Damian Gordon from Australia has purchased his own two-bedroom home in Queensland using money earned entirely through recycling.
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Opened yellow and green cans stacked together. Illustration photo by Unsplash |
According to Yahoo! LifeGordon spent years collecting and returning nearly 500,000 aluminum cans and bottles. His haul, worth A$46,000 (US$30,034), came entirely through Australia’s Container Deposit Scheme, which pays 10 cents for each returned drink container.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Gordon maintains a permanent weekday job and volunteers at events such as music festivals on weekends, where he often collects thousands of cans and bottles at a time. At these events, he also found discarded camping gear, fairy lights, and even cowboy hats.
“One time I brought home so much food, weeks and weeks’ worth of non-perishables,” Gordon said.
He also collects containers from roadsides and beaches, turning litter into cash.
Recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy than producing new cans from raw materials, and every ton of recycled aluminum prevents roughly nine tons of CO2 emissions.
Social media users have praised Gordon for turning “rubbish into real estate” and inspiring others to follow his example.
“In a world where climate challenges can feel overwhelming, Gordon’s success is a reminder that meaningful progress can start in your own neighborhood,” wrote one online commenter.
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