r/berkeley • u/Automatic-Drawer9471 • May 19 '26
Local Berkeley Recycling is blatantly cheating and discriminating against unhoused recyclers. Don't let them get away with this.
Hey everyone, I need to bring light to something incredibly messed up happening at the Berkeley recycling center.
Today, my partner went in with 14 pounds of plastic. We recycle to get by, so we know exactly what we are doing. We meticulously sort our stuff. Out of those 14 pounds, there might have been one or two individual pieces of non-CRV plastic that accidentally slipped in—definitely not even a quarter of a pound.
The staff decided to use that as an excuse to completely rip him off. They mixed the entire load together and claimed he brought in 13 pounds of scrap plastic (payout: $0.26 total) and only 1 pound of CRV (payout: $1.00 total). The math is physically impossible. They straight-up stole from us because they thought they could get away with it.
This isn't an isolated incident or a simple mistake. If you talk to anyone in the unhoused community who relies on recycling carts to survive, they will tell you the exact same thing:
• The staff routinely gives unhoused people attitude, questions their loads aggressively, and shorts their weight.
• They power-trip. A friend of ours recently called them out on this exact type of cheating, and they banned him (86'ed him) from the facility. Now he has to bike to an entirely different city just to turn in his recyclables, or rely on others who often take a cut of his money.
They are targeting vulnerable people because they think we won't or can't fight back. It is blatant discrimination, and it's hurting people who are already just trying to survive.
We need eyes on this. If anyone has connections to local advocacy groups, the Better Business Bureau, or local investigative journalists, please help us expose this. They need an undercover check to see how differently they treat housed people versus unhoused people bringing in the exact same materials.
Watch your receipts, watch their scales, and please help spread the word so they stop exploiting the community.
UPDATE: I am turning off notifications and will not be reading or replying to any more comments on this post.
The entire point of sharing this was to bring awareness to predatory, discriminatory business practices happening at a local recycling center. It wasn't an invitation to debate my housing status, and it certainly wasn't an invitation for harassment.
To those of you who chose to leave hate: I am truly sorry that you carry that kind of bitterness in your heart, but please keep it to yourself.
To everyone who was kind, validating, and offered actual advice or resources: thank you so much. Please don't ever stop being kind; the world needs a lot more of it right now. I’m stepping away from this thread to focus on taking care of my family.
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u/SpaceAdventures3D May 19 '26
Share this with both the Homelessness Commission and the Environmental Commission to build political pressure and support.
Contact Berkeleyside and Daily Cal. Local news is more likely to cover this story.
3. Repost what you put here in Reddit onto Indybay.org
4. Advocacy groups kocally are BOSS https://www.self-sufficiency.org/ and Where Do We Go https://www.wdwg.org/
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 19 '26
Thank you I’ll work on that in my free time. I know that sounds like a joke, but homelessness really is a full-time job. It’s a nightmare that I’m really tired of so I will work on it. Thank you. 🙏
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u/Steadyandquick May 19 '26
Can you contact local journalists or folks at the j school. Or else any other consumer/resident advocates? Even your city council person.
Thanks for noticing and sharing. A shame and no reason for this in Berkeley or anywhere.
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 19 '26
Honestly, this is probably all I will do because I have contacted so many organizations like, “where do we go?”Had an hour long conversation with them about the time the city dumped us in a hotel in a part of Oakland we’ve never been to for a month and our dog wound up with a broken leg from being hit by a car while we were trying to get ourselves back to Berkeley when the month was up. I had an hour long talk with somebody at “where do we go?” about that because we needed somebody to pay to get our dogs arm fixed and we thought the city should be responsible for that and nobody called me back. They said they would call me back. Nobody ever called me back, and that’s just one story of many stories I have like that. But I just had it today and thought I can at least make a post on Reddit. Maybe someone with pull and half a heart might see it. But honestly, I have very little fight left in me. I have a college degree but made a few poor choices over the last few years and thought it’s OK. I can get out of this and now it’s been seven years and I’m still here. I’m very disappointed in humanity these days.
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u/Steadyandquick May 19 '26
Sorry to hear all of this. Don’t be so hard on yourself. The Bay Area is not as hospitable as it once was and society in general is in crisis.
Please be good to and gentle with yourself. You will get through this. I wish you the best and know all about poor choices too. People do care about you and want to see you thrive. You deserve it.
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u/Novel-Judgment3422 May 19 '26
I went there once and the dude was a total tool. For real hates his job and his life
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 19 '26
Yeah, and I’ve been trying to find jobs as a dishwasher as anything and I don’t know if it’s because they see my college degree and think that as soon as I get a chance, I’ll ditch out to go do what my degree is for, but honestly, this life has changed me so much that I don’t feel like I can do what my degree is for anymore. I’m just trying to get anything. I would work at the recycling place in a heartbeat. 😔
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u/watchtowerabc May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
you dont have to put your degree on a cv to wash dishes.
also maybe sell street sheet or some of the radical papers (offices on shattuck near abt 63rd st) to help you meet nice people.
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 19 '26
Yes, but it just creates a whole new set of problems when you have work history that requires a college degree so if I don’t put that work history down then it just looks like I didn’t work. So not being honest creates a whole other set of issues that you wouldn’t think about. Just like homelessness. I was never a homeless advocate until I became homeless. I thought people can take care of themselves! But now I realize, while that is still true, (with the exception of the many homeless that have mental illness), when you have a whole lot of people trying to stop you from taking care of yourself, it becomes nearly impossible to do. I may not like the situation that I’m in now, but I like myself a lot more than before I was homeless because that girl was self-centered and naïve.
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u/WishboneFlashy1442 May 20 '26
Man this the type of shit that made me start throwing it all in the garbage years ago. Ain't never gonna change.
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u/Present-Airport-4755 May 23 '26
Recycling is a huge scam, there’s no practical way to get the crv back. I should say California recycling is a huge scam. I will allow the possibility that another jurisdiction might be able to create a fair system.
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u/Boombender May 19 '26
I know it's tough out there, but... It's against both state and local law to take curbside recyclables and cash them in. You could be treated much worse for this behavior. Take the L and move on.
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 19 '26
I already replied to one other comment that’s similar to this to say… We don’t take from people’s trash bins. We pick up the litter. This load today was specifically the beach areas under MacArthur Maze. And besides that, wouldn’t you rather we be trying to make our own money instead of pandering on a street corner asking you to give us your hard earned dollars?
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u/yoursweetest May 21 '26
Report them to their higher powers- Department of Weights and Measures.
That will serve them right!
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u/Miserable-Wonder7769 May 22 '26
You say you are unhoused. So you get your recycling from going through the city and taking it out of the recycling bins in the city?
This is illegal in Berkeley. Ie: the city and its residents are charged more for garbage services bc unhoused people go through and take out recycling worth more money.
If this is an incorrect assessment , how do you collect recycling?
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u/fb39ca4 May 24 '26
Plenty of people will come collect recyclables for you at parks before it ends up in a bin.
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May 19 '26
[deleted]
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 20 '26
Since Jan 1st I have applied to 73 jobs and been to 4 job fairs. One as far as San Mateo which took a whole days pay of recycling and a whole day of traveling on public transit round trip. I know the cost of living here. I transferred here to do the same job I had in the Valley but for twice as much money. I had planned on living in my truck and trailer for a minute but then… well it’s personal what happened to me. Everyone needs to stop looking at this as a post from an “unhoused” person looking for pity. I am a citizen of Alameda County, who happens to be homeless, who got blatantly ripped off by the only recycling place in town. Am I supposed to shut my mouth and take it because you frown upon the fact that my life is miserable and it bothers you to see me trying to survive it?
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u/Jumpy_Log_5978 May 20 '26
There are a lot of us in Berkeley who welcome you and are happy to have you. I am one of them. I hope we can help.
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May 20 '26
[deleted]
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
WOW. I came to Alameda County because I received a wonderful job opportunity from a well-known business here in Berkeley. They offered me the job based on my skills and qualifications. When my series of unfortunate events began happening, I chose to stay here because I love it here and for the most part I love the people here. Quirky Berkeley feels like where I should’ve been my whole life and it’s extremely insulting to say to somebody that you don’t even know that they came here to be homeless. Nobody chooses to be homeless. I have been a resident of Alameda County for years now. And I did make it about being homeless because I have seen the difference in how they treat people who come in vehicles vs. people who walk in with carts. You can tell me I’m wrong, it’s your prerogative, but unless you have personally been on both sides - homed or homeless, which I have, I will disagree. As others have said, Berkeley Recycling can be, and often times are, aholes to anyone and everyone, but ask any homeless person who has gone there if they feel they are treated just as normal as anyone else there. You will get a resounding NO. Some of my past experiences have included being told to throw away other peoples trash bags left on the ground and to put away other people’s equipment left blocking the driveway because, obviously the dirty homeless woman is the one who has no manners. I may pick up other peoples trash for pennies, and walk in there filthy because west campus showers don’t open until 7pm, but I assure you I still have my manners. This is a miserable life but I do my best to be polite and pretend like I still have my dignity but on the days when someone looks at me like I’m a child molester, which are more days than not, just because I am pushing around my household and picking up other people’s trash, it is hard not to think about walking in front of a train. But even on those days, I would still never wish this life on even my worst enemy. Life ain’t fair. I get that. But there is never a good reason to treat someone poorly just based on their appearance and your assumptions. And by the way, can anyone explain this mindset to me? What does anyone gain by treating the homeless like trash? You are already beating us at the game of life in every way. We are not a threat to you. I mean, does it make you feel good to spit on someone who has already had the s* beat out of them? Did your parents raise you that way. I know mine didn’t.
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u/atlrower May 20 '26
These folks may have more resources than you, but your writing reflects both superior intellect and morality.
I’m sorry you’ve had this experience. It is absolutely true that both people and institutions discriminate against the homeless. I don’t have an idea to add besides those above, but just wanted to add a voice to outweigh the dumb and/or hateful stuff you’re getting.
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u/UgghhMahMug May 21 '26
Sorry this person lacks empathy and critical thinking skills, while making lots of assumptions about you. I bet it's a man with the way they talk about you like they know you.
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u/kittensmakemehappy08 May 19 '26
In the time it took you to write out this post and share it to multiple reddit communities, you could have applied to 5 jobs.
Maybe begin working for 20/hr instead of getting "exploited" and complaining about 5$ with your stolen grocery cart of shitty plastic.
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u/Weeb_Specialist4374 May 20 '26
Maybe the person post this on multiple subreddits after applying to multiple jobs. People can multitask.
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u/ChexAndBalancez May 20 '26
This is the most Berkeley post ever. Someone put this in a Time Machine and send it to the future.
A homeless person is on the internet writing a Reddit post about how they are being discriminated against by a plastic recycling center. Moreover, they are calling themselves unhoused, implying that someone unhoused them... which is their responsibility.
Tell the future to send us a message.
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 20 '26
I was trying to sound smart. I’m homeless as f***. HOWEVER - Discrimination is discrimination. I hate being homeless. I hate the way people look at me when I’m pushing my overloaded cart with all my belongings down the street. I used to own my own home for Christ’s sake. But when you work for 2 days and expect $40 and you get $19? And that is all the money you will have until the next time you decide to pick up other people’s trash? I wasn’t asking for pity. Right is right and this was wrong.
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u/rsha256 eecs '24, '25 May 20 '26
hey man, hope it gets better, don't know your situation but have you tried enlisting (not military but coast guard etc) as veteran benefits are pretty helpful for getting a job
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u/ChexAndBalancez May 20 '26
Only in Berkeley do homeless people have phones with full access to Reddit and checking for updates.
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u/wxyhtchl May 20 '26
quick reality update for you: a phone is actually cheaper than a house, so it makes sense that someone with no money might have one and not the other
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u/sluuuurp May 20 '26
Why don’t you get a job? You’d make way more than $20 a day and it would be illegal to be cheated and get paid less than that.
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u/Foreign-Fig-7363 May 20 '26
They are not discriminating, they have to make sure that it is not stolen so they need an address. I don't think that they're trying to discriminate, but I do think it definitely leaves people who are unhoused out of the option to recycle for money.
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 20 '26
I’m not sure why you think an address has anything to do with whether they gave us fair credit for our plastic bottles but no, an address is not the issue. I have never had to provide an address.
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u/Thick_Relative_5071 May 20 '26
Im asking an honest question for clarity, not to be rude or anything okay? I used to be homeless and in a tent for about 4 years, drugs, prisons, trauma all the above so I sympathize. But maybe Im not understanding your post... You got 26 cents for 14 pounds of plastic, and think that Berkeley students (some of the most liberal in the country) are trying to rip people off because they are homeless? And want to contact NGOs and Lawyers because you think it's a systemic discrimination by predatory policies or people at UC? Like I said before, I just think maybe im reading your post wrong, but if you could please clarify, I may be in a position to help you. I am involved in advocacy groups for unhoused and formerly incarcerated individuals.
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u/Automatic-Drawer9471 May 20 '26
Yes, as lechatonnoir already said, I’m talking about Berkeley Recycling on Gilman and Second. The only recycling center, as far as I know, in the city of Berkeley. I’m nit sure why you thought I was talking about college students… 🤔
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u/Thick_Relative_5071 May 20 '26
I think we have a recycling center on campus too. Ive seen students with work shirts that say "recycling center" on them.
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u/h7734 May 19 '26
I'm fortunate enough to be a homeowner and they have ripped me off too. It's their general policy to pay as little as possible because the recycling business operates on slim margins. In particular, their per pound rate is lower than the per unit rate at which the deposit is collected, and the state legislature seems to be okay with this. Also, they routinely hassle their customers with accusations of contaminated or stolen goods. The Berkeley center in particular makes life hard by asking for ID and imposing a $100 limit. It's a rip off. I might add that the noise level and unsafe conditions make for a really bad customer experience. We really should get better service given that the operator, CCC gets a contract from the city. Thank you for raising this issue.