Nice Cans

Recycling was one of many ways I put extra cash in my pocket as a PA and assistant. Being in production was particularly easy since there were tons of people on set and in the office drinking soda and bottled water all day, and by week's end I took home 3-4 bags full of bottles and cans. Of course, the price for this is that you have to be willing to get a little bit dirty and have a few odd looks. But when you pull in an extra $30-50 cash each weekend ($120-200 a month) I think that's all worth it. Besides, it's not like you're homeless and doing it to survive, you're doing it to save your paycheck and fulfill your financial goals. I actually know a guy who produced his first movie for $10,000 entirely by recycling bottles and cans. If that's not ambition, I don't know what else is.

Of course, it is best to be upfront about your intent and ask if you can collect these. Usually they do not care and accept that if you're a lowly PA or assistant making little to no money they will understand. Still, better to be safe than sorry.

Just bring gloves and perhaps a trash liner for the trunk of your car. Look up recycling centers (tomra.com or replanet.com) most of which are at Ralph's. Prepare to spend up to 30 minutes in line and don't bring clothes or shoes you care about possibly getting dirty. Also, I would only advocate getting it from work and going nearby, otherwise the cost of collecting this stuff gets outweighed by gas. Once you're done you collect your laundry, gas and fun money without affecting your pay!

Another thing you might want to consider recycling is printer cartridges from work. Staples has a recycling program where they give you $3 store credit per returned cartridge, and you can save these towards CDs, DVDs, paper, Final Draft, and so on. Like I said in a previous post, there is a ton of waste on sets and in Hollywood offices, and if you're willing to humble down and dig through, you can make some decent cash for under an hour's work.

So why not clean up as you're cleaning up?