Since stores are charging customers for CRV, is recycling income ethical?

[linux.poet]

Recently, I’ve noticed that businesses are charging for bottles and cans for juice and soda on their receipts. This irritated me enough that I’ve actually started taking the bottles and cans to a recycling business near my home to recover the money.

In view of this, I’m wondering what you think about people selling bottles and cans to recycling businesses that they took from the recycling bins and didn’t buy themselves at the store. What are the Christian ethical considerations for taking things from garbage cans?

Is it ethical to buy juice using food stamps and then sell the juice bottle that the government paid for? Should the government get that money back?

 

[Hans Blaster]

Recently, I’ve noticed that businesses are charging for bottles and cans for juice and soda on their receipts. This irritated me enough that I’ve actually started taking the bottles and cans to a recycling business near my home to recover the money.

In view of this, I’m wondering what you think about people selling bottles and cans to recycling businesses that they took from the recycling bins and didn’t buy themselves at the store. What are the Christian ethical considerations for taking things from garbage cans?

Is it ethical to buy juice using food stamps and then sell the juice bottle that the government paid for? Should the government get that money back?

What's a CRV?

 

[linux.poet]

What's a CRV?

California Redemption Value. It’s how much the state has decided that certain types of bottles and cans are worth to recycle. For example, an orange juice bottle is worth $0.10.

So if I go to Costco and buy a pack of 3 orange juice bottles, there will be two line items on the receipt, one for the actual orange juice, and one called “CA REDEMPTION VA” for $.30. If I take that to a recycling place, they give me back the 30 cents.

 

[Hoping2]

Recently, I’ve noticed that businesses are charging for bottles and cans for juice and soda on their receipts. This irritated me enough that I’ve actually started taking the bottles and cans to a recycling business near my home to recover the money.

That is the idea behind the charge, you know.
Re-cycling !

In view of this, I’m wondering what you think about people selling bottles and cans to recycling businesses that they took from the recycling bins and didn’t buy themselves at the store. What are the Christian ethical considerations for taking things from garbage cans?

Why waste what can be recycled ?
If the poor don't use what they do have at their disposal, it will just be thrown in the land fill.
Two birds with one stone.
Recycling and sustenance for the poor !

Is it ethical to buy juice using food stamps and then sell the juice bottle that the government paid for? Should the government get that money back?

You have an odd view of recycling.
How is the government getting any money back ?

 

[Hans Blaster]

California Redemption Value. It’s how much the state has decided that certain types of bottles and cans are worth to recycle. For example, an orange juice bottle is worth $0.10.

So if I go to Costco and buy a pack of 3 orange juice bottles, there will be two line items on the receipt, one for the actual orange juice, and one called “CA REDEMPTION VA” for $.30. If I take that to a recycling place, they give me back the 30 cents.

Oh, it's just a bottle deposit. Some states have had these for a long time. Now that I know what it is, I can search for it without finding Hondas. Apparently California has had a bottle deposit for a long time and recently (Jan 1st) expanded that program. It wasn't some thing stores started doing on their own. It is the law.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Recently, I’ve noticed that businesses are charging for bottles and cans for juice and soda on their receipts. This irritated me enough that I’ve actually started taking the bottles and cans to a recycling business near my home to recover the money.

In view of this, I’m wondering what you think about people selling bottles and cans to recycling businesses that they took from the recycling bins and didn’t buy themselves at the store. What are the Christian ethical considerations for taking things from garbage cans?

Is it ethical to buy juice using food stamps and then sell the juice bottle that the government paid for? Should the government get that money back?

If you find a bottle or can on the side of the road that would be ethical. If you went through your own recycling to find every redeemable item that would be ethical too. Diving into other people's recycling without their permission, no. You should have permission. Just like diving into other people's trash is a no-no. More interesting is bottles purchased with food stamps. I suspect they never explicitly told you anything about returning deposits, and there was never anything implicit either. Keep that deposit money and in turn figure out how to give it away to someone else in need.

 

[Laodicean60]

What happened to the good old days when you got 5 cents a can? My wife loved this in Ft. Drum she felt she was making money and the only time she didn't nag, as much, about my drinking. Risky times also because I didn't throw my beer cans out the window. My job was to crush them in put them in trash bags. I even picked up bottles for fuel as a kid, I guess that was when America was prosperous. If recycling was a priority you'd pay people for it.

 

[Richard T]

If you find a bottle or can on the side of the road that would be ethical. If you went through your own recycling to find every redeemable item that would be ethical too. Diving into other people's recycling without their permission, no. You should have permission. Just like diving into other people's trash is a no-no. More interesting is bottles purchased with food stamps. I suspect they never explicitly told you anything about returning deposits, and there was never anything implicit either. Keep that deposit money and in turn figure out how to give it away to someone else in need.

The police can warrantless search your trash. California v. Greenwood, 486 U.S. 35 (1988)
Dumpster diving too is legal in most cases. To target a recycling bin likely is not.

Is Dumpster Diving Illegal?

Is dumpster diving illegal? Discover the laws surrounding dumpster diving and potential legal consequences. Get legal advice from experienced attorneys.

www.legalmatch.com

 

[essentialsaltes]

Morally, I consider taking cans/bottles out of the recycling bins to be stealing.

It is not stealing from me (at least not directly), but I understand the waste haulers can redeem the value, which helps to subsidize the cost of providing trash/recycling service.

 

[zippy2006]

Is it ethical to buy juice using food stamps and then sell the juice bottle that the government paid for? Should the government get that money back?

Presumably you appropriate and own whatever you buy with a food stamp. You own the food and the container. The government does not stipulate that food stamps buy the food but not the containers, as that would not be workable.

 

[com7fy8]

I understand the waste haulers can redeem the value

But do they? I don't know what the legal aspect would be; if it's illegal, then it could be considered to be wrong. But ones even in the business might be glad someone is making some money on the bottles and cans . . . especially if the person is homeless or poor otherwise.

In the Bible, there is regulation of what is called gleaning. It is so poor people can get food, because the farmers leave some of their crops in the field for them; like this, it could be God would be pleased that needy people could get some money from gleaning bottles and cans.

Another item > if I pay food stamps for bottles and cans, this is food stamp money that is not going for actual food!! So, this is not only an issue of if the money should stay with the government, but if I should be getting full use of food stamps for food. Of course, I can choose to use that money for food, after redeeming the containers.

But what can happen is the containers often could end up in the trash so the person does not use that money for food. However, it may be a way to give some money to a gleaner who is needy and industrious on the street.

So, have fun, figuring this out, for God.

 

[Sketcher]

Recently, I’ve noticed that businesses are charging for bottles and cans for juice and soda on their receipts. This irritated me enough that I’ve actually started taking the bottles and cans to a recycling business near my home to recover the money.

In view of this, I’m wondering what you think about people selling bottles and cans to recycling businesses that they took from the recycling bins and didn’t buy themselves at the store. What are the Christian ethical considerations for taking things from garbage cans?

Is it ethical to buy juice using food stamps and then sell the juice bottle that the government paid for? Should the government get that money back?

I have no scruples about that, and any such scruples would be oppressive to those poor enough to dumpster dive.