Proof of Recycling: Correct Photos

Uploading correct delivery and recycling photo proofs is ESSENTIAL for receiving your payment and avoiding disputes. This guide explains exactly what photos to take in each situation.

Why Photos Are Required

Protection for You and Customer

Proof photos serve to:

• ✅ Prove you completed the job (delivered or recycled)
• ✅ Validate correct location (real recycling center, not illegal dumping)
• ✅ Document object condition (no damage)
• ✅ Prevent fraud (proof you recycled, not dumped)
• ✅ Resolve disputes (objective evidence)

Legal Requirements

ReciGo must comply with environmental regulation:

• Prove waste was managed correctly
• Avoid illegal dumping
• Report to authorities if bad practice detected

You as helper are also legally responsible for managing waste properly.

Delivery Types and What Photos to Take

Home Delivery to Customer

Situation: Customer wants objects at their home/office/garage.

Required photos (minimum 2):

✅ Photo 1: Objects at final location

• Objects unloaded where customer indicated
• Environment visible (room, garage, entrance)
• Objects in good condition

✅ Photo 2: Location context

• Building door/entrance
• Street number visible
• Or recognizable interior

Example of good photo:

• Sofa unloaded in living room, window/decor visible in background
• Table in building entrance, entrance number visible

Example of bad photo:

• Only objects without context (could be anywhere)
• Blurry or very dark photo
• Objects still in your vehicle (doesn't count as delivered)

Official Recycling Center (Most Common)

Situation: Take objects to recycling center for proper recycling.

Required photos (minimum 3):

✅ Photo 1: TICKET/RECEIPT from recycling center (ESSENTIAL)

• Printed ticket from staff
• Must show:
  • Recycling center name
  • Date and time
  • Type of waste (if shown)
  • Ticket number
• Clear photo, text legible

✅ Photo 2: Objects in recycling area

• Objects in specific container/area
• Container/sign visible
• Clearly inside recycling center (not on street)

✅ Photo 3: Recycling center entrance/sign

• Official name sign
• Entrance/fence of recycling center
• Proof you're at official facility

Recommended order:

1. Arrive at recycling center
2. Take photo of entrance sign
3. Unload objects in area indicated by staff
4. Take photo of unloaded objects
5. Request ticket from staff
6. Take photo of ticket

Professional tips:

• 🟢 Arrive 30 min before closing (recycling centers close early)
• 🟢 Be friendly with staff (they'll help locate objects)
• 🟢 Ask where each waste type goes (wood, metal, electronic, etc.)
• 🟢 If center doesn't give tickets, ask staff to appear in photo (with consent)

Example of perfect photos:

Photo 1: Vallecas Recycling Center ticket, date 01/30/2026, 3:30 PM
Photo 2: Sofa and chairs in "Furniture and Wood" container
Photo 3: Sign "Vallecas Recycling Center - City Council"

Mobile Recycling Point

Situation: Itinerant recycling trucks in neighborhoods.

Required photos:

✅ Photo 1: Truck/mobile recycling point

• Visible truck with City Council logo
• "Mobile Recycling Point" sign

✅ Photo 2: Objects being unloaded to staff

• Truck staff receiving objects
• Visible they're inside truck/recycling area

✅ Photo 3: Receipt or ticket

• If they give ticket, photo of ticket
• If not, photo of staff or truck license plate

Schedules: Mobile recycling points have fixed schedules. Check time on City Council website.

Reuse Center / Charity / Second-hand Shop

Situation: Donation to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.

Required photos:

✅ Photo 1: Organization facade/sign

• Visible logo and name
• Shop entrance

✅ Photo 2: Objects delivered to staff

• Organization staff receiving objects
• Objects in reception/storage area

✅ Photo 3: Signed receipt

• Donation certificate (if provided)
• Ticket/receipt
• Or photo of staff with your verbal confirmation

Tip: Call ahead to confirm they accept that type of objects. Not all charities accept large furniture or broken appliances.

Appliance Recycling (WEEE)

Situation: Large appliances (fridges, washing machines, TVs).

Required photos:

✅ Photo 1: WEEE recycling center ticket

• Similar to normal recycling center
• Should specify "Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment" if possible

✅ Photo 2: Appliance in WEEE area

• In specific container/area for electronics
• "WEEE" sign visible

✅ Photo 3: Appliance label (optional but recommended)

• Visible model and brand
• Proof it's the correct appliance

Important: Fridges and air conditioners require special treatment (refrigerant gases). DON'T leave them on the street.

Construction Debris/Rubble Recycling

Situation: Rubble, bricks, dirt, construction waste.

Required photos:

✅ Photo 1: Landfill/recycling plant ticket

• Weighing ticket (landfills weigh trucks)
• Must show weight and waste type

✅ Photo 2: Rubble at authorized landfill

• Unloading area
• Visible it's industrial facility (not empty lot)

✅ Photo 3: Scale or landfill sign

• Proof it's official landfill

What NOT to Do (Rejected Photos)

❌ Dumping Objects on Street/Normal Container

Photos of objects in:

• Normal trash container (urban gray/green/brown)
• Street/sidewalk
• Empty lot
• Unauthorized debris container

Consequences:

• Customer disputes and wins (full refund)
• You don't get paid
• Warning on your account
• If repeat: Account closure

Why it's serious:

• Illegal (unauthorized dumping)
• Pollutes environment
• ReciGo can be fined
• Goes against platform mission (responsible recycling)

❌ Fake Photos

Examples of fake photos:

• Ticket from different day/job
• Archive photo (taken before)
• Photo from different recycling center (if you went elsewhere)
• Photo of similar but different objects

How it's detected:

• Photo metadata (date, time, GPS)
• Consistency with job timeline
• Comparison with pickup photos

Consequences:

• Automatic lost dispute
• Permanent account closure
• Possible report to authorities (fraud)

❌ Low Quality Photos

Common problems:

• Blurry photo (text unreadable)
• Too dark (taken at night without flash)
• Cropped (ticket not fully visible)
• Too far (objects not distinguishable)
• No context (only objects, no location)

Solution:

• Use flash in dark interiors
• Get close so text is legible
• Take 3-4 photos from different angles (then choose best)
• Review photos BEFORE leaving the site

❌ Photos That Don't Match Description

Example:

• Job said: "3-seater sofa + 2 chairs"
• Photo only shows: 1 chair

Customer will say: "Where's the rest?"

Prevention:

• Verify inventory with customer when picking up
• Take photo of EVERYTHING you picked up
• If something's missing, document in chat with customer BEFORE going to recycling center

Photo Technical Requirements

Minimum Quality

• Resolution: At least 1280x720px (most modern phones OK)
• Format: JPG, PNG, HEIC (standard phone formats)
• Size: Maximum 10MB per photo (app compresses automatically)
• Sharpness: Legible text, recognizable objects

Important Metadata

Photos include automatic metadata:

• Date and time: Must match job moment
• GPS: Confirms you were at recycling center/correct location
• Device: Your registered phone

Don't try to manipulate metadata - anti-fraud systems detect it.

Number of Photos

• Minimum: 2 photos (generally not enough)
• Recommended: 3-4 photos
• Maximum: 10 photos (more is unnecessary)

Philosophy: More evidence = more protection. Better to have extra than lack.

Photo Upload Process

Step by Step

1. During delivery: Take photos with your phone camera
2. In ReciGo app: Go to active job
3. Tap "Objects delivered"
4. Tap "Upload proof photos"
5. Select photos from your gallery (the ones you just took)
6. Review preview (make sure they look good)
7. Tap "Upload" (may take 10-30 seconds with bad signal)
8. Wait for confirmation "✅ Photos uploaded successfully"
9. Review thumbnails in app (verify all uploaded)
10. Tap "Mark as completed"

Upload Problems

"Error uploading photos"

• Cause: Weak internet connection
• Solution:
  1. Connect to recycling center WiFi (if they have)
  2. Or wait for better signal (leave basement/interior)
  3. Or upload from home (but DON'T mark complete until photos uploaded)

"Photo too large"

• Cause: Photo >10MB (rare on modern phones)
• Solution: App should compress automatically, if not, use gallery app to reduce size

"Format not supported"

• Cause: Exotic format (e.g., TIFF, RAW)
• Solution: Take photos with native phone camera app (always uses JPG)

Special Situations

"The Recycling Center Is Closed"

Options:

1. Ask customer if they can wait until tomorrow

   • If yes: Store objects in your vehicle/garage, return tomorrow
   • Update job to "Picked up", not "Delivered"

2. Find another nearby recycling center (Google Maps → "recycling center near me")

   • Verify hours before going
   • Notify customer you went to different center

3. Contact support if urgent

   • They can validate alternatives (e.g., mobile recycling point, reuse center)

DON'T do:

• ❌ Dump in normal container
• ❌ Leave at closed recycling center door
• ❌ Mark as completed without proof

"The Recycling Center Doesn't Accept That Waste Type"

Example: You arrive with old fridge, staff says "we don't accept appliances with refrigerant gas."

Protocol:

1. Don't leave the object there (rejection doesn't equal delivery)
2. Contact customer immediately:

   "Hi, the Vallecas recycling center doesn't accept this type of fridge. Is there another specialized center or should I take it to a WEEE facility?"

3. Wait for customer instructions
4. If agreed, go to alternative location
5. Document everything

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles

• Job States Explained
• How to Accept and Complete Jobs
• How and When to Get Paid
• Improving Your Rating

Last updated: January 31, 2026

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