In the heart of Bushwick, mountains of empty beverage containers create a striking landscape, where bottles for beer, soda, and water seem to stretch endlessly skyward. This is the bustling environment of Sure We Can, a unique nonprofit recycling center and community space dedicated to supporting canners—individuals who collect deposit bottles and cans to earn a living.

A Community Built on Dignity and Respect

Founded in 2007 by people experiencing homelessness, Sure We Can offers a sanctuary of dignity, respect, compassion, and community. Executive Director Ryan Castelia explains that the center was established to provide a transparent, consistent, and welcoming space for canners. “People who end up as canners often experience some degree of intense marginality, like because of where they come from, the language they speak, their physical or mental abilities, their age,” Castelia said.

Sure We Can stand as the only facility of its kind in New York State, serving not only as a redemption center but also as a place for sorting and storing collected materials. The organization plays a vital role in the community, redeeming around 1 million bottles per month. This effort keeps a significant amount of waste off the streets and out of landfills and waterways.

A Surge in Canning Amidst Economic Challenges

Over the past few years, the number of people turning to canning has sharply increased. Castelia attributes this rise in part to the influx of migrants seeking ways to earn money while awaiting work permits. “In 2022, we had 900 people visit our center. Last year, we had 1,200,” he noted. “We’re talking about the American Dream here—people coming here and finding ways to participate, ways to work that benefit us all and lift us all as a shared, diverse community.”

One such individual is Josefa Marin, a full-time canner and president of the Canner’s Association. Having dedicated over 20 years to this work, Marin’s story is a testament to the perseverance and resilience of canners. “It’s very hard. We have to work hard to find the material, collect it, transport it, and get it to where it needs to go. But yeah, it’s possible. For example, in 2003, 2004, and 2005, I used this work to send my daughter to college,” Marin shared in an interview translated from Spanish.

Advocating for Better Support

Despite the challenging nature of their work, canners play a crucial role in waste management and recycling. To better support this vital community, Sure We Can is advocating for an increase in the deposit rate from 5 cents, a change that would better reflect the current cost of living.

Such an adjustment would not only help canners earn a more sustainable income but also recognize and value their contribution to environmental conservation and community well-being. By raising the deposit rate, Sure We Can aim to ensure that canning remains a viable and respected means of earning a livelihood in New York City.