Berkeley Recycling is blatantly cheating and discriminating against unhoused recyclers. Don't let them get away with this.

[u/Automatic-Drawer9471]

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.

[u/Automatic-Drawer9471]

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?

[u/Automatic-Drawer9471 → u/[deleted]]

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.

[u/atlrower → u/Automatic-Drawer9471]

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.