One economist said the economy is gasping for air, but has yet to collapse.

While the debate continues about if we're in a recession many are already struggling and trying to find new ways to make a few extra bucks.

People WYMT’s Peter O’Connor spoke with say they're having a hard time paying bills and putting food on the table and some say they're recycling for the extra money which also helps the environment.

Steel thrown on a big pile… those are just two of the many sounds new recyclers are hearing.

Dixie Recycling Manager Mark Applegate says more and more people are recycling in a time when the economy is slow.

“In this day in time with gas prices being so high, four dollars a gallon for gas and groceries being at an all time high milk eggs meat...you got to do what you got to do to survive,” Mark Applegate said.

Applegate says on average he gets 70 to a hundred customers a day and some days even more.

Mark says people are bringing in household items like old Christmas tree stands and toasters to recycle for extra cash.

One of those customers is a future grandmother and mother of five.

Missy Standafer says recycling helps her and the environment.

“It helps a lot of families that are low-income. They are not doing that to support their children but they are also doing to clean the environment,” Standafer said.

With the extra money from recycling, Standafer says she plans to do more on the weekends.

“If it was not for this stuff we wouldn't be able to do stuff on the weekend,” Standafer said.

“You know if you set back the money you make each week, just by hauling your old junk in, then by the time fourth of July comes you got enough money to take a family get away for the weekend,” Applegate said.

Mark Applegate says he hopes to take in old cars soon for anyone looking to make an extra buck.

Applegate also says it is common for each customer to walk away from the recycling center with more than one hundred dollars in their pocket.