RePlanet Recycling

Came on a Saturday morning before they opened up the weigh in part. there was already a line for the machines. I’m not too familiar with how it all worked, but there were some very helpful patrons around to guide me through the process. The attendant at this location is very friendly and helpful as well. He really took his time to help anyone who needed it, was patient and kept the area very organized and tidy.

Wow, I can’t believe I really waited about 15 – 20 minutes in line just to recycle! When I read from several others that they waited this long I didn’t think that could really be the norm. However I was proved wrong. I was initially going to go to the one off Davis street but the reviews made it sound a little scary to go to alone with my ol’self.
It is a very small location and with that there weren’t enough bins for me to toss all my recyclables in. There were about three or four people ahead of me each taking several bins so I had I wait a little to grab free ones. Not a biggie since I had all of mine stuffed in garbage bags.
Also another weird thing like others mentioned was how you receive your cash across the tiny block from the packaging store. It’s not as convenient as other sites but it’s really super close. If you drive to receive your money I have no words for you. You would have to be the laziest saddest person unless you are severely injured or handicapped.
The one thing here is the guy who was working was really nice. Most recycling centers have employees who are so unfriendly, not helpful at all or move like zombies with the simplest tasks.
If I’m not in a rush to be anywhere and it’s a nice day out I would probably come back to get some rays while I wait. Maybe I should just use the self-​machines next time.

get your money’s worth!

I drove 20 minutes to get to one of the centers just to find out that the machines weren’t working because they are full. I drove 10 more minutes to the other location and I couldn’t possibly find the center — except that I accessed this Unilocal review via my mobile phone and read one of the reviews that states that it’s next to Ross store. Otherwise there was no way I could possibly find it. Their web site does not tell you where exactly it is, and the shopping center itself is huge and complex. Their web site gives you just a general address. The one in S. Shore center is impossible to find, with so many retail stores all over.
A long wait just to get a little over $ 2. Lots of professional «re-​cyclists» come here. Unless you have a truck-​full of cans/​bottles, it’s not worth a trip. My drive alone was over an hour altogether, round trip.
When I called the company after the first one was not functioning, to report that the machines aren’t working, a girl who took the call didn’t sound like she cares if the machines worked or not. She didn’t even know the center at Nob Hill was located in Alameda, even though she claims to work for the company. I kept telling her that I AM at Nob Hill center’s machines, but she keeps asking which city I am in. Strange.
You’d have to be a professional recycling person AND homeless to put up with the lack of information and uselessness of the web site. Yes, I drive a beat-​up van, but it still transports me from point A to point B, but those who make a living by collecting cans and bottles without vehicles, it must be so frustrating to have to put up with the shortage (and lack) of the functioning recycling centers and the long lines. Even though I am bitching about being have to go to another center, I can at least drive (even though it costs me extra gas and time), but those people who push (or pull) shopping carts and huge bags of cans and bottles can’t easily go to the other location! Those not-​well-​maintained machines are just insults to those who are just trying to survive.
It’s not worth it, financially speaking, as it costs me more to go there than get $ 2. Driving my van for an hour would cost me a lot more than I can get from those cans and bottles, so it doesn’t make sense. They don’t have as many locations as we need, and closest one is 20 minutes away (that was not working so 10 minutes extra drive for me this time). Who has time to go there in the middle of day to spend hours waiting on line (or driving to anther location) and messing with cans and bottles? I work for myself so I may have time (next time I will bring a lot more stuff or else it’s not worth the time and gas money).
California sucks in terms of recycling cans and bottles.

It’s super annoying that I’m trying to make a difference and go through the effort to take bottles and cans in but the machine is always full because dumpster divers are always filling it up with what they scavenge. My bf is of the opinion that taking it directly to RePlanet means the bottles have a better chance of being recycled intact. Went twice this week, they were full. Spoke to a lady who said she had been there twice as well and was refused for bottles because they were full. Watched as the attendant turned her away because there was no more room for bottles, so we couldn’t cash in ours either. Went back for a third time and watched as a little elderly Chinese woman with 6 Hefty bags FULL of cans filled it up again right before my eyes so I had to once again leave with my items. Finally got fed up and put them in my building’s recycle bin. Either run it efficiently so everyone has a chance to use it, or don’t have it there at all. It’s hurting the environment more having people drive to and fro for naught!

This recycling center is located on Whitehall Place on the northside of the Ross store. The self service machine opens at 6am and takes aluminum cans and clear plastic bottles. It won’t take colored glass bottles or large clear plastic bottles. For those, you have to wait until 10am when the recycling center opens and an employee will take those items from you. She’ll also take your cans and plastic bottles. Just sort and empty them into the blue plastic garbage cans for weighing. It’s a little disorganized, but be patient.
It can get busy with people waiting in line to recycle. The amount of money you make on recycling is pretty small and might not be worth your time to deal with. If you stick the recyclables into your recycling bins, it theoretically reduces the amount Waste Management will charge you for recycling.
If you use the self service machine, you’ll get a ticket for your cans and bottles. If you give your recyclables to the employee after 10am, you’ll sign and get a ticket as well. Then you walk over to the Packaging Store just north of the recycling center across the small parking lot form Office Max and turn in your tickets for cold, hard cash. Don’t drive to the Packaging Store — you’re supposed to be doing this for the environment!