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Trash Pickers are Helping California’s Recycling Industry
1 Min Read
Many trash pickers in California are collecting more than 130 pounds of material from dumpsters, which allow them to cash in their rescued materials for approximately $5 to $90 at commercial recyclers.
These trash pickers provide a steady supply of pre-sorted plastic, glass and aluminum to the commercial recyclers, which help keep thousands of tons of recyclables out of the landfills. In addition to keeping these materials out of the landfills, these recycled materials can provide enough money for the needy to afford something to eat.
The Huffington Post has the details:
Dalano Scranton starts his routine each day at 7 a.m., pushing his cart to the dumpsters outside of the Shrine Collective Apartments in South Los Angeles.
He combs through the trash to pull out glass bottles worth 15 cents per pound, PET #1 plastic bottles for $1.17, and aluminum cans for $1.65 — hot commodities for trash pickers. Scranton continues on his route for another mile and a half, pulling more than 130 pounds of material from dumpsters.
Around noon, he hikes another mile to A1 Electronic Recycling Center, where he trades his haul for about $40 to $50.
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