Turn Your Trash Into Quick and Easy Cash.
Selling trash for cash is a great way to add a little green to your bank account while also adding some green back into the environment. Find how to see some of your old stuff, online platforms to list it at, and learn how to make “free” money from your old stuff (junk!). Trash is best defined as something without "value," but, as they say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." And, most likely if you see a $5 or $10 bill on the sidewalk, you would pick it up.
Well, picking up trash is similar to picking up cash. The money earned can go a long way towards paying the bills, building a savings account, and addressing financial needs.
Trash can turn out to be treasured goods that be reused or sell for money, also known as "recycling," which is a mindful way to save the planet and keep the world clean and livable. Or you can earn money from receipts, unused coupons, cardboard, and many other things.
According to the EPA report, the average American person produces about 5.91 pounds of trash each day, with only 1.51 pounds being recycled. For food waste, the average person tosses out 220.96 pounds of food– which is tragic since so many children are food insecure and going hungry in the United States.
The National Geographic Society analysis in 2018 reported that 91% of plastic isn't recycled and the United States generates more waste more than any nation in the world. You can make a little difference in your community by recycling and reusing trash– while making money at the same time.
Collecting and selling “trash” or surplus goods is also a great way to find motivation to exercise and get off the couch. This can be a part-time job, hobby or it can even become a profitable green business for those who care about the environment. Here are some ways to turn your trash into cash and making the planet a better place.
Turning Garbage Into Cash
Cardboard Boxes: Americans love online retail, convenience and the "just-got-a-gift" feeling of packages arriving at our doorstep. In 2018, it was reported that over 165 billion packages are shipped in the US, with cardboards equivalent to over 1 billion trees.
Online retail has many perks, but e-commerce packaging waste has a long-term impact on the environment. If it continues, there will be more waste than fishes in the sea by 2025. Amazon has recently introduced the "Frustration-Free Packaging Program” which allows packages to be shipped in their original container. This has helped in some ways, but retailers want their goods to arrive in perfect condition, which can result in over-packaging.
If you recently shopped online, moved or have cardboards around the house, you can turn your cardboards into cash by selling it to the following companies:
- UsedCardBoardBoxes.com: This company "rescue" used boxes and offer free shipping. Boxes will be returned to the distribution center and resell to customers and businesses across the US. Instead of throwing out your cardboards for free, you can make extra cash. You can sell all sort of boxes, and there are no delivery or pickup fees.
- Boxcycle.com: A marketplace for used cardboard boxes with a mission to eliminate environmental impact. All boxes are accepted, and you can make as much as $9.75 per box.
- ContainerExchanger.com: A dedicated website that buys and resell reusable packaging and containers. If you have extra storage bins, plastic totes, wood crates, garbage bins, metal containers or any other packaging that you are planning to get rid of, you can recycle it for extra cash. Container Exchanger will provide you with free listings and exposure to a nationwide network to sell recycle items. You can earn over $500 for unused bulk containers.
Egg Cartons: Save your empty egg cartons and list it on eBay. You can make $31+ for a bulk pack of 25 empty egg cartons.
Hair: Yes, you can sell your hair for extra money. Do it with each cut, or let your hair grow long and then sell it. Or give it to charity/ It is another source of quick and easy cash, and read more on making cash from your hair.
Old Magazines: Your old magazines could worth a lot on eBay. For instance, a copy Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 was sold for $156,000 in 2007, and Marilyn Monroe Playboy is worth $4,500 in good condition. Or use a website to swap them for other magazines you may enjoy.
Handwritten Journals/Diaries: People write journals and diaries to document events from their lives, and it helps to relieve pain, sorrows and to cherish beautiful memories. Written material is never trash - there is always some value to it. Writing can be therapeutic after a lousy day or event.
If you have old journals or diaries around the house, you can sell it on eBay or antique shops. People buy strangers diaries on the internet to learn about other people's lives, and it can be a fascinating read. You can list any old letters and handwritten books on eBay. People enjoy reading old letters and journals, and old diaries are worth more than you think. For instance, Rowland Freeman Diary 1800's is almost worth $3,000.
Empty Bottles & Cans: If you are a resident of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, NYC, Oregon or Vermont, you can earn up to 15 cents to recycle empty bottles and cans and up to 30 cents for aluminum. You can find recycling centers next to supermarkets, local businesses or by google search for recycling centers near your "zipcode."
Toilet Roll Tubes: Many savvy sellers are earning money from selling toilet roll tubes on eBay, Amazon, and Etsy. These paper tubes are not trash, but rather are used for arts, crafts, and school projects. You can earn $25 + for 77 toilet paper tubes. Paper towel tubes can be listed as well. This is a great way to add some cash to your wallet while being resourceful to the environment.
Ink cartridges: Each year, millions of cartridges and toners are thrown in the trash which ends up in landfills. Recycling empty cartridges will help to reduce solid waste, raw materials, the energy needed to produce a new product and even saving millions of tax dollars that will be required for additional landfill management. Stables offer $2 per cartridge with a maximum of 20 returns per month. You can also visit ecyclegroup.com for a monthly check of $25 for empty laser, toner and inkjet cartridges.
Used Batteries: Batteries are used around the house to power remote controls, flashlights, video games consoles, and other devices. It is also used in medical environments, health devices, and emergency responders. They tend to fill up landfills, but they too can be a source of extra cash.
Batteries are easily thrown into the trash or forgotten, which can be extremely dangerous and disposable batteries can potentially start fires and it can be very toxic and can cause contamination of water. You can recycle batteries and earn between $4- $12 per battery. There is a network of over 34,000 recycling centers in the US. For battery disposal, visit earth911.com or Call2recycle.org
Store receipts: Nearly all of us shop on a regular basis, and we receive receipts as proof of transaction. And, most of the time, these receipts get thrown away, resulting in more trash. To reduce waste, you can save your receipts and earn cash by scanning it on mobile apps such as Checkout 51, Receipt Hog, and Ibotta. You can earn $40+ on these apps by scanning your store receipts. Instead of trashing your receipts, you can save it for expense reimbursements, budgeting, tax deductions, or merchandise returns/exchanges.
Old Woods: If you recently remodeled your home with extra pieces of old woods laying around, you can recycle it for extra cash on Antiquebeamsandboards.com. Barn owners and suppliers with reclaimed wood materials can also apply.
Coupons: Coupons could save you money but also could make you money. There are thousands of coupon listing on eBay. For instance, $50 Marlboro coupons with savings of over $150 can be sold for $15. Find a list of websites that give free coupons.
Recycling Leaves: Money DOES grow on trees after all. Companies in the UK are willing to pay $1 per leaf. In the US, you can earn $24 for 50 leaves from online marketplaces like Esty.
Recycling Junk Mail: Many companies will pay you for your junk mails such as unwanted newsletters, magazines, and other promotional materials. You will be rewarded with prizes, gift cards and PayPal cash for your junk mail. Visit the following websites to recycle your junk mail and earn cash.
- World-mail-panel.com
- Usmonitor.com
- Sbkcenter.com
Used Cooking Oil: The best foods are made with cooking oil, and leftover cooking oil is usually poured into the kitchen sink. However, this can be hazardous to the water system since oil can develop free radicals, which can affect our cells. Also, oil and grease can cause sewer blockage, which can be costly to fix. Turn your leftover cooking oil into cash by using oil recycled programs. Visit WhiteMountainBiodiesel.com or Earth911 to learn more.
Reusing Garbage or Trash To Save Money
Leftover Foods: This can be used for garden compost. Gardening is a great way to save money on your grocery bill. Even for those in the Northeast regions– gardening can be performed during the spring/summer months to save money on food.
Fabric scrap: If you have pieces of fabric scrap type trash around your house, you can use it to make crafty projects that can be sold on Etsy and other online marketplaces. Colorful cloth can be used to make fabric keychains, bookmarks, memory games for kids, decorative hair bows and pins.
Diapers: Old clothes can be used to make cloth diapers. A baby can go through more than 4,000 diapers before being fully toilet trained. Homemade cloth diapers are eco-friendly and will save you hundreds of dollars on diapers. Make them to earn some cash. And, it is an excellent way to reuse old clothing. Or find charities that give free diapers or pampers.
Spoiled/Unused Food
Wasting food is an ecological and economic problem. Millions of children and low income families are also going hungry, and it is a sin to waste those goods. By throwing away food, you are also tossing out money. This is a source of “trash” that can be put to such good use. Waste food can add up to some serious dollars. Below are some food, meal or grocery items that be reused instead of toss away in the trash. Or give it to a food bank.
- Spoiled fruits-- Rotting fruits such as mangoes and berries can be made into jam or preserves for your family or sell to your local farmers market.
- Overripe bananas: Old bananas or those covered in brown spots can be used to make bananas muffins, frozen smoothies, pancakes or ice-cream.
- Apples: Musky or bruised apples can be baked, made into applesauce, apple butter, Apple Fritters, or a double-crust apple pie.
- Overriped Lemons: Can be used to flavor fish.
- Spoiled/Expired Yogurt: Contains anti-fungal and antibacterial properties which can be used as skincare to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
- Spoiled Milk: Sour milk can be used for baking, and it adds flavor to cakes and muffins.
- Stale Bread: Can be used as breadcrumbs for healthy fish and chicken. Sale bread can be used to make meatloaf or bread pudding.
- Used Coffee Grounds: Makes great fertilizer for plants. It can also be used as soil to lengthen the life of flowers. Used coffee grounds contain high-acid components, which helps to melt snow and ice. This can help to save money on sea/rock salt during snowstorms.
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