I used to collect and recycle aluminum cans when I was a kid. I remember collecting bags and bags of my old man's Coor's cans and hauling them to the local recycler and coming home with my $10-$15. I was 8 or 9 and it was the early 80's so it wasn't a bad haul.
Fast forward almost 40 years and I'm back in the game. I go through Coke like water so since last summer, I had amassed five 30-gallon garbage bags of crushed Coke cans. I looked through the various reviews of recyclers and decided on Champion.
When you first pull in, you might not be sure what to do. Just drive all the way to the back of the lot and you'll see a two-story building with the Champion signage on it (see pic). Once parked, grab one of the wheeled bins, fill it with your payload, and wheel it over to the scale (see pic).
If it's your first time there, you'll be asked for your ID. Once your recyclables are weighed, you'll get a printed ticket which you take over to the window to get paid (see pic). Aluminum was 30¢/pound when I went so $16.20 for the five bags. If you crush your cans and use the 30 gallon bags, it's about $3 for each full bag.
Both the gentleman at the scales and the lady working the payout window were very, very nice. Looking forward to completing the circle of life (buying more Coke with the $16.20 and creating more empty cans) and coming back to Champion Recycling next summer.
Thanks for a great experience!!!