Good For The Earth: Collecting Bottles And Cans For Recycling

One option to raise funds consciously is to organize a bottle and can collection drive. Bottle and can collection drives are simple and profitable, and do lots to help the earth while cleaning up your local landscape. Can drives can be run by groups of any age, and teach their members a bit about responsibility in the meantime.

Many states have a refund policy in one form or another and will pay a set amount per bottle/can or pay by the pound for collected and returned containers. Groups should check their state's guidelines to find out what cans and bottles can be refunded. Basically, all that is needed for a bottle and can collection drive is a collection place, and volunteers to help youngsters collect, sort, and return the collected bottles and cans. Finding volunteers with large vehicles to transport large bags of cans is probably the most difficult part of the drive.

Here's a basic rundown of how the drive works:

• First, get the word out—post flyers and advertise the upcoming collection in newsletters and local newspapers


• Provide a location for drop off, or place clearly marked collection cans (large trash cans or clean barrels work well) in public places; one suggestion is to cut a can/bottle-sized hole in the center of a piece of plywood and use to top the can so it is more obvious the bin is not to be used for trash


• After collection, cans will need to be sorted to remove unacceptable bottles and cans, and returned to a redemption center for cash

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