Bottle & Can Counter
Last updated: April 2026
If you collect bottles and cans for deposit refunds, you need a fast way to count them. Manually counting hundreds of containers is tedious and error-prone. That's where a recycling app comes in.
But not all recycling apps work the same way. Some require you to scan barcodes one by one. Others help you find redemption centers. And then there's camera-based counting — the fastest method for anyone processing large quantities.
Most people searching for a "bottle scanning app" assume they need to scan each barcode individually. That works fine for 10 bottles. But when you have bags full of cans? Scanning them one at a time takes forever.
CNTEM'UP takes a different approach. Instead of scanning barcodes, you point your phone camera at your containers and slide them past a tripwire detection line. Each container that crosses the line gets counted automatically. You can process hundreds of bottles and cans in minutes.
| Method | Speed | Accuracy | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera counting (CNTEM'UP) | Fastest | 95%+ | Any quantity, bottle drives, bulk recycling |
| Barcode scanning apps | Very slow | 99% | Small batches under 20 |
| Manual hand counting | Slow | 100% | Very small batches under 50 |
| Bag estimation | Fast | ±30% | Quick estimates only |
| Weighing | Fast | ±15% | All-aluminum loads only |
Prop your phone so the camera faces a flat surface. You can lean it against a wall, a box, or anything stable.
Open cntemup.com in your browser and tap START. A tripwire line appears on screen.
Slide your bottles and cans past the tripwire line one at a time. Each container that crosses gets counted automatically. No tapping, no scanning — just slide and count.
Your count and deposit value update in real-time. When you're done, you know exactly how many containers you have and how much your cans are worth.
Your earnings depend on your state's bottle deposit law and how many containers you collect. Here's what different collection sizes are worth:
| Containers | 5¢ States | 10¢ (MI) | CA (CRV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $2.50 | $5.00 | $2.50 |
| 100 | $5.00 | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| 500 | $25.00 | $50.00 | $25.00 |
| 1,000 | $50.00 | $100.00 | $50.00 |
| 2,000 | $100.00 | $200.00 | $100.00 |
Use our bottle deposit calculator to see exactly what your collection is worth in your state.
Serious collectors processing 500+ containers per week can earn $25–$100+ weekly. For bottle drives and fundraisers, counts often reach thousands — that's where camera counting saves hours compared to counting by hand.
As of 2026, 10 US states have bottle deposit laws:
| State | Deposit Rate |
|---|---|
| California | 5¢ (<24oz) / 10¢ (≥24oz) |
| Connecticut | 5¢ |
| Hawaii | 5¢ |
| Iowa | 5¢ |
| Maine | 5¢ / 15¢ (wine & liquor) |
| Massachusetts | 5¢ |
| Michigan | 10¢ |
| New York | 5¢ |
| Oregon | 10¢ |
| Vermont | 5¢ / 15¢ (liquor) |
Free. No download. Works on any phone with a camera.
Start Counting Now