Cans for cash: Uribe Refuse revives payments for aluminum cans at Haymarket recycling center

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Uribe Refuse Services is offering money for people who recycle aluminum cans.

The company bought a recycling plant near 4th and J streets in the Haymarket. Now, RecycleLink is reviving the payment program for aluminum cans.

“We had a lot of customers that were really upset when we stopped, so we’re excited to do it again,” said Michaela Fitzgerald, the office administrator.

There are a couple of places in Lincoln that already pay for aluminum cans, but RecycleLink said this downtown location will be a benefit to the community.

“There’s not a lot of options for people in this area of town to take their cans in, and they also might not be able to pay for curbside service,” said Mike Malmkar, the plant manager.

RecycleLink will pay 50 cents per pound. A pound is about 30 cans.

You can also recycle cardboard and plastic there as well.

Uribe is hoping to give people an incentive to recycle their cans rather than throw them away.

On Tuesday morning, Malmkar said a woman brought in nearly 100 pounds of cans.

“That’s a lot of saving up your cans, but she’s got 50 bucks in her pocket now to go burn,” he said.

If you don’t necessarily want the money, but you want to recycle, RecycleLink is partnering with Lincoln Public Schools.

“You can pick whatever school, and the money will go to their libraries,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s called Cans for Books.”

Unlike other materials, aluminum cans can be recycled an infinite amount of times.

“The recycling aspect of it just makes for a greener earth for all of us,” Fitzgerald said. “And if you’re able to recycle something, then you may as well. It’s better for everybody in the long run.”