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RecycleFind counts bottle deposits, avoided trash fees, and scrap metal payouts. RecycleFind does not count jobs or GDP.
Deposit Programs Available: California (CA), Connecticut (CT), Hawaii (HI), Iowa (IA), Maine (ME), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), New York (NY), Oregon (OR), Vermont (VT). Other states may have local programs or scrap metal opportunities.
Earnings from Recyclables
Add materials you take to redemption centers, scrap dealers, or bulk recycling programs
Savings on Waste Disposal
Calculate savings from reduced trash bags or bin fees through recycling
Related Resources
Current Scrap Metal Prices
See what scrap yards are paying so you know which items pay best.
Scrap Value Calculator
Calculate the cash value of metals you collect at home.
Recyclable Materials List
Find every recyclable material and how to dispose of it.
Carbon Footprint Calculator
See your CO2 savings alongside your dollar savings.
Recycling savings: frequently asked questions
Can you make money recycling at home?
Some money, though rarely a meaningful amount from household material alone. The three realistic sources are container deposit refunds if you live in a deposit state, scrap metal sales, and lower waste bills where your city charges by bin size or by bag. Everyday paper, glass, and plastic put in a curbside bin earn you nothing directly, because that material is collected as a municipal service rather than bought from you.
Which states pay deposits on cans and bottles?
Ten states run container deposit programs: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. Deposits are typically 5 or 10 cents per container, with Michigan and Oregon at the higher end, and which containers qualify varies by state. If you live in one of these states and currently put deposit containers in your curbside bin, you are giving up the refund you already paid.
How can I lower my waste bill?
It depends entirely on how you are billed. Where a city uses pay-as-you-throw, charging by bag, tag, or bin size, diverting recyclables and compost directly lowers the bill and you can often downsize your cart. Where waste is funded through flat rates or property taxes, recycling more will not change what you pay personally. Check your bill first, because that single detail decides whether any of this saves you money.
What household items are worth the most as scrap?
Non-ferrous metal, by a wide margin. Copper wire and pipe pay the most per pound, followed by brass fixtures and aluminum. Old appliances, air conditioners, and electric motors are worth collecting because of the copper and aluminum inside them. Steel is worth only cents per pound, so it is worth hauling in only if you have a large quantity. A magnet tells you which category you are holding in seconds.
Is it worth driving to a scrap yard with a small load?
Usually not. At current prices a car boot of mixed household metal often comes to less than the fuel and time to deliver it, especially for ferrous scrap priced by the ton. The practical approach is to accumulate material until you have a load worth the trip, storing it safely and sorted. For a single appliance, a free municipal bulky-waste collection is frequently the better deal once you count your time.
Do reusable items save more than recycling them?
Almost always, because avoiding a purchase saves the full retail price while recycling recovers only material value. A reusable bottle, bags, and containers pay back quickly against the disposable versions they replace. Repairing rather than replacing saves more still. The savings ladder runs the same direction as the environmental one: not buying beats reusing, reusing beats recycling.
How accurate are these savings estimates?
They are a planning estimate built from typical deposit rates, scrap prices, and disposal costs. Your real figure depends on your state's deposit law, your local scrap market, and how your city bills for waste, and scrap prices in particular move continuously. Use the result to see which of these levers is worth your effort rather than as a forecast of a specific dollar amount.