Recycle Glass Bottles & Jars for Cash: Get Paid up to 15¢ per Bottle

You will want to mainly target food and beverage glass. This includes soda, beer, wine, and liquor bottles.

States That Pay for Glass Bottles & Jars

Not every state has glass recycling programs where they actually pay people for recycling. Currently, only 10 states have what’s called the Container Deposit Legislation (also known as the Bottle Bill).

What’s a CDL, you ask?

According to Wikipedia,

Container-deposit legislation (CDL) is any law that requires collection of a monetary deposit on soft-drink, juice, milk, water, alcoholic-beverage, and/or other reusable packaging at the point of sale.

The first thing to do is to make sure your state has what’s called the “Bottle Bill” and will actually pay for any glass you have.

These states are:

1. California
2. Connecticut
3. Hawaii
4. Iowa
5. Maine
6. Massachusetts
7. Michigan
8. New York
9. Oregon
10. Vermont

If you look at glass soda and beer bottles, you’ll notice a small sign on the bottom that says something like:
**ME-VT-CT-MA-NY-OR-IA-5¢ MI-CA 10¢**.

This basically indicates the states with bottle redemption programs where you can get paid for recycling that glass bottle—and how much you’ll earn.

What if I don’t live in any of these states?

Well, you have two options:

1. If you live close to the border of a state that does have the Bottle Bill program, you can take your glass to a recycling center in that state. Note: Please do some research first. Some states have laws that prohibit taking recyclable material from one state to another.
2. Wait for your legislators to make the program available in your state. Many states have active campaigns underway.

Know the Law

If you live in a state with Container Deposit Legislation, your next step is to carefully read the guidelines for what types of glass your state will and will not accept.

This can easily be done by visiting bottlebill.org.

For those not living in the U.S., you can visit this page on bottlebill.org to find out whether your country or province has the program and where to find recycling centers.

How Much Can You Earn for Recycling Bottles?

Generally, you can expect to earn anywhere between 5¢ and 15¢ per bottle or jar.

The exact amount depends on the state you live in. The best thing you can do is find and contact a few recycling centers near you. This way, you can learn their drop-off times and how much you’ll be paid.

Information on recycling centers can be found at recyclingcenters.org.

Collecting & Sorting Glass

Next, you’ll need to make arrangements for collecting the glass.

Bars and restaurants produce quite a bit, so it may be worthwhile to check with them to see if they’d approve of a recycling program.

If they approve, you’ll need to place containers at their locations. Be sure to clearly mark the containers as being for glass only.

Once or twice a week, you’ll need to collect the glass. You will likely need a large vehicle to handle the volume.

Sort out anything broken or items that won’t be accepted. Be sure to remove mirrors, windows, and light bulbs, as these cannot be recycled with regular glass. Rinse and gently dry the glass you plan to turn in.

Final Step

Take the glass to the deposit office at your local recycling center.

While it might not make you rich, you can take pride in helping the environment by reducing pollution. Plus, depending on how efficiently you collect glass, this could add up to a decent amount of extra cash.

Liquor and Wine Rebates

There are other ways to earn extra money, such as liquor and wine rebates.

Before purchasing wine or liquor, check the brand’s website to see if they offer any rebates. If they do, you can grab a rebate form from the liquor store and submit it. Be sure to include everything they require for the rebate, such as the receipt, box label, or any other documentation.

After submitting the rebate, you can recycle the bottle as usual. Be sure to sort wine bottles into the correct category, as they are often not clear glass.

The Bottom Line

To be honest, recycling—no matter the material—isn’t going to replace your day job. However, it’s a responsible and respectable way to keep the earth (and your wallet) a little greener.