Since I was nearby on an errand and had some recycling in the trunk, I searched for a nearby recycling center and this came up. It's in the same plaza as Ralphs, off of Emerson Ave. This isn't my usual recycling place. So it was a surprise to me to find out that they accept wine bottles and even those Ragu jars! (Be sure to clean the inside since the workers have to break it down themselves.) My regular recycling center didnt take those so I've been just tossing it in the trash. (My garbage company says they will separate it out but somehow I am skeptical.) Since finding this place, I've been bringing all of my wine bottles and glass jars here. As for the value when it comes to these glass items, I'm not sure if I am getting a fair price or not since I have nothing to compare it to. But at least in my situation, I am getting a little something instead of absolutely nothing when I toss it in the trash. The lines go quickly at this location. It's definitely a shorter wait time compared to my usual place. And the staff here are friendly. I've been back and will keep coming back! read more

This recycling center is behind Ralph's on Emerson. Currently Ralph's parking lot is under construction, so it doesn't connect by car. You can still park here and walk into Ralph's. They only take plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and drink glass bottles. I was denied milk gallon bottles and empty glass sauce jars. Aluminum cans $1.65 by weight When I come here during the weekday afternoons, it's always so busy. They have a water dispenser and hand sanitizer on a small table by the sidewalk. The bins they use for sorting are super light and netted. This means anything smaller than 3 inches will fall out. read more

I have been coming here for the past two years mainly because it is convenient and close to my house. It's at the parking lot right next to Ralph's with about 6 parking spots right in front of it. The people working there are nice. They go on lunch break from 12pm-1pm I believe. Last time I did go about after 1pm and they were not there yet so keep that in mind. They now take glass bottles individually instead of by weight and the pricing changed since my last visit but I don't pay too much attention to the prices since this is just extra money to me. The process is easy - just separate your cans, bottles, and glass. This location doesn't take gallon milk cartons but the montebello location does. read more

Sunset Recycling Center - $4.25 for this basket - Recycling Center Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Low prices, incorrect scales, always claim they cannot take glass bottles. Avoid like the PLAGUE unless you enjoy being cheated and abused.

I was really excited to visit Sunset Recycling Center today, especially since it was Memorial Day and I was glad they were open. Unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired. When I arrived, I saw a sign that said the staff was on lunch, with a note stating they'd be back in 30 minutes. No problem, I thought. However, after waiting for one hour and 40 minutes, I decided enough was enough and headed back home. I'm not sure when the sign was initially put up, but there was no update or communication while I was waiting. I also tried reaching out twice by phone and even sent a text message -- but got no response at all. And I wasn't the only one confused. A line had formed while I was waiting, and several other people gave up and left well before I did. Clearly, I wasn't alone in feeling like something wasn't right. I understand people need lunch breaks, but this was unacceptable. There needs to be better time management and communication, especially for a public-facing service. I would've loved to have had a better experience to write about, but this was just plain disappointing. The value they offer could be better, but i wouldn't be able to testify of it. read more

Sunset Recycling Center - Time I waited for someone to attend me - Recycling Center Near Me - Monterey Park, California

See all

So I recently came to this recycling center because the staff from another recycling center told me to go Sunset Recycling Center at Monterey Park to recycle large & unusually shaped glass jars. I came here at 10:30 AM and I was slightly dumbfounded when one of the staff said (1) they don't accept glass until 12 PM and (2) they will only take my glass jars if I accept 50% of their glass payout rate. Well I left and came back at 1:30 PM ... at least the employee didn't take back his words. I was told to move all of my glass jars into a separate giant bucket. The employee weighed the bucket and gave me $1.05 cash at the end (I didn't need to sign any invoice). [Payout rate for fully segregated per pound as of July 2024]: $1.68 for cans, $0.105 for glass, $0.41 for bimetal plastic, $1.32 for #1 PET plastic, $0.59 for #2 HDPE plastic, $0.48 for #3 PVC plastic, $2.04 for #4 LDPE plastic, $0.55 for #5 PP plastic, $5.52 for #6 PS plastic, and $0.31 for #7 other plastic. Honestly I can't say the employee had the best attitude, but parking was relatively easy and at least this recycling center took my giant glass jars when other recycling centers refused to take them. read more

See all

Quick, easy and very friendly!!! They help you right away and is very accessible! Parking right across!!

So I got here while their main bin was being replaced. One guy said give us twenty minutes, which wasn't too bad so I started to unload my recycling. Then 10 minutes later the other guy comes out and says we will be on a 30 minute lunch. Seems a bit rude when you just acknowledged that it would be 20 minutes which is now extended to 40 minutes. The other customers around me seemed to have the same sentiment about it. The other customers indicated that they had a bad rep here. I guess they weren't wrong about it. read more

This spot is dialed in. Quick process, the guy was polite, and the space was actually clean. They helped sort the mess I brought, and I didn't feel rushed, It's a huge step up from some of the sketchy centers I've been to. Definitely worth coming back. read more

Service was quick, the place was tidy, and I got a solid payout. No complaints! Very friendly and professional service as well.

Recycling place is well kept and I get paid fairly for recyclables here. I will definitely continue to come back.

This is my go to recycling center at the moment. I used to got to another location but it's closed. Sunset recycling center is located right next to Ralph's parking lot. If it's a hot sunny day then I don't bother to come. Usually there are lines but if you're lucky, there's only 1-2 person in front of you. The gentleman that works there is nice enough. He doesn't rush his work and he is the only one working so the line does move slow. I've seen him yelled at some people especially when they are not sorting out correctly. Orange net bins are for bottles and cans. Grey buckets are for glass. If this is your first time, just look around at what everyone is doing and follow that. Like I said, pick your day to come here. There are buckets laying around so feel free to grab what's available. At the end, the guy will ask you to print and sign your name on the receipt and you take the cash. I often try to give tips to the worker but he won't take it. However, he does accept your change/coins. You can leave your change in the coin jar. read more

Not sure why so many recycling centers around here are shutting down, but I'm just glad this one is still open and running way better than the others ever did. It's clean, the staff is friendly, and they move fast. I'll keep coming here as long as they're open. read more

First time I went I thought I got a fair deal on my cans and bottles and the young guy was nice so naturally I went there again when it was time to recycle... same young kid but another older homeless looking guy also helped And for whatever reason, I got half of what I was paid the first time I went.... I always have about the same amount to recycle every month....I felt ripped off. They didn't show me the scale weight. Won't be going there ever again. STAY AWAY ~ u have been warned. read more

To owner I went on Sunday the 13th your operator has a scam going with quite a few homeless he shorts people on weight then he makes it look like the homeless brought in the bottles and they didn't I sat there and watched him for half a hour he is scamming you big time read more

Clean place helper and Jon are always working hard to keep lines moving and pay fair prices

I used to go to other recycling center, but since I go to this one, I don't go to others, because this place has the best staffs, their staff working fast and count accurate, it can save your time. The most hard working guy Mauricio, always organized, patiently, friendly, politely, kindly, and high efficiently finish work for each customer. I saw some people who don't speak English, so they express with gestures, Mauricio could understand and responded immediately, which is amazing, I was there, but I couldn't understand those gestures. LOL! I also want to say, I saw some customer is very rude and arrogant when they doing the recycle, they did something wrong but don't like staff to correct them, when the staff tell them the rules, they got mad and go to website to give bad review, that's a shameless. If you treat people well, others will treat you well. read more

Today I came to recycle and xray was very helpful and informative. And gave me tips to make more money which is if I bring the cans crushed then it would be a bigger pay out and they could have more room in the back! Very friendly boys who are helpful and informative read more

Sunset Recycling Center - This is the side of what their recycling place looks like. It's right next to ralphs. - Recycling Center Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Friendly staff always hard worker. Super nice. The guy deserves a tip! Never seen such a nice guy working in recycling center that pays you cash in full. read more

Sunset Recycling Center - Recycling Center Near Me - Monterey Park, California

See all

We supported this place almost 2 years. The owner (the older man) used to help us but in recent months he hasnt been here anymore and the money we got decreased a lot. Somehow they were cheating on the weight. We usually recycle every 2-3 weeks but we have been busy and haven't had time so we went every 2 months instead. But we received money less than before. I don't understand my bottles amount tripled or more but the money is less. Very dissapointed. We don't think we will come back here. Not because of the money, we just don't like the way being cheated like this. read more

I came here because my usual spot was closed and I already had all my recyclables in my car. I feel that this place cheated me, simply because my other recycle center pays more for the amount I bring. Definitely not coming back. read more

Come here about once a week great place to recycle and prices are more than fair. I can say I've received very professional help from employee Jon here, if you want get rid of recycles quick and easy come here for quality service. read more

In the Sunday morning, the line is empty and fast. The guys work there are nice! They offered me a bottle of water there.

Great business always one even on the weekends it's quick and easy. Usally takes me a while at other places to recycle here I was in and out with in 10 minutes highly recommended read more

Me and my family come to recycle here at sunset recycling. The employee Jon is most of the time the one that helps us out, he is always friendly and makes sure to always greet us along with his helper who helps us sort or carry baskets to get us in and out in a timely matter. Appreciate their good attitudes! read more

I come here almost on a weekly basis now cause of how much recyclables I collect from my family and I have a great experience with the man who's always wearing a long sleeve shirt in the hot weather lol! read more

Perhaps the slowest recycling center in the whole world. The asshole who works here takes his sweet time slowly sorting through your recyclables to dump out any remaining liquid and make sure everything is CRV and will take those that are not and give you ZERO cents for them. Did I also mention he loves fucking around the back in between each customer while you stew in the heat outside? The only reason I still go to this fucking miserable excuse for a recycling center is that they are the only one open in the neighborhood during the COVID lock down. I never thought there would be a worse recycling center than the bankrupt and out of business RE-Planet, but here I was proven wrong. FUCK YOU sunset Recycling!!!!! 清倉令郎聽湯 read more

the guy here really helps and good customer service. nice person . lovely guys they helped me even when they almost close and no fraud here read more

Not an honest place AT ALL. We recycle often for the kids to learn environmental responsibility and secondarily as a way to earn money. This was a highly disappointing trip as we had double our usual volume due to less recycling trips during this pandemic. What we made is less than half what we make at our usual place. Scales are NOT facing the customer, so you aren't even told how much your items weigh. Even with the final amount being less than half the usual despite double the volume, the 80 something cents in change was NOT given--rounded down to the nearest dollar. read more

I really consider this recycling place the workers are very helpful and help you sort out your recycling material.Also the prices on they have are very fair so I would definitely recommend this place read more

AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!! I used to do my recycling at evolution once a month before they closed down so I have a very good idea for how much money I should get for my recyclables. I brought the same amount as I always do to this place and I got NOT EVEN HALF of what I used to get. The whole process was very sketchy, the guy who was working had the scale facing him and would not let me see the weight no matter how many times I asked. He said his name was mauricio but I doubt he gave me his real name. He said the scale "couldn't be turned around" even though I could clearly see that it could. He was very rude and was rolling his eyes at me during the whole encounter instead of just showing me the weight which made me even more frustrated. There is no way it was the weight he was claiming it was, I've been doing this for too long to fall for this. I was so angry when I was leaving and one of the other customers told me that they always have the same experience with this particular employee. Something needs to be done about this because there's no way this place will survive if they keep treating customers like this!! read more

No one come here me and my boyfriend just gave them like six bags full of cans and it was supposed to be at least like 20 bucks but they gave us five bucks so this place is fucking trash. Don't go here they scam and they cheat you money and they don't show you the skill I can post read more

Don't go this place. The people working over there are so rude. They act like I am begging for food from them and they are gods to me. The staffs let the person he know cut the line, the reason just whatever he want. We were selling same amount of bottles, the staff gave me only 2/3 of the money I used to received. I asked why. He told me to look at the dam sign. I don't know what they change, if something change and I don't know, just let me know, no need to yell. At the end, he said if I don't want the money take everything back. I said that I will take everything back. On the same time, another guy came out and yelled at me: " you cannot come here again, don't come here." I don't know why they look down on the people so much, what make them so arrogant. If this is what they trained from the company, I am so disappointed. read more

Hate to give this place a good review cause it will be mobbed! But guys, these places are closing left and right, we are lucky to have them. Two other places I used to go to in just last two years have closed. Let's be realistic what they are doing here and our expectations. Anyways, to the actual review. I had nothing but solid experience here. I bring my stuff, give it to them, they give me a little cash. I feel like I did something for the world (and for my wallet.) I mean what else do you want from a recycling place? This is isn't Benihana. There is no table service. Bring your stuff, be kind, be patient. Get in with garbage and out with the money, good deal if I ever seen one. Thank you. Coming right now, in fact! :) read more

The line was extremely long and the working was extremely rude. Waited over an hour which at first I had no problem with, but to be treated so rudely is unacceptable. Maybe they should hire more than one worker for the weekends when more than likely it'll be busy. Save your time and go elsewhere. read more

See all

So I haven't been here in about 6-7 months. Wow, luckily I don't recycle for the money. There's a new guy a pretty young Hispanic guy (I'm Hispanic), and a homeless guy helping him. They are straight scamming people .. I bring about the same amount everytime .. last time I got about $90. This time the new guy gave me $25. I just laugh it off cause I don't care about the money. Last time coming here, but the older guy that was here for years was honest all I can say. read more

These new guys are super friendly. I don't go to recycle too often. But X-ray and Ernie make this experience worth it to come back.

This place is the best recycling in the area. They r quick and efficient. Eduardo was smiling and working hard!!!

The last time I recycled here they had the machines, way too long in my opinion but was around the area so I decided to come here again and see if anything had changed. To my surprise they don't have the machines anymore, way more convenient this way because it's more faster I was just giving my recyclables to other people but now I know I can get it done quick and easy! read more

Finally had time to recycle before the year ends lol. The young worker there was very kind and respectful, very convenient that the business is located next to Ralph's. Going to buy more items and hopefully come back when I find the time! Want to start the new year eco friendly! read more