From K-QED.

So I've got a soda can in my hands, one of these fancy sparkling waters, and if I look closely, I see the words

California CRV on the top of the can. It's an inscription I've seen, I don't know, hundreds,

maybe thousands of times and generally haven't thought that much about. But for those who gather

aluminum cans and plastic bottles, that CRV inscription, it means money.

And it piqued the interest of this week's question-asker.

Hi, this is Boyd Arnold, and I'm a resident of San Francisco. Boyd has noticed people collecting recyclables near where he works downtown.

I was just curious to learn more about people who collect cans who are very public in their work but are very invisible otherwise.

I'm Olivia Alan Price. This is the Bay Curious podcast, the show that answers your questions

about the Bay Area.

Today we'll learn about CRV, California Refund Value,

and meet some people who are cashing in on recycling.

Support for Bay Curious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Still family owned, operated, and argued over.

Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold and taste how trailblazing runs in the family.

Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find your new favorite beer today.

There are a lot of different people who take the today.

There are a lot of different people who take the time to turn used bottles and cans into cold hard cash.

Jessica Plachik headed to the Our Planet Recycling Center in San Francisco to learn how and why people do this work.

The place is loud. The sound of glass being smashed and metal being sorted drowns out the sounds of Highway

101 right overhead.

Every day, starting at 730 a.m. people line up. When customers get to the front of the line their recyclables are weighed.

...