John S. Stewart/AP
READ MORE ABOUT:
Sometimes behaving greenly is simpler than we think—and more lucrative, too. Yes, you can actually make yourself some money by doing green deeds like recycling, just maybe not in the way you typically conceive of recycling. In fact, this list is probably full of stuff you already do—in which case, all you need to do is more of it. Anyhow, here are the best ways to make some dough by sparing the landfills:
1. Sell old/vintage clothes
Embarrassed by that old leisure suit that's been taking up space in your closet since you dressed up as late-era Elvis for a costume party three years ago? Those skinny jeans turn out to not quite be your style? Bundle them up and bring them down to a vintage store—many will pay top dollar to recycle stuff you'd never be caught dead in again. Or, go the online route, and sell your old clothes over the inter-tubes—Fashion Era has got a pretty good guide on how to do it.
2. Get cash for those old CDs
CDs don't quite have that collectability factor that old vinyl LPs do. And now, with everything so far gone digital, how often do you actually bust out the Discman? Thought so. So, here's what you do: burn your entire collection of old CDs onto your computer (get an external hard drive if your collection is as out of control as mine is—smaller ones are only $70 bucks or so for 250 gigabytes, which holds about 100 days worth of music). Make sure they're backed up properly. Then bring them to a local record store, so someone else can repeat the process--and make between $2-5 a disc. Hey, it adds up.
3. Sell your books
Frequenting used book stores is a great way to support local businesses and buy/sell green at the same time. Recycle your old books (as long as they're in decent condition) for cash, or for store credit to maximize the reuse chain. Or, use the weirdly titled Cash4Books to recycle your books online.
4. Have a garage sale
The time-tested way to recycle your stuff for some serious pocket change. These (6 tips will ensure your garage sale is a success.
5. Sell your used sporting goods
When was the last time you tossed the ol' pigskin around? Was it around the last time someone used the term 'ol' pigskin un-ironically? If so, recycle it for cash at a local used sporting goods store, or a Play It Again Sports. Or sell your old mitts, balls, and bats to UsedSports.com.
6. Get cash for old gadgets
Recycle those old gadgets collecting dust in your desk drawers. You might be ruing the day that you bought that Blackberry, only to have the iPhone come out a few months later—but someone else likely can't wait to get their hands on it. Log onto Gazelle, the premier place to getting paid to recycle your old phones, beepers (yes, people still evidently want them), laptops, mp3 players, and video gaming consoles.
7. One Word: EBay
Or is that two words? Damn trendy tech jargon. Anyhow, people will buy just about anything on eBay, from old (seemingly) useless stacks of trading cards to furniture to anything on this list. Think of eBay as a gigantic online recycled-goods emporium—that pays you to keep your old junk out of the landfill.
More on Recycling Stuff:
Stuff Happens Video: Recycle When You Can
Post-Consumer Recycled Goods: Recycling Waste Into Stuff
The Un-Recyclables: Stuff You Should Keep Out of the Recycling Bin
-
- {}
