NOW "King of the Cans" | PBS

Meet Eugene Gadsden, a man who makes his living one nickel at a time collecting and redeeming bottles and cans. Through Eugene's life, we get an insider's peek at an underground economy in which armies of scavengers pick up some of the $91 million worth of bottle deposits New Yorkers often leave on the streets. Eugene, who has become something of a leader in his field, has collected enough bottles and cans to rent his first apartment, which he's furnished with treasures found in the trash.

For more, visit NOW's report on homelessness "Home at Last?" at:
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/305/index.html

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• PBS
• now
• homelessness
• recycling
• New
• York
• cans

[piaranhas]

I respect guys like that trying to earn an honest nickle... great story!

[peacemtn]

People do what they have to. At least he is not a drug dealer, killer, or thief. He should be praised for his good deed of saving the planet.

[FeedBrainLunch]

dammmm he got his own apartment???

shitttt...

dedication and hard work right their.

[davidlee110]

@TrevNice I hope you get shot at.

[davidlee110]

@cyclingspecialized i already make around 10 pounds in just a few days.

from yards, bins and my mother brings 2-3 pounds every 2 weeks and my brother brings 2-3 pounds per day.

[JungleSheep0831]

I've met good old Eugene before. In fact, this Fall I took a few students from my school to eat lunch with him at "Sure We Can Redemption Center. It was awesome. He's one of the nicest guys I've met in the streets. In fact, I go every Saturday with girls and guys from my school to meet the Canners. We've prayed with them, shared stories with them, and eaten with them for years. I know many of them by name. They're wonderful people.

[arkansastrash320]

Well they are working hard and i must respect them for that!Not being lazy expecting a handout.I think they are doing a great service to NYC and to the enviroment.NYC should should make some accomaduations for them to store their cans while working to gather more to be pickedup.Give a working man a hand and he will take care of himself.

[cyclingspecialized]

i also collect cans its good money i can almost buy a car from collecting cans

[denisebil]

as unemployment goes up you will see more of this

[sissokyl]

I had the privilege of meeting the King while I was in NYC last month. What a great guy! The Canners (across the world) have a hard road to walk and I truly respect them. "Sure We Can" is currently looking for a building where they can store their cans and have the companies come pick them up.

[newportsnorth]

this IS the funniest guy ive ever seen...