# They made millions recycling metal cans.

**Published by:** [Durwin](https://paragraph.com/@durwin/)
**Published on:** 2023-11-08
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@durwin/they-made-millions-recycling-metal-cans

## Content

Who would have known recycling trash from one state to another could be so profitable?Recycling — it’s a noble act, a contribution to the planet, a way to reduce waste and save resources. But what if recycling crossed the line into the gray area of schemes and hefty profits? A company earned $7.6 million by taking cans and bottles from one state, crossing a border, and recycling them in another. This is environmentalism meets entrepreneurship, with a twist of legal trouble. What’s the crime here? At first glance, it might seem like this family simply found a clever way to turn trash into treasure. They bought recyclable materials in Arizona and then hauled them over to California, where they redeemed them for those precious dimes that are part of California’s Redemption Value (CRV) system. I still don’t see anything wrong. It is just shrewd arbitrage. Clever business.Recycling is a big business, and some people are making big dollars from it.But there’s a catch — the law sees it as fraud, plain and simple. The family is now facing the wrath of prosecutors who are accusing them of defrauding the state of California. What the, why? Well, for starters, it turns out that California’s recycling program is funded by consumers who pay extra when they purchase bottles and cans, knowing they’ll get it back when they recycle. This is meant to protect the environment and support communities, encouraging them to recycle. However, recycling out-of-state containers that haven’t been subjected to this fund undermines the entire program. And that’s exactly what this family is alleged to have done. Sure, on the surface, they were still recycling, but they were doing so in a way that bypassed the system’s integrity. So basically, you can’t recycle trash in California that isn’t from California, and profit from it. The family was essentially taking recyclable trash from Arizona and sending them into California for cash.Plastics are the hardest to recycle and damages the environment the most.While they were saving the planet in their own way, they were also allegedly siphoning off funds that were meant to support the very cause they claimed to be championing. You want to applaud their ingenuity while also questioning their ethical compass. They did something wrong in trying to do something right. Now, you might be wondering why the law is being so harsh on this seemingly enterprising family. After all, isn’t recycling supposed to be a good thing? Well, the heart of the matter lies in the principle of fairness. California’s recycling program relies on consumer participation and contributions. When someone abuses the system, it not only affects the financial aspects but also erodes the trust and integrity of the program itself. Are we being too harsh on these recyclers?Honestly, how often do you recycle?On one hand, they found a way to make a substantial amount of money, and at the end of the day, they were still contributing to recycling efforts. On the other hand, the alleged manipulation of the system undermines the very foundation of what recycling programs stand for — sustainability, environmental protection, and community support. Think about it, if there wasn’t any money to be made recycling these cans, would anyone still do it? It would be much simpler tossing them into the trash. - Do you recycle often? - #RecyclingRiddle #TrashToTreasure #GreenEthics #EnvironmentalIrony #RecyclingEntrepreneurs #RecycleRight #LegalLimbo #SustainableSchemes #EcoConscious #Choices #ethics

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