Allston Redemption Center

It’s in a basement, sketchy area, smells (which I assume should be expected) and not many, if any of the folks speak English. I’ve been here a few times and this review isn’t so much a review of the establishment, so much as it is a list of tips to ensure YOUR visit to be quick and efficient.
If you’re taking beer bottles/​cans, MAKE SURE to re-​box them in their original containers (cans not so much, but bottles for sure — they won’t take them otherwise and will charge you for a used box). Make sure you at least have a solid estimate of how much you should get back if not the exact amount. They will try to swindle you from time to time depending on who is pretending to count the boxes/​cans/​bottles. I once went in the guy acted like he was running complex equations in his head and said «10 dolla», to which I responded «Nope 18.75 dolla — count it again.» He then took my word for it… which tells me, either he is entirely too trusting and doesn’t have the first clue about math, or he knew damn well what it was and was curious if I knew. If you go here armed with those little tips, you will get in, and get out quickly and not get ripped off. in the Allston area, there isn’t much option for bottle/​can returns.
Another thing you can do, is what I did recently. We all see the ladies and gents going from dumpster to dumpster collecting cans and bottles. Talk to them; find out what they are up to with them. For example, there is a woman who shows up once a week in my lot and collects everything she can find and loads them up into her big SUV. Me being the crass person I can be sometimes, I asked «What do you do with all of this stuff? Doesn’t it make your car stink?» to which she replied «My family collects bottles and cans, we turn them for their deposits and send the money to family and friends in Barbados to buy x-​mas presents». Whether she does or not isn’t the point entirely, the point is, I now have someone who picks up my recycling for free and leaves me with the idea of helping out less fortunate kids in other countries… all because I freaking love me some beer. it’s win-​win. So. yeah, there’s that. :)

As can be expected with a bottle redemption center, this isn’t exactly a comfortable place where you want to spend a lot of time. Which is part of the reason I appreciate it. My boyfriend and I pulled in, grabbed a cart, unloaded the bottles and wheeled it on over to the guy who appeared to be in charge. He quickly surveyed the cart and handed us the cash. I am not sure if he was entirely, 100% accurate in his estimate, but oh well. (It may be a good idea to know about how many bottles you have. Ours were stored in the original boxes which made the process a wee bit easier.)
This place is down a side road in Allston, but there is room to park and you should be out of there in minutes flat. Keep your eyes peeled or you may miss it.
If you host a lot of parties or dinners, this is a great way to make a few bucks.