Dot Bot & Can

It’s just not worth it.
We had a good-​sized party so I decided to lug the cans/​bottles down here — I figured it was worth getting enough money to buy lunch out somewhere. The place is crowded, not set up well, and shorted me some money because they didn’t have correct change (which I don’t care enough about to argue with them over). There were also a bunch of beer bottles they couldn’t take, which just meant I drove back home with a bunch of shit to put in the recycling. All in all, a lot of time spent for not much money.
When I lived up in Maine, you pulled up to the place, they grabbed the bags out of the back of your car/​truck, counted them and sorted them for you, and always paid to the penny. That was worth it. This just isn’t worth the time for me.

So do you every wonder where people are headed with their shopping carts full of bottles and cans that they’ve pulled out of the trash or, uh, collected in their neighborhoods? They’re headed to Bot Dot & Can! And you can go there too!
I’d collected a ton of bottles and cans and they’d slowly been accumulating in the trunk of my car, which I desperately needed to clean out. The redemption centers at stores were always iffy to me if they’d accept my bottles or not, goodness knows I couldn’t remember where I’d originally purchased them all.
Thus, my Google search to find a MA redemption center led me here, to Dot Bot & Can. I wasn’t quite sure it was a business, but I saw a bunch of bottles and cans, so figured I was in the right place. Just pull right up to the curb. I walked in and had no idea what to do. A lady inside directed me to a counter space, asked a guy to move his shopping cart over a bit, and gave me some box lids to sort my returns on. Cool!
So here’s what you do, step by step tips so you do have to be clueless like I was:
1)It is a good idea to bring your stuff in a bit organized. Large boxes are a fantastic idea. But if not, no worries, just claim some counter space, get something to sort your bottles onto and get started. (I’ve included a picture of my finished product for your guidance.)
2)Once you’ve finished sorting your bottles, call over someone who works there. That person will take a glance through and do a quick tally, then tell you what they’re paying you. Me? My total was $ 5.10. Cash. Not a voucher like at the grocery store. (Guy with the shopping cart next to me? He got $ 27!)
3) That person will call out your total, likely in a language you can’t understand, to a guy a bit further back in the store. He has the cash. He’ll bring the cash up to you. I got a five dollar bill and two nickels.
4) You’re all set to go! Take your trash away, or break down any boxes you plan to leave behind. They seem to have them all over.
5) Wash your hands.
6) Enjoy that cold hard cash you just got for your bottle redemption!