Going green is getting greener

COEUR d'ALENE - Throwing an aluminum can in the garbage is getting too costly.

Users of the convenient containers can consider this: Cans are going for 50 cents a pound at Bluebird Recycling, in the Coeur d'Alene Industrial Park.

That's the highest price since early 2008.

And word is getting around.

Bluebird Plant Manager Rick Jemison said the high price has driven an increase in recycling at Bluebird, as much as 50 percent higher compared with what he considers normal activity.

"There are people who collect their cans for years and bring them in when the price is right," he said. "Others bring them in every time they have a bagful."

Bluebird Recycling, 4875 Manufacturing Way, ships out about 40,000 pounds of the cans each month, he said.

The cans are sold to the likes of Anheuser-Busch and Evermore Recycling, Jemison said.

People call Bluebird to inquire about the rate on aluminum cans, and when it's down around 25 or 30 cents a pound, they often wait to cash in, Jemison said.

Few, if any, are waiting now.

Ed Maki dropped off nearly 10 pounds of beer cans Thursday that he said he wouldn't even be recycling - but the price is motivating him to make the effort.

"You can really make some extra money if you focus on it," the Coeur d'Alene man said.

As for really focusing, Maki's considering going around to North Idaho bars to collect cans for some extra income.

Surprisingly, most bars don't recycle, Jemison said.

John Ebel of Rathdrum unloaded 30 pounds of cans he had at home.

"For anybody who has used a lot of cans, pop and beer, it would be a great time to cash them in," Ebel said.

Jemison wouldn't speculate on what's driving the price up, though he said it's often times higher this time of year, though not this high.

Overall, he said he has seen an increase in all recycling since the economy took a dive in 2008.