4 Ways to Earn Cash From Recycling
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA 
on 08. 4.08
Image from Washington State University Campus Recycling.
US News and World Report notes this week that while recycling is important, and we all know how to do it, few of us are actually doing it because, quite frankly, it takes effort and we don't really see direct returns. This week they round up four recycling options that will put cash in your pocket.
Option 1: Cell for Cash. This company lists hundreds of cell phones on their website - simply find yours and they will send you a postage paid box. When you send the phone and charger back, the company will verify it and then send you a check. Cell for Cash then refurbishes the phone and sells them in developing countries. Note: older models don't qualify for cash payment. In this case you can take them to an electronics store and recycle them there, or donate them to a women's shelter. Cell phones are full of toxic chemicals, and considered hazardous waste in California so whatever you do, don't trash them.
Option 2: Gazelle. This company, similar to Cell for Cash, will also pay you for your old electronics. Find your item on their website, and they will ship you a box and cash when they verify the item, or they can pay you via paypal, or you have the option of donating the money to charity. Can't find your item on the list? They are still willing to do a price quote if you submit the item name to them. Gazelle refurbishes and then sells the electronics or recycles them when they are un-fixable.
Option 3: Cash for Clunkers: This option is still in the works but would allow you to sell your old, polluting car, where it is then scrapped for parts and taken off the market. Currently it is being tested out in Texas, California and British Columbia.
Option 4: RecycleBank. This organization will actually give you gift certificates for food and pharmacy items just for recycling the things you might already be recycling: glass, paper and plastic, no sorting needed. Homeowners are given a bin with a computer chip, then when the recycling truck comes by, it weighs the bin and logs how much you recycled. This program is now available in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Nebraska, Maine, and New Jersey, and there are plans to expand to Minneapolis and Dallas this year. RecycleBank has seen an increase of 100% to 1000% in recycling rates across neighborhoods.
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Hi, Ross from Gazelle here. Thanks for letting people know how they can sell their Cell Phones on gazelle.com. But did you know that you can also sell your camera, mp3 player, camcorder, GPS, hard-drive, laptop, gaming console, and sattellite radio on gazelle.com? We have 18,000 products that we purchase from consumers. Shipping is free, and we will even send you a box!
Damn, I thought I was going to find out how we could make some money - on the recycling side of the business! - and I discover it's 'just' for punters... disappointed!
My in-laws did the Scrap It progam (the Cash for Clunkers program here in BC) and all went well. They chose the transit pass option, and now ride the bus everywhere :-)
Good thread but I just want to add that recycling is only "less bad" than just chucking your containers. It's far better to use bigger, fewer, and reusable containers and not have to recycle so many things in the first place. In other words, just because you recycle everything, doesn't mean that you've got a small footprint; it's not enough.
Hey every little bit helps. yes we should do more to use less but its still a lot better than throwing it in the trash. Some people just dont want to totally change all at once. little steps at a time.
Don't forget FreeCycle (.org).
And here in the UK/EU we have increasingly penal rates to send things to landfill, which makes alternatives look interesting.
Rgds
Damon
Yeah,
Freecycle.org rocks!
Check it out if you need stuff or want to give stuff a second life. It's ALL free!
Hi,
I manage an educational book company. We currently have about 20 tons of books to be recycled. What is our best cash for recycle option? We currently have it trucked all the way from MA to TN. By the time the recycler pays for trucking we end up with a minimal amount of cash. There must be a smarter option in New England. Thanks, Todd
I am wondering where machines are located to get money for bottles in new Jersey.
I totally agree with Jeanne´s comment. I think that recycling isn´t enough, the real solution is wasting less, that is, consuming less and probably changing your way of life. Watching all those "seven overpackaging sins" I thought "who needs those chocolats, wrapped and rewrapped and wrapped again. Buy something else, or nothing at all".
I´ve been a treehugger -literally- since I was little. This site is among my favorites now.
Cecilia, from Argentina.
Get money for objects that do not use at home.
It is a good way to get extra money and save our planet by recycling.
Find a company that does that:
http://www.tripleclicks.com/10551651/go
Mitch- the absolute best option for you in MA and New England is with Community Book Drop (www.CommunityBookDrop.org)- they pay by the pound for books (at $.075/lb), and I'm sure they could make a good wholesale deal with you. Worked with them myself, I made good money, they re-use and donate most of the books, and all went smoothly.
All great services. I think recyclebank is great and so simple. One like Gazelle and CellforCash not mentioned is http://www.YouRenew.com - it is set up very similar to Gazelle (many categories of devices), but seems to be greener (it donates to green causes for every transaction) and is a little bit easier to navigate. I'd check out all three before you make your decision on where to send in your old electronics.
Get Cash for Your Books! They will offer a current market value for your used books. I tried it and got $15 more that the local used bookstore would offer. I recommend them to anyone that needs to liquidate their library! And they pay for shipping!
Recycle your books for cash here:
http://cashforbooks.info