Collecting Recycling Aliminimum Cans?

Question

I am about to start collecting aliminimum cans and i have a couple of questions!

1) How much do you get per can?

2) How much do you get per pound?

3) How many do you have to recycle to get £5 or $10?

All answers appreciated, 10 points in it, please answer thoughfully! THANK YOU!

Answer 1

I just sold 96 pounds of cans. There are about 31 average sized cans per pound.  Currently, they are bringing about 70-cents (USA) per pound.  So to answer your questions:

1) the average can is worth about 2.25 cents (USA)

2) 70-cents

3) 7 pounds will get you about $5 (USA)

There are two good ways to profitably gather them: 1) from a bicycle (flatten the cans, as you are gathering them, and carry them in a plastic grocery bag) 2) you can't buy gasoline to drive to where the cans are, so you can only make money if you stop and gather them while going about other necessary business (if you have time). I got into it to pay for gas. If I'd see a rural road had lots of cans, I'd pull over and go in front of my vehicle 400-yards, then return down the other side of the road.  Then the same, behind the vehicle. That far will usually fill up a bag (about 2.5  to 3 pounds).  (You won't get rich, but you'll have gas and spending money. And you'll be able to pay some minor bills.)

If you gather them on roadsides, also keep an eye out for lead in the form of the little weights used to balance wheels. These sling off and can be found on roadways. Lead is selling for about 31-cents per pound (USA).