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Ways to Turn Your Trash into Cash

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1. Selling Aluminum Cans

With aluminum cans, how much you can earn depends on where you live. In bottle-bill states, you can expect to earn $0.05-$0.10 per can. 

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2. Sell Your Cardboard Boxes

Boxcycle is an online marketplace where you can sell your new and used cardboard boxes for cash to people in your local area.

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3. Sell Your Cooking Oil

Earn cash selling old cooking oil. A company called SeQuential will come and collect your used cooking oil and convert it into biodiesel.

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4. Sell Your Used Electronics

Have you just upgraded your smartphone, laptop, or tablet? Then sell your old electronic trash for cash on Gazelle, or trade it in on Amazon.

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5. Money for Junk Mail

The Small Business Knowledge Center will pay you for your junk mail. Just sign up to become a panelist and send your qualifying mail.

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6. Scan Your Receipts

Save those receipts! Companies like Checkout 51, Ibotta, and Receipt Hog will use your receipts for market research, and pay you for them.

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7. How to Sell Reclaimed Wood

Remodeling? Sell your reclaimed wood for cash. Antique Beams and Boards will pay you for ash, elm, hickory, maple, walnut, and white oak. 

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8. Scrap Metal

Most things that are metal can be recycled for cash. Go to GotScrap.com and fill out their online form or stop by a scrap yard to find out how much you can make.

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9. Used Ink Cartridges

You can sell your old ink cartridges for cash! At Evolve Recycling, you can send in your used ink cartridges (and cell phones) for quick money. 

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10. Wine Corks

Do you love to drink wine? Then sell those old wine corks for money! According to Vinepair, you can sell your old wine corks on eBay for about $0.10 per cork. 

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11. Plastic Bottles

Many countries and states will pay for your recycling. Tesco has installed reverse vending machines in the UK where you can turn in plastic bottles for money. 

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12. Selling Glass Bottles

10 states will pay for your glass bottles: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Vermont.

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13. Cash For Junk Batteries

Does your vehicle need a new battery? Trade in your old one for a discount or sometimes you can sell them at auto part stores or junkyards. 

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14. Selling Your Old Appliances

If your old appliances are in good condition and still work, consider listing them on Craigslist, VarageSale, or Facebook Marketplace.

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15. Selling Toilet Paper Rolls

Both crafters and teachers will pay money for toilet paper rolls to use in craft projects. The going rate on eBay is $15 for 100 rolls.

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16. Cash for Food Scraps

Have an entrepreneurial streak? You can make money from food scraps! People will pay for you to pick up and deliver their scraps to compost sites.