The Top 5 Reasons Chinese People Collect Cans - Why do they do it?

Who needs weights to do powerwalking

When I was young, I use to enjoy keeping all the old soda and beer cans in our house in a sticky plastic bag and waiting for the day my mom would take us to the local A&P supermarket to put these used cans in the "can-crushing" machine for money. It was innocent back then. It wasn't about recycling but just the pure joy of destruction (the same joy I got when I popped bubble wrap) and getting paid for it. I still remember the smell of beer and soda, the need to put the cans in the "right way"or else the machine would not take it and the usual two machine set up: one for soda cans and one for beer cans.

Upgraded to the Push Cart

I don't remember the last time I saw a "can-crusher" but I have noticed an influx of can-collectors in my neighborhood. Before it was rare to see these lone nomads with there push carts but now they seem to be everywhere. I see on average about one a day and if I am out and about either early or late in the day, seeing 2-3 is not rare. They pretty much go through everyone's recycling bags and take out the cans/bottles that are worth something. It can be quite annoying to come home to someone who is inside your gate looking through your trash or to find your recycling bin ransacked and left in disarray the morning after.

Can collecting is definitely not something you would brag about doing but what I noticed is that almost all the can collectors seem to be of Chinese descent. For a culture so worried about face, I would think that Chinese people would be the last group to want to be associated with this type of activity. Although I personally do not know of any can collectors, this is what I think may be going through their minds:

Survival: I am hungry and I have no money. 100 cans = $5. 10000 cans = $500.

Advantages: I get exercise, I make money, I go places, I see things.

Sense of Achievement/Creativity: I am making a living on my own. I can challenge myself to get more and more cans everyday. I need to constantly think of new ways to get more cans and be efficient.

Peer Pressure/Fad/Rebelling: My friends are doing it. It's what's hot right now. My kids would flip out if they knew I was doing this.

The number one reason why I think Chinese people do it is because just like with napkins at rest stops, Chinese people can not resist free stuff (Read Chinese People Love Free Stuff article). It's our kryptonite.

Feel free to share your experiences with can collectors in the comments section. If you are a can collector, let us know why you do it.