Are people who redeem cans and bottles at recycling center looked upon as bums or low-lifes? I myself don%26#039;t have that much money and I save all my cans and bottles and then take them to a recycling center for redemption. However, no one else that I know personally does that at all. Am I a bum just because I do this?

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

No. It falls into the area of %26quot;opportunistic scavaging%26quot; that is quite respectable. Like hunting for treasure with a metal detector or collecting wild mushrooms.

Michigan has a 10 cent deposit, and EVERYONE recycles their bottles and cans. 29% 2 Votes

Other Answers (14)

• You are not a bum, you are thrifty and i am also. Why toss money in the trash? Average=$ 800.00 per year from the recycling center 14% 1 Vote
• No, it proves the opposite. Even if you don%26#039;t save them for
  yourself, you can save them for someone who might need
  them to help put food on someone else table or help get
  medical help for someone who doesn%26#039;t have alot of money
  or whose temporarily down on his luck. You%26#039;re not a bum
  by any means because of your recycling. It means that
  you%26#039;re a caring, thoughtful and kind person for caring for
  the earth as much as you do. Keep it up and God Bless
  You! 14% 1 Vote
• No that does not make you a bum at all. You are making some money and helping the environment as well that makes you a very good person. 14% 1 Vote
• Depends.
  If you look like one, then your looked upon as one.
  If your an average guy at a recycling depot tring to get some extra cash, then no, no, no, noooo. 14% 1 Vote
• NO !
  
  It%26#039;s better than kicking in my front door and getting my big screen. Any job is better than none, even if its can collectors or burger flippers. 0% 0 Votes
• Not a bum... So you are getting a little extra cash in your pocket and doing a good thing for the environment at the same time... KUDOS to you! 0% 0 Votes
• no 0% 0 Votes
• no
  i do it all the time
  also quite well off 0% 0 Votes
• There may have been a time when it was looked down upon, as not many people were interested in recycling.
  
  Although most people still aren%26#039;t, a lot more people are recycling today and saving money cause of it. so no, it%26#039;s not a lowlife thing at all. some people probably think that because they associate returning cans with people digging through dumpsters 0% 0 Votes
• NO!!!!!! people who dont recylce are the low life bums who need to WAKE UP and smell the rubbish and do something about it.KUDOS greenLiVer 0% 0 Votes
• Did you know that Americans each day throw out 100 million cans. Thats enought cans to produce a boeing jet each month. 0% 0 Votes