There’s nothing quite like a Upstate New York summer. The grills are going, the coolers are packed, and the backyard is full of people who know how to have a good time. It’s the best few months of the year — until the party’s over.
Summer Is Great. The Aftermath? Not So Much
Because when everyone heads home, what’s left behind is a mountain of empty cans. Dozens at a cookout. Hundreds at a bigger gathering. And if you’re hosting regularly across the season, that number climbs fast.
Most people shove them in bags, stack them in the garage, and tell themselves they’ll deal with it later. Weeks pass. The pile grows. Sound familiar? Here’s how to actually stay on top of it this summer — and get paid while doing it.
Set Up a System Before the First Cookout
The biggest mistake people make is waiting until the pile is out of control before thinking about how to manage it. A little setup before BBQ season kicks off saves a whole lot of headache later.
Keep a dedicated collection area in your garage or utility space — a few large bins or contractor bags work perfectly. Label one for cans and one for bottles so sorting doesn’t become its own project at the end of the season.
A simple system set up once means every post-cookout cleanup takes minutes instead of an hour of frustrated sorting in a cluttered garage.
During the Party: Make It Easy for Guests
You can’t control what your guests do, but you can make the right choice the obvious one. Set up clearly marked recycling bins right next to your trash cans — not across the yard, not by the back door. Right there.
When empties land where they’re supposed to, you spend less time hunting for cans in the bushes at midnight. It also means your collection stays cleaner and easier to process when the time comes.
A few practical moves that actually work:
- Use large, open-top bins so guests can toss cans without thinking
- Put one station near the cooler — that’s where most empties get generated
- Assign a quick end-of-night sweep to grab anything that didn’t make it to the bin
Keep bags ready to seal and stack as bins fill up throughout the day
Don’t Let the Pile Wait Until September
The single biggest trap of BBQ season is letting empties accumulate all summer with the intention of dealing with them once. By Labor Day, you’re looking at a garage full of bags you no longer want to touch.
A far better approach is to schedule regular pickups or drop-offs throughout the season — once or twice a month keeps things manageable and means you’re consistently getting your deposit money back instead of letting it sit in a bag for three months.
Unlimited Redemption’s pickup service covers a 20-mile radius from each of our 11 Upstate New York locations. You don’t need to load a single bag into your car. Schedule it, leave the bags out, and we handle the rest.
The Bigger Picture: BBQ Season and Recycling
Aluminum cans are one of the most recyclable materials on earth — and summer is when New Yorkers go through more of them than any other time of year. That’s a massive opportunity to do something genuinely useful with what would otherwise be waste.
Every can returned through the New York deposit system gets recycled back into new aluminum. It saves around 95% of the energy required to produce fresh metal from raw ore. At scale, across an entire summer, that adds up to something significant.
Here’s what a well-managed BBQ season looks like when you stay on top of it:
- No overflowing garage by the end of August
- Deposit money back in your pocket throughout the season, not all at once
- Less waste going to landfill from your household or events
- A cleaner, more organized post-party cleanup every single time
Summer should be about enjoying yourself — not drowning in empties when it’s over. A little planning and the right partner make all the difference.
Schedule a High-Volume Pickup for Your BBQ Empties
Make This Your Most Sustainable Summer Yet
Unlimited Redemption is right here across Upstate New York — in Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Kingston, Saugerties, Wynantskill, and more — ready to take those BBQ empties off your hands all season long.
Walk them in, or let us come to you. Either way, your cans get recycled properly, your deposit comes back, and your garage stays clear for the next cookout.
Fire up the grill. We’ve got the empties covered.
Unlimited Redemption • Inside Beer Universe Stores • 11 Locations Across Upstate New York
Read More: 11 Locations, Zero Hassle: The Easiest Way to Redeem Your Bottle and Cans in NY
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule multiple pickups throughout the summer rather than one large collection?
Absolutely — and we actually recommend it. Scheduling regular pickups once or twice a month during BBQ season keeps your collection manageable, your garage clear, and your deposit money coming back steadily rather than all at once. Simply reach out to your nearest Unlimited Redemption location to set up a recurring or on-demand pickup schedule that works for your summer.
Do I need to rinse or clean my cans before bringing them in or scheduling a pickup?
A quick rinse is always appreciated and helps keep things clean during storage and transport, but it’s not a strict requirement for redemption. The main thing is making sure your cans are separated from general trash and stored in bags or bins so they’re easy to collect and count. If you’re storing them for several weeks over summer, a light rinse prevents odors from building up in your garage or storage area.
We’re hosting a large summer event — can Unlimited Redemption handle a post-event collection?
Yes, and this is exactly the kind of situation our service is built for. Whether it’s a neighborhood block party, a community gathering, a private event, or a venue clearing out after a busy summer weekend, we can coordinate a pickup to handle large volumes efficiently. Get in touch with your nearest location ahead of your event and we’ll work out the best approach for your volume and timeline.
How far does Unlimited Redemption’s pickup service reach during summer months?
Our pickup service runs year-round and covers a 20-mile radius from each of our 11 Upstate New York locations — including Albany, Coxsackie, Amsterdam, Kingston, Saugerties, Schenectady (Kelton & Union), Troy (5th Ave, Northern & Hoosick), and Wynantskill. Summer demand does increase, so we recommend scheduling pickups in advance during peak BBQ months to secure your preferred time slot.
