The Challenges of Can Collecting in New York City
Late one Tuesday night on the Upper East Side, an older couple, Amado and his companion, sat on a low brick wall, chatting quietly in Spanish. Surrounding them were nearly a dozen large trash bags filled with empty cans and bottles—the result of days of hard work. They were waiting for a truck from a Staten Island redemption center to pick up their collection, which would bring in less than $100 for each of them at 5 cents per container. It's a tough way to make a living.
Can collecting is crucial for recycling, advocates say. Without it, many recyclable materials would end up in landfills. However, life for the thousands of can collectors, or "canners," in New York City is getting harder. Competition is rising due to a recent wave of immigrants. Canners work nearly all day, facing hotter summers and more extreme weather. Mayor Eric Adams' fight against rats requires buildings to wait longer before putting trash out, meaning canners work longer into the night. And there's always the risk of encountering rats while reaching into trash cans.
Despite these challenges, canners haven't had a raise in 40 years. The 5-cent value of cans and bottles hasn't changed since New York’s “Bottle Bill” went into effect in 1983. This bill requires a 5-cent deposit on certain drink containers, which can be redeemed when the containers are returned. Canners close the loop by collecting these containers.
### The Struggles and Demands of Canners
Imagine a job with no paid time off, no raises, no reliable hourly rate, no minimum wage, and no guarantee of income on slow days or when sick. Yet, this job helps keep the city operating and makes recycling more sustainable. Thousands of people do this job, and now they want better conditions.
Canners are asking for the 5-cent deposit to be raised to 10 cents per container, effectively doubling their income. This is part of a bill in Albany that would also expand the types of containers covered by the deposit law and increase the fee that beverage distributors pay to redemption centers.
### Organizing for Change
The heart of the organizing effort is Sure We Can, a nonprofit bottle-redemption center in Brooklyn. Founded in 2007, it serves as a clubhouse for canners, offering storage, meeting spaces, and even social events. Sure We Can have been instrumental in advocating for the bottle bill, taking canners to Albany for rallies, nd hosting lawmakers at the center.
Ryan Castalia, the executive director of Sure We Can, is a vocal advocate for the canners. He emphasizes that canners earn around $5 an hour, a third of the minimum wage. Doubling their income would be a significant improvement.
Sure We Can has also spun off the Alliance of Independent Recyclers, a group run by canners themselves. The Alliance aims to support its members, including offering a form of paid sick leave. Inspired by the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, the group hopes to expand its reach and organize more canners across the city.
### The Fight for the Bottle Bill
The 10-cent deposit bill has gained traction but faces powerful opposition from unions and beverage distributors. They argue that raising the deposit will hurt sales and burden small stores and distributors. Supporters of the bill, however, see it as a crucial step in addressing New York’s solid waste crisis.
Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group, is leading the push for the new bottle bill. He hopes to build momentum before the Legislature returns in January. Supporters are up against groups like the AFL-CIO and the American Beverage Association, who worry about the impact on sales and jobs.
### The Future of Can Collecting
Canners like Raymond Andrew Dash, who relies on canning to make ends meet, hope for a raise. The average New York City canner makes $119 a week from collecting cans, according to a 2023 survey. Most canners are over 50 and got into canning for various reasons, including supplementing other income.
The bill got farther in the last legislative session than ever before but stalled in the Senate. Advocates are now trying to build momentum. Ken Rosenblum, director of the New York State Association of Beverage Centers, suggests a centralized, state-sponsored redemption system to ease the burden on small retailers.
The Teamsters Union also has concerns, worrying that the 10-cent deposit will depress sales and cost jobs. However, they are open to dialogue with the canners. Ryan Castalia hopes to talk to groups like the Teamsters with a message of worker solidarity, arguing that more investment in the redemption sector could create new, green union jobs.
### Building a Stronger Community
Yvonne Norville, secretary of the Alliance, is working to convince canners of the benefits of joining together. She has seen different models for collecting in other countries that could work better in New York. In the meantime, Sure We Can is growing, with plans to open a second redemption site in East New York, Brooklyn.
This expansion will help organize more canners and deepen their work in new communities. The goal is to create a more sustainable and supportive environment for canners, who play a vital role in keeping New York City clean and green.