The Great 'Recycle it for cash' Hunt. Make money from old stuff you don't want.

This weeks' main article is how to make your old mobile phone pay, however what else is there around your house or garage you can recycle for cash? This isn't about flogging it on eBay; it's about recycling opportunites that make you money and possibly help the enviroment too.

Click reply to share your top tips.
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Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
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Comments

  • madmoys
    madmoys Posts: 445
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    You could recycle your used ink cartridges here;

    http://www.inkcycle.co.uk/empties3.php?osCsid=54c5ca8be83c46d64deb1c551e9fe07c

    I've not tried this yet, as I have'nt enough cartridges.
  • redballoon_2
    redballoon_2 Posts: 1,555
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    tesco recycle ink cartridges too and you get tesco club card points for them as well (i think?)
    Make £10 a day challenge March 2013 £101.24 / £240 :j
    WSC 10 March - £0 / £5
    Debt £17,294 - 7th March
  • stu_c_2
    stu_c_2 Posts: 22 Forumite
    I picked up a Freepost envelope in Tesco last week for recycling phones. The options are as follows:

    1. If your phone switches on then you'll get 300 points (using the Tesco Voucher deals that would be £12) plus they donate £1 to "Whizz-Kidz.org.uk".

    2. If your phone does not switch on then you'll only get 50 points (or £2 using Tesco Voucher Deals) but they'll still donate £1 as before.

    3. Alternatively you can also opt to donate that whole lot to charity.

    You can order envelopes from [email protected]

    Currently each envelope also counts as a competition entry to win a Toyota Prius, (runs until 29th Dec 2006)

    Note: You can only send in 5 phones per person per year.
  • stu_c_2
    stu_c_2 Posts: 22 Forumite
    I think the freepost bags for recycling cartridges are available from the following company.

    http://www.inkagain.co.uk/collection/order_bags_form_comp.shtml

    Either £1 goes to Whizzkids or 50 clubcard points to you and 50p to the charity. The choice is yours.

    Trust this of some use.
  • EricDeeson
    EricDeeson Posts: 51
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    "This isn't about flogging it on eBay"

    And what's wrong with that? Actually, I've not got as far as eBay yet, but decided to sell several hundred books through Amazon - and have so far received about £1000 in four months. It's not hugely hard work, and it's fun. Now to get back to the remaining (several hundred - c 150) books ...
  • golddustmedia
    golddustmedia Posts: 835
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    Not for cash but for charity.

    My local Toolstation shop (a bit like Screwfix, only better!) has a bin for recycling old/broken hand and garden tools which are sent to Africa to be repaired/sharpened and reused.

    I've seen garden spades with broken handles, blunt chisels etc. It's economical for them to be repaired in Africa but not here. Basically the cost of a new handle or sharpening over here is more than the cost of a replacement.
  • golddustmedia
    golddustmedia Posts: 835
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    This is a bit of a cheeky one pulled by my friend. Local car dealer/supermarket place was offering a minimum part exchange of £1000 on any car. Only condition, it must have a valid MOT. He had seen a car he liked but didn't have a car to PX so tried negotiating a deal without trade-in but the best he could get was £500 off.

    SO, a quick trawl of the local paper and he picked up a G reg Rover 214 for £50 with 1 month MOT on it! Popped back to garage and traded it in for £1000 off his chosen car! OK, so realistically the cars were priced up to be able to offer the deal in the first place but still he was £450 better off as a result!
  • For things you want rid of but too good to tip try freecycle.org for your local area - free to join - as you can also ask for things you need it is a wonderful exchange and prevents loads going into landfill each year - only criteria is that everything you offer or want must be free....win/win situation!
  • This is a bit of a cheeky one pulled by my friend. Local car dealer/supermarket place was offering a minimum part exchange of £1000 on any car. Only condition, it must have a valid MOT. He had seen a car he liked but didn't have a car to PX so tried negotiating a deal without trade-in but the best he could get was £500 off.

    SO, a quick trawl of the local paper and he picked up a G reg Rover 214 for £50 with 1 month MOT on it! Popped back to garage and traded it in for £1000 off his chosen car! OK, so realistically the cars were priced up to be able to offer the deal in the first place but still he was £450 better off as a result!
    Nice one! I have a friend who did something similar when a camera shop were offering a trade-in - £50 off if he traded in any used SLR lens. Since he couldn't get a better deal elsewhere, he bought an old manual focus lens for £10 so he could take advantage of the offer, thus saving £40.
    Does anyone know of anywhere that accepts Epson and Epson compatible inkjet cartridges for recycling? I don't know why, but all the inkjet cartridge recycling envelopes I've ever seen accept other major brands but can't recycle Epson cartridges.
  • lustydog
    lustydog Posts: 37 Forumite
    EricDeeson wrote:
    "This isn't about flogging it on eBay"

    And what's wrong with that? Actually, I've not got as far as eBay yet, but decided to sell several hundred books through Amazon - and have so far received about £1000 in four months. It's not hugely hard work, and it's fun. Now to get back to the remaining (several hundred - c 150) books ...
    Hi Eric
    Don't want to put a damper on your exuberance, but the Tax man has currently got a limit on the amount of articles you can sell on ebay or Amazon.
    You are restricted to 60 items a year, and then they regard it as a business which of course is taxable.
    I myself sold a similar number of books and specialist videos last year, but gave it up as it wasn't worth the hassle of keeping records and filling in forms.
    Of course as there are millions of people doing this, and they may never get round to you, but with these computer thingys who knows what wonders they can perform. Regards lustydog
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