How do buy-back recycling centres work?

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recycling Plastic, glass, and metal containers in a recycling bin.

Buy-back recycling centres are a method of external recycling where consumers are financially compensated for bringing in waste materials.

In this system, the process works as follows:

Sorting: Consumers are responsible for sorting their waste materials before bringing them to the facility.
Transaction: The centre purchases these sorted materials from the consumer, providing an economic incentive for the recovery of items that might otherwise be discarded.
Processing: Once collected, these materials are then processed or manufactured into new products, serving as substitutes for raw materials and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills.1

This model contrasts with drop-off centres, where no payment is provided, and curbside collection, where a central agency manages the pickup of sorted materials from homes and businesses.1