Our Gates Redemption Center Reviews
Redemption centers have long ignored the customer service aspect of returning bottles and cans. At Upstate, we strive to be not only the fastest, but the friendliest and most honest Gates redemption center that we can. 5 star rating are our goal and we will settle for nothing less. But, don’t take our word for it, ask our customers.
Update:. I emailed the owner per their response on here and no, they didn't send a "coupon", nor did they respond to my email.
Gates Bottle Return FAQ
Who we are?
Do you hate wasting twice as much time at the store as you doing putting your bottles and cans into the machines? Do you also hate the long lines at unfriendly redemption centers? Fret no further, because Rochester’s fastest, cleanest & friendliest bottle return now has a Gates Redemption Center.
More info: What are Redemption Centers?
What do we accept?
We buy back anything with a NYS 5 cent redemption mark on it. If you are unsure, check the lable of your bottle or can; or the top of the can. It will have the states that you can redeem the item in listed.
More info: What Redemption Centers Accept
What don't we accept?
- Non-deposit bottles & cans
- Gatorade
- Iced Teas
- Juice
- Milk, etc. Our buyer’s plant does not process non-deposits.
- Kegs
- Growlers
- Water cooler jugs
- Crumpled or crunch items
- Wrapperless items
Why no crushed or wrapperless items?
We have to sell the bottles and cans back based on average bag capacity per the size of the item. So, if we put crushed cans in our bags we are putting in a lot more than the average bag capacity and lose money. If we don’t have wrappers to identify the item, we can’t put it with the correct bags to be properly accounted.
More info: What Redemption Centers Accept
How do we make money?
We drink a lot of liquid! When the governor implemented the 2009 New York Bottle Bill, he knew the demand to return would be heavy. So, stores and redemption centers were incentivized to help by issuing a handling fee for every bottle and can taken in.
More info: How Do Redemption Centers Make Money?
What is the Bottle Bill?
The New York State Returnable Containers Act aka, the Bottle Bill, is the state legislation that governs redeemable containers. Passed in 1982 and reformed in 2009, it lays out the guidelines for depositable recycling in New York State.
See this link for complete info on the New York Bottle Bill.
Do we take all recycling?
In a way, Our Gates Redemption Center can recycle the cardboard and plastic bags that you bring your recycling in. But, we cannot accept cardboard and plastic in bulk. Our intermediary won’t buy back non-drinking receptacles and the garbage bill would be too high to not charge you. Sorry!
We recommend taking all of your other recycling needs to ecopark. They can recycle most things for free, small fee can apply for more hazardous materials.
Does it matter where I bought them?
The role of our Gates redemption center in the recycling process is not only to take in recycling but to sort it as well. Materials get sorted into bags by bottling company, material and size. They are then ready for resale and the deposit makes its way back to the right place.
However, if the bottle or can was purchased in a non-deposit state, we cannot pay for it as there was never a deposit on it to begin with.