Recyclers to pay extra for aluminum cans for Earth Day

The best way to make money recycling aluminum cans is to rinse them, flatten them and save them in your garage until Earth Day, when certain area metal recyclers pay extra for them to honor the designated day for protecting the environment.

Earth Day, started 42 years ago, is celebrated by people who believe in saving energy by reducing, reusing and recycling materials that would otherwise take more energy to replace.

The prices recyclers are paying this Earth Day range from 55 cents to 75 cents per pound, although the going value of baled aluminum (after shipping) is 75 cents per pound.

With April 22, Earth Day, falling on a Sunday this year, recyclers are observing it days before or the day after, noted here:

CMC Recycling: 1804 N. 166th East Ave., 918-437-5377 - 75 cents per pound, Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.. On Friday, CMC will offer hotdogs, sodas and T-shirts bearing the company logo and the words "Earth Day 2012" and "Tulsa CMC Recycling." But supplies are limited.

To get there, take U.S. 169 to Pine Street and head east 3.5 miles (through 161st East Avenue) and look for 166th East Avenue.

Marketing manager Jeff Thomason said the company loses money paying 75 cents per pound, but, "It's just a good event that helps the earth, cleans up the community and gets people in to see our facility."

Advanced Metal Recycling: 2300 N. Lewis Ave., 918-592-5050 - 65 cents per pound, Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Earth Day T-shirts for sale featuring a recycling symbol drawn by an employee's child in a company contest with "Earth Day 2012" on the back.

Take U.S. 75 to Apache Street, get off and turn left (west) onto Apache. Go about one-quarter mile to Lewis Avenue and turn left (south). It's on your right by the railroad tracks. On your way back out, simply take Lewis north, go under U.S. 75 and get on its southbound entrance ramp.

Advanced Metal Recycling Sapulpa: 2205 N. Industrial Road, 918-224-3446 - 65 cents per pound, Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find driving directions at tulsaworld.com/AMRSapulpaGPS

Yaffe Metals: 7300 W. Charles Page Blvd., Sapulpa; 918-245-0257 - 60 cents, Friday 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Take the Sand Springs Expressway (U.S. 412) and exit at 65th West Avenue. Turn left (south) onto 65th West and then turn right (west) onto Charles Page. The company's facility is in the 7300 block.

BAM Recycling: 10210 E. 50th St., 918-355-4000 - 55 cents per pound, Monday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take U.S. 169 and exit at 51st Street. Go west to 103rd East Avenue and one block north to 50th Street. Free hot dogs will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., said owners Buddy and C.J. West.