The Cost or Profit of Recycling

Hauling Services

Do you have any idea what recycled materials are worth?

cash profit of recycling

A international waste disposal company is discovering the cost or profit of recycling our trash. They offer FREE use of a container, FREE pick up and delivery, they take your “trash” and keep the profit. Yes, Profit! They specify materials such as:

profit of recycling cans

  • Plastic bottles and containers
  • Beverage cans
  • Paper
  • Flattened cardboard
  • Paperboard
  • Food and beverage cartons

Each of these commodities offers varying rebates around the country. Particularly metal products have a huge rebate to the tune of a low figure of $200 per ton. Cardboard and paper is not as lucrative but still offers in the ballpark of $100 a ton. Around the country these numbers change but you should know what kind of money you’re leaving on the curbside, just glad that someone will come pick it up.

I always say, “No one is going to pay for your trash,” and it is only your lack of knowledge to believe a large, successful company is just doing you (and the environment) a favor.

One source I checked explains:

The rebate (value to you) of aluminum cans varies between 28 cents and 50 cents per pound over a one year period. There are about 30 can in a pound. Not a great rebate, but for a larger community effort could be beneficial. As with these cans, the value of metal varies often. Contact a local recycling provider to find out what the going rate is.

Corrugated cardboard is worth $80 per ton (baled = 3/4 ton per). That’s pretty good if your business received a lot of cardboard packaged deliveries.

The value of recycling far outweighs the profit of recycling. EPA shares it’s thoughts.

For specifics, it’s hard to find. Recycling commodities are like stocks. They are in fact illusive.