You'll be surprised! Immigrant reveals how much he earns recycling cans in Iceland

Many people around the world migrate from one country to another due to a combination of economic, social, and political factors that directly influence their quality of life. Lack of job opportunities, low wages , or lack of economic stability are often the main reasons that lead many to seek better conditions elsewhere.

Likewise, insecurity, armed conflict, and political and social persecution force thousands of people to leave their countries in search of safety and a more stable living environment. See more: The 3 public Wi-Fi networks you should avoid if you don't want your bank password stolen. Another common cause of migration is family and educational factors. Many people decide to move to reunite with loved ones already residing in another country or to provide their children with better academic and personal development options.

Likewise, those who aspire to further their professional training or access more advanced healthcare systems see migration as an opportunity to improve their future. In general, human mobility reflects the search for well-being, security , and progress in the face of the limitations offered by the country of origin.

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Marc—who introduces himself as a young Spaniard living in Iceland and is part of the community of content creators with the profile @mcfingers on TikTok —decided to share his experience with a recycling system that works with a refundable deposit for containers like aluminum cans. In his video, the young man explains that he accumulated 486 cans throughout the summer , which he took to an official return center where he deposited them in an automated machine. This machine then processed the cans, and an operator gave him a receipt indicating the total amount collected. See more: Busy bragging: Why we think we're worth more if we're always busy

A few days after the deposit, Marc received confirmation of the monetary value: 74 euros (346,897 Colombian pesos), which is approximately equivalent to 0.15 euros (703 Colombian pesos) per can. He emphasizes how remarkable this system is compared to Spain, as he considers it unthinkable that something similar exists there.

His message: “ I can’t imagine this in Spain ,” resonated with many users, who commented that they wished such a system were implemented in their country and criticized the current management in Spain , where they perceive that entities such as Ecoembes keep any potential profits.

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In his video, Marc shows how a simple act like recycling can generate significant additional income in Iceland, thanks to a well-organized and efficient system. His experience demonstrates not only a tangible economic benefit, but also the value of environmental policies that incentivize recycling with direct rewards , something he sees as an opportunity to motivate similar changes in other countries.

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