BRATTLEBORO — At the Putney Road Redemption Center, cans and bottles become cash or charity contributions.
For more than 30 years, the operation has been running. But many newcomers to the center are surprised they haven't heard of it earlier.
Ryan Walker, manager, has been working at the center since 2008 and through two different ownerships. He works closely with assistant manager Eric Buckley, who has been there for about nine years.
In Vermont, people pay 5 cents for a deposit on carbonated beverages and liquor bottles. Walker said customers save up their empties for months, weeks, or even years sometimes, then bring them to the center, which pays out the deposit. He estimates only 13 states in the U.S. have the program.
"It's basically to boost recycling rates," he said. "Otherwise, people would just throw them away."
Putney Road Redemption Center has "a whole book of local charities" that people can donate their deposit payouts to, Walker said, including Groundworks Collaborative, Rotary Club, Project Feed the Thousands, schools and churches. He estimates about 15 to 20 percent of customers donate their earnings.
Customers are encouraged to sort out their recycling beforehand. No wines, ciders, water or juice bottles have deposits. Walker noted some items from New Hampshire don't have a deposit.
Efforts are underway through a coalition organized by Vermont Public Interest Research Group to get a bill passed to allow the other non-depositable items in Vermont to have a deposit.
"A few states do accept everything," Walker said. "We've been working with VPRG for years now trying to get that bill passed. Last year, I think it was shy by one vote in the Senate. Each year, we've gotten closer and closer."
Walker said he's looking forward to being able to accept more items and ensure more things are recycled. Customers want the bill to pass but distributors oppose it, he said.
The redemption center gets a handling fee on every piece that comes in, and it varies depending on item and how it's sorted.
"We have to do a lot of volume to make anything," Walker said.
Currently, the Putney Road Redemption Center has about seven employees. About half of them are full-time and Walker expects to hire two more soon.
"It's pretty much sorting the cans and bottles," he said of the work. "We load the trailers but it's a lot of counting and sorting. We load the trailer twice a week then some of the guys we train on the register. It's a lot of customer service stuff, too."
Some employees are trained to rent out U-Haul trucks as part of a separate business. The front of the building is leased to a car mechanic.
Work at the redemption center is fast paced, Walker said.
"There's a lot of things going on," he said, describing summers as "crazy" and winters as slower. "A lot of the customers are fun. People are in good spirts a lot of the time. They're just getting a bonus when they come in."
Customers and employees come from all walks of life, Walker said.
At Windham Solid Waste Management District, the Putney Road Redemption Center has a spot set up for people to donate cans and bottles for charities. That brings in about $10 to $20 a day, Walker said.
Walker said the average household in redemption states throws away about $250 worth of returnables instead of bringing them back for deposits each year.
The redemption center is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. It's located at 36 Noahs Lane.