4/3/08
I just recycled my bottles and cans this morning at the RePlanet near my house in Los Angeles. It was a very pain free visit. I grabbed a couple of garbage cans and poured my bottles and cans into separate containers and had them weighted. It was easy and I got $28.50 for my good deed. It was presented to me in the form of a voucher that I took to the Ralphs grocery store and cashed.
But this review is of the reverse vending machines at the RePlanet station. I noticed a couple of folks entering in their bottles one at a time and they were were given their voucher for their good deeds at the end as well. I don't know why they wouldn't just get their items weighted to save the trouble of entering them in one at a time but it is probably because you somehow get the short end of the stick on the weight. In any case, what I noticed about the reverse vending machine was that you had to enter the bottle/can one at a time and allow the sensors to validate that so if you are going to go into the RePlanet station with a lot of cans, my recommendation is that you make sure it is manned during the hours of your visit (check replanet.com) or else you may spend needless hours entering your cans one at a time.
I was also recommended that because my cans were crushed (at least some of them) that they should be weighted. I guess those cans would not pass the vending machine test.
All in all, it is a very painless process so long as you already have your bottles and cans separated. Because if that is the case, you will be getting your cash within minutes. You can even get your grocery shopping done afterwards so it is not a wasted trip.
Saving the environment happens one person at a time. And your efforts can have a ballooning effect and grow without bounds. With my $28.50, I have decided to buy more compact flourescent light-bulbs and give them to my parents. They do not understand the importance nor the savings that can be had by using flourescents. Then hopefully they will tell their friends and they will tell their, so on and so forth.
Pictures are hotlinked from RePlanetUSA.com, visit them for more information on locations and hours of operation.
