It is possible that some used or unused items in our homes or offices have become wastes. Thus, they are due for the dumpsters or landfills.
Have you considered making money with these wastes? If not, then you should be thinking of recycling those products.
There are companies that actually pay for items that can be recycled. These companies will pay you to collect wastes that can be recycled into raw materials or semi-finished goods.
The importance of recycling goes beyond the financial benefits you will receive after collecting recyclable items.
You also help protect and keep the environment cleaner and healthier. Yes, with recycling, inorganic wastes are gotten rid of, and the use of organic was are encouraged to make the planet become ‘greener’.
The following are 10 ways to make money from recycling. Also, you will get to know of 10 companies that actually pay for products sent to them for recycling.
What Is Recycling?
Recycling simple means the reprocessing of used goods to make them valuable again. According to Wikipedia :
“Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It is an alternative to “conventional” waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions (compared to plastic production, for example). Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water pollution (from landfilling).
Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” waste hierarchy.”
The reuse or breaking down of any materials that would have been thrown away is called recycling. Once you have a waste that can be reused then it is recyclable.
There are many benefits of recycling and these include:
- It prevents environmental pollution as the dumping of waste materials in landfills is minimized.
- It helps in controlling air, water, and land pollution
- It helps to conserve the natural resources of the earth like minerals, raw materials, trees, and so on.
- It helps to save energy that would have been used to manufacture new products.
- It reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
- It saves a lot of money compared to waste management programs.
- It is a source of job creation for most people and the government.
Items that can be recycled
There are many types of items that can be recycled. Both household waste items and industrial waste items can be recycled.
The common waste materials that qualify for recycling include paper wastes, cardboard paper wastes, used or old mobile phones, used electronics, glass wastes, plastic container wastes, aluminum can wastes, scrap metals, ink cartridges, and car batteries, etc.
These and other items can be reprocessed and made into similar materials to be reused for making products.
How to Make Money With Recycling
You can make money with the recycling of products if you take time out to collect and sort out waste materials for recycling companies.
The items you will collect will be based on what is required by the company.
Some companies will specify the volume, quality, and type of items that they need to recycle.
You should know what is demanded so you can take advantage and make money.
10 Companies That Pay You To Recycling
1. Collect and Sell Used Cardboard Boxes to BoxCycle or to Used Cardboard Boxes
If you have a collection of cardboard boxes you have used to pack your items when you moved from one house to another house, then consider making money with them through recycling.
BoxCycle is a company you can sign up with to get paid for recycling used cardboard boxes.
This company connects you with those who are interested in used cardboard boxes in your area.
All you need do is to list the availability of those boxes on BoxCycle website.
If anyone shows interest, then they can pick them up the boxes from you.
Your PayPal account would be credited by BoxCycle after the sales have been confirmed.
You can as well make sell your used cardboard boxes via UsedCardboardBoxes.com
2. Sell Your Old Cooking Oil to Smart Fuel America
There are companies that transform cooking oil to biodiesel. If you have cans of cooking oil that you no longer use, you can sell them to these companies and get paid.
A good example of such companies is Smart Fuel America.
This company will turn up at your location, and they will collect your used oil for the making of biodiesel.
You can be paid 75 cents or $1 for a gallon of used cooking oil or yellow grease you have gathered for recycling.
3. Collect and Sell Scrap Metal Through GotScrap.com
Scrap metals are metals that are no longer useful. However, companies can still reprocess or recycle them into useful materials or products
Scrap metals come as waste aluminum, copper, brass, iron, cans or tins, etc. Items like tables, cabinet, cars, etc., are made of metals and we can easily collect their scraps or wastes for recycling.
GotScrap.com is a company that collects scrap metals for recycling. They will help you to sell any piece of scrap metal.
You can also sell scrap metals in any scrap yard near you.
Click to check out GotScrap.com
4. Collect Your Trash for the Terracycle Program
Terracycle is a company with a unique recycling program. It also accepts materials that other companies reject.
This company is unique in the sense that you can also make money from both “recyclable” and “non-recyclable” materials.
You can send in items like packaging materials, wine corks, plastic toothpaste tubes, baby food pouches, and other types of items to Terracycle for recycling.
The company will send a prepaid envelope which you can use to package the waste for recycling.
You earn points on the weight of your shipments, and the points can be redeemed for charity gift cards. These can be donated to your favorite charity or non-profit organization.
Click here to check out Terracycle
5. Sell your used golf balls at Knetgolf
If you have a large collection of used golf balls then you can make money from it through recycling.
You can package these golf balls and send them to companies like Knetgolf.
This company buys used golf balls and then send them for recycling.
You can be paid up to $0.90 for a single golf ball.
6. Collect and Sell Used or Empty Ink Cartridges to Cash4Cartridges, Toner Buyer And Other Recyclers
Ink cartridge wastes can be recycled.
If you have a large collection used ink cartridges from your printers, fax machines, and copiers, etc, then you can send them Cash4Cartridges.
This company buys used ink cartridges and you can get up to $2 for each.
Some other companies that buy empty ink cartridges for cash include Toner Buyer, eCycle, and Advantage Cartridge.
7. Get a Quote and Sell Your Reclaimed Wood at Antique Beams and Boards
Reclaimed wood is a wooden material removed after remodeling or reconstruction of the part or the entire home.
The wood can be sold to make money. Antique Beams and Boards is a company that can help you sell reclaimed wood needed for recycling.
This company will pay you for any type of wood in your possession.
So, whether your reclaimed wood is made of Walnut, Maple, Hickory, White Oak or Elm, etc., you can get a quote based on the size, length, quality, and other features.
8. Take Advantage of CalRecycle to Recycle Your Bottles and Cans
Bottles and cans are common wastes that are recycled. You can make a lot of money recycling these items since you buy drinks and foods in them regularly.
With the CalRecycle (California Recycle program) you can sell collected bottles and cans and make money.
The CalRecycle offers 5 cents for most plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans smaller than 24 ounces. 10 cents are offered for 24-ounce or larger containers.
9. Sell Your Used Cell Phones and Gadgets to Cell for Cash or to eco-cell
If you have used cell phones and tablets, rechargeable batteries, circuit boards and other kinds of electronic then consider selling them to Cell for Cash or to Eco-cell.
These companies usually send those used items for recycling.
10. Recycle Your Old Electronics With Gazelle
Gazelle is a popularly known for buying used electronics for recycling.
If you have a working or non-working used electronics or gadgets then you should sign up with Gazelle to get the best deals.
This company offers you a free prepaid envelope which you can package your electronics or gadgets with.
Items like camcorders, PDAs, camera lenses, calculators, laptops, cell phones, mp3 players, DVDs, and gaming devices, etc., are accepted by this company.
You would get paid via check, PayPal or Amazon Gift card.
Conclusion
These are 10 ways to make money recycling and some companies that actually pay.
Hopefully, can now embrace recycling to make money and also help to save the environment from inorganic substances!