that too! :) It would currently be even more embarrassing for me as due to the ongoing "buy-1-get-1-free" deal at El Corte Ingles on Codorniu I've switched to cava for as long as it lasts. And to get to the supermarket I'd have to walk through the posh "perfume floor" first with bottles clinking in my bag...

Luckily it'll be plastics first. :) I have read a bit on the theory of this model and it actually makes sense. The general idea is to turn the bottles into something of value, almost a commodity. That way they don't end up being tossed just anywhere as they are no longer just trash - they have value.

Countries from Poland to Singapore are recent adopters and recycling rates are climbing as expected. Advanced machines scan the bottle(s) and at the end give you a print-out to use at the register when paying for your shopping, so it's almost like handing over a cash voucher. Bottles can also be returned to ANY store, not just where you purchased them. So no purchase receipts required, no having to remember which bottle was bought where, etc.

Re: Get paid to recycle
 

We have a Reciclos recycling machine in Carrefour near us. You feed it cans and bottles and if you register it gives you credit of some sort. I put a odd can in one day just to try it but didn’t bother with the app.

Re: Get paid to recycle
 

Contrary to headlines like this, consumers do not actually get paid to recycle. When you purchase a product, you pay a small deposit upfront, which you can reclaim when you return the item for recycling.
WIKI on how far some countries are on this issue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contai...aws_by_country
It is a shame that all counties are not singing from the same hymn sheet. Just the same with car pollution zones, I suppose.

Re: Get paid to recycle
 

True. You'd only be making money if you'd be recycling someone else's bottles. :)

The deposit is what adds "value" to the empty container and turns it from trash to commodity, hence the rise in recycling rates after the introduction of such a system. But of course as you mentioned the deposit is paid for upon purchase so you're essentially just getting your own money back.

One thing that hardly anyone has mentioned is that this should have a huge effect on plastic waste management by local councils, given that such a large percentage of plastic bottles/cans will now be returned to stores rather than put in bags and dumped into those large yellow containers.