CVT Recycling Center

Went there yesterday on a Wednesday 9÷24÷15). They are now closed Monday’s, Tuesdays, and Wednesday’s. Now open Thursday-​Sunday. Always helpful and courteous at the plastic, cans, glass, paper side. The hazardous waste side not so much. Have got the run around from them with disposing of my Moms sharps from her insulin. One time I brought my moms sharps in a gallon milk jug sealed and an employee gave me these containers with green latchable lids that were for battery disposal. When I went to turn in the full container that they gave me another guy said they couldn’t accept it and sent me away. Had to go back home with the sharps and wait until we had an empty milk jug or juice jug to empty their container into. Much friendlier on the can recycling side!

Easy on the quick unloading. Everything is color coordinated. Fast service and fast in and out transactions.
A plus is look in the newspaper ads for more $$$ on your saving the world

All of the negative reviews are probably from people who have never been here before, and recycled right after a major partying holiday. This place is friendly, fast and convenient. Also, they take coupons from other recycling centers as long as they are in orange county. Sunwest metals always has coupons for aluminum for $ 2 or more. I wish they were open on Mondays, but I’m happy they are open Saturday AND Sunday. Tip: separate the color of your beer bottles ahead of time so you’ll be ready. Separate all of the brown, clear, green and blue, plastic and cans

Why is this place so good? Because you get to dump stuff off for FREE!!!
I’ve been going here for several years now for dropping off things like, old paint, fluorescent light bulbs that burnt out, old electronic parts, and just about anything you don’t want to drop in your regular garbage. Check out their website for everything they take.
Another great feature is of course recycling cans, papers, bottles, etc to try and regain that CVR tax California loves so much.
The other thing I love this place for is to dump your large cardboard boxes that are too big for your recycling bin. You can also drop off those Styrofoam fillings that take up so much space.
Now to be honest, this is not Nordstrom. They deal with garbage, so expect it to look like it. Still, a great asset and very important service available in Orange County.

I like this place for a few reasons: 1. its on my way to work so I’m not going out of my way to make a few bucks. 2. The staff is polite and I always enjoy taking to the head guy (Pete) who works the computer. 3. I especially like the setup for the hazardous waste. All you have to do is drive up, pop your trunk and they take care of the rest. 4. Using a coupon is the only way to go, use the Penny saver or go online and print one from a competitor they will take em all if from the OC and has not expired. Their rates are some of the highest.
If I had 1 complaint it would be that the line moves really slow because of the poor computer system that they use. The workers have complained to management for years but management doesn’t seem to care. As others have said depending on when you go it can be quite a wait but its a hit or miss and for me I haven’t figured out when the best time to go is. I do know that going on the weekends are foolish. Going in the middle of the week I have waited 30 minutes and other times I have been the only one there, although the later happens very infrequent. I know a previous poster said that the wait wasn’t worth the $ 18, perhaps if they would have earned $ 100 it would have been less painful. lol Don’t blame the company because you only had $ 18 dollars.

Went here on a sunday 12:30pm. Worst decision ever the employees are VERY SLOW! And LAZY and the line to weigh your bottles and cans are LONG! Almost 40 minutes waiting in the sun. I do not recommend coming here they do not even pay good per pound. Learned my lesson.

I must like torture because I keep coming back. I think this place knows that there are very few options for bulk recycling. I gave them two stars because the hazardous material unit has their stuff together and knows what a «thank you» is. For glass, cans, and bottles, prepare yourself. Prepare to fight for parking. Prepare to fight for bins. Prepare to stand in a slow-​moving line. Prepare to watch an old man operate a poorly-​placed computer that must operate on an Atari-​based operating system. Prepare to be treated like they are doing you a favor. Prepare to be embarrassed if you accidentally put a brown bottle in the amber bottle bin — there are no do-​overs, them finding that brown bottle is their reward, so kiss that penny goodbye. Prepare to wait at a tinted window to have your money dispensed by what feels like a non-​human. Prepare to see that you got a pittance in return for the nightmare that you just endured. Prepare to do it all over again next year, because once a year is all you can take.

Took some hazardous waste here to dispose of. Coming down Blue Gum, the entrance is the second gate. There is a separate route to drive through for hazardous waste. The workers there were friendly, fast, and served the customers with a smile.

Worst place I ever been too! I’ve been standing in line for over 40 mins now and I’m not even close to the front. The way they got their system set up is ridiculous, it takes 3 guys literally 3 – 5 minutes to process 1 basket of cans!!!

Note: the 1 and 2 star reports are accurate. The rest are from a different planet. The place is usually closed OR the ancient computer is not working so you have to wait hours. All employees ARE very shady Tweeker Gang bangers and they make you feel scared and un-​safe. The other reviews that mention the shady un professionalism of the ‘employees’ are correct — they refuse to speak English or communicate in any way! This place is a very scary BAD joke. Very dirty, smelly, unsafe– this goes for the ‘employees’ and the Dump in general. Please call Cash 4 Cans in Garden Grove for good clean service.

A year ago I went there and the guys working were friendly and helpful, now the new guys are not friendly at all and don’t hope for help cause all they do is hang by the computer and chat with each other. When my glass was being weighted the guys were goofing off and it took the old guy longer to get me out of there cause he had to pull the cans and run the computer. The computer is out of date and stopped running twice while I was waiting in line. The place is not clean and the tint on the window scares me. Can’t see who is giving me my cash. I don’t like that.

My husband went there today for the first time. Let’s just say he wont be going back. The service was absolutely horrible. He had a coupon that actually expired today and they refused to take it although it expired the very day he was there. Also, an older hispanic male in a very rude tone yelled at him and told him he needed to start seperating the items depending on the color. His tone was very rude, and unecessary. Overall this was not a good experience. They really need to change things in order to stop losing customers.

I started coming here because they take everything and are open on Sundays. It didn’t take long before I realized how anal they were here. They will literally dig through your stuff to make sure everything is right. They will dig all the way to the bottom to get ONE 6oz. bottle out that is not recyclable. They are overly suspicious of people putting things in on purpose that are not CA CRV. Most people that do recycling to get back their nickle or dime do not realize the difference between papers, plastic, and glass. People may put stuff in their inadvertently, but it’s insulting that this place makes it seem like you’re trying to pull a fast one on them. They try to find any little reason to not give you cash for something you’re trying to recycle.
The last straw for me came one day when I took a friend to recycle with me. I own a truck so we usually come together so we can get both of our recyclables out. One time when I came the cashier told us that we couldn’t have two separate receipts for two people recycling. I told him that we are not related. We don’t even live together, but I take her since I have a truck. He said that each person that brings their recyclables needs to come in SEPARATE cars. WTH? This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. We’re carpooling and saving on gas and that’s not allowed? Again, WTH? I have since found a new place that could care less if we come together or not. If you’re looking to recycle, go to OC Recycling. They have two locations and they give you the benefit of the doubt. The proof is in the bins you put your recyclables in. This place? a net bin so they can see everything inside it. OC Recycling? Yellow garbage bins you can’t see inside.

I love this recycling center. They have a routine down and it works!
When you first arrive and back into a spot (if there is one or you have to wait until one opens up) you can then get the proper color bin you need to fill your recyclables with.
The bins have wheels on them so it is convenient to roll up and wait in line.
Then the worker puts the bin on a scale and and he gives you a ticket that you take to the window and the lady gives you your money.
They do offer coupons in different papers sometimes so keep your eye out for that.

Well let me preface this by saying that this place is the best of the bunch and its only a 2 star… This may give you some kind of an idea about these recycling centers. Disgusting!
This place is fairly easy to access. They do have a limited off loading area and half the time there is a fight for bins. This is due to the fact that you have to separate everything multiple ways. For example non crv glass from dark crv glass from clear crv glass. Plastic mist be separated as well depending on types.
None the less once you get everything put together you have to cart it all up to the scale. Make sure you check out pennysaver or online for coupons. At least they take competitors coupons, but they have to be from OC and they also have to have an expiration date on them! Talk about a major PITA!
There is trash flying all around and no help unloading at all. They also take other types of recycling here. But at least there are no bees/​wasps and you dont have to move your recyclables super far.
Not a fan, but it is better than all the rest of the major recycling centers and its not some random container somewhere shady…