Would you believe me if I said you could turn your trash into cash? It’s true! In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to turn your garbage into money!
As a kid, I was extremely money-motivated. My friend and I would come up with new money-making schemes all the time. Besides making and selling arts and crafts, perfume, and lemonade, we would also dig through the nearby office park’s dumpsters, searching for soda cans and other treasures. Most of the time, we would collect the cans and trade them in for money to buy candy from the store. But one summer, we collected thousands of Pepsi Soda tabs and traded them in for a one-night stay at a hotel (don’t worry, my friend’s mom chaperoned us on our stay).
It’s remarkable how many ways there are to make money if you’re willing to try. If you’re looking to turn your trash into cash, here are 19 legit ways to get started.
1. Selling Aluminum Cans
Selling aluminum cans is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about turning your trash into cash.
Earning money from aluminum cans depends on the state you live in. According to Cohen, in bottle-bill states, you can expect to earn $0.05 to $0.10 per can.
According to my calculations, if you have 35 cans, and each can pays out $0.05, you’ll earn $1.75. While this isn’t a huge amount of money, it’s an easy way to add some cash to your wallet while helping to clean up your community.
2. Sell Your Cardboard Boxes
Boxcycle is an online marketplace where you can sell your new and used cardboard boxes for cash. (I wish I had known about this when we were selling Girl Scout Cookies; I had a ton of boxes!)
To get started, create a free listing on Boxcycle. Then, when someone in your area is searching for boxes, you’ll confirm the availability and schedule a pickup time. Once the buyer has picked up the boxes and verified the sale, they’ll credit your account with the money. Payments are made via PayPal and can be requested at any time.
3. Turn Your Cooking Oil into Cash
Another way to turn your trash into cash is by selling your old cooking oil. A company called Buddies Grease Service will come and collect your used cooking oil, converting it into biodiesel. The pay is not disclosed in this article, but you can call for more details. There are, however, a couple of downsides. This company only collects in Texas and from commercial kitchens, but you may be able to find a company in your area with a similar program. Or maybe you start your own biodiesel fuel company!
4. Electronic Waste
Have you just upgraded your smartphone, laptop, or tablet? Then, sell your old electronic trash for cash! Utilize platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Mercari to connect with potential buyers online.
If you’re looking for alternatives, I’ve sold used smartphones, iPads, and laptops to AT&T, Verizon, and Apple when I upgraded my devices. Amazon and Staples also have trade-in programs, but I have yet to try either of those.
Here are a couple of other companies that will buy your used electronics for cash as well:
5. Money For Junk Mail
Do you hate junk mail? Turn it into cash! The Small Business Knowledge Center will pay you for your junk mail in the insurance, financial, mortgage, lending, credit, telecommunications, and travel industries. Simply sign up to become a consumer panelist and then send your qualifying junk mail in pre-paid envelopes every week. For each piece of mail that you send in, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
One user on Reddit reported earning $40 a month in rewards using the Small Business Knowledge Center. How much you can earn will depend on how much junk mail you receive and how consistently and quickly you send it back.
6. Scan Your Receipts For Cash
Don’t throw away those receipts! Believe it or not, some companies will use your receipts for market research. Here are a few smartphone apps that will reward you with money or gift cards for your receipts.
Fetch Rewards is a mobile app that allows you to earn points by scanning your receipts and playing games within the app. Currently, it takes 6,500 points to redeem a $5 gift card, but the more points you earn, the greater value they have (it only takes 11,500 points to get a $10 gift card). I’ve been using this for a few years, and during that time, I’ve earned $115. While this isn’t a ton of money, it fuels my Starbucks habit.
Ibotta is an iPhone and Android app that allows you to earn money while shopping. Before heading out on a shopping trip, complete tasks relating to your favorite brands and companies. Next, go shopping at stores like Target and Walgreens and take photos of your receipts. Once your transaction has been verified, your account will be credited with the specified cashback amount. Payments are made via PayPal, Wells Fargo, American Express, Chase, Bank of America, or gift cards. Earnings can be withdrawn as soon as you earn $20.
Receipt Hog is a smartphone app where you take photos of your receipts from any grocery store, supercenter, club store, dollar store, drug store, convenience mart, beauty supply, or pet supply store. Once receipts are inputted into the system, Receipt Hog will award you with virtual coins that can be traded in for cash via PayPal, Visa, or Amazon gift cards. The amount of coins you earn per receipt depends on the total amount of your bill. You can submit 20 receipts per week and trade 1,000 coins in for $5.
Check out this post for more companies that will pay you cash for your receipts!
7. How to Sell Reclaimed Wood
Have you remodeled your home? Do you flip houses? Or do you have an old barn that needs to be removed? Then, consider selling your old reclaimed wood for cash. Antique Beams and Boards will pay you money for your ash, elm, hickory, maple, walnut, and white oak wood. To obtain a quote, send them an email with the length, sizes, type of wood (if known), and photos. Antique Beams and Boards has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
When I think of scrap metal, I think of steel mills. However, the truth is that most metal items (including cars, bikes, appliances, cans, file cabinets, and BBQ grills) can be recycled for cash. Visit SA Recycling and complete their online form, or call them to find out how much you can earn. Scrap yards are located throughout the US.
9. Used Ink Cartridges
Working from home, you go through a good amount of ink cartridges, but did you know that you can sell those old cartridges for cash?! At Evolve Recycling, you can send in your used ink cartridges (and cell phones) for quick money.
Just sign up on their website, and a pre-paid envelope will be sent to your home. Ship your items back and get paid via check. One thing I like about Evolve Recycling is that they have a price list, so you know exactly how much your empty cartridges are worth. Please note that you must send in 20 items at a time, so you may need to save your cartridges for an extended period before shipping them.
If you prefer to sell locally, HP has partnered with Staples, Best Buy, and Office Max to recycle your used ink cartridges. Staples rewards your recycling efforts with in-store rewards. With Best Buy, you can take advantage of various offers for recycling different products, and with OfficeMax, you’ll earn $2 in-store rewards.
10. Recycle Your Wine Corks for Cash
Do you love to drink wine? Do you sell wine for a direct sales company? Then, sell those old wine corks for money! According to Vinepair, you can sell your old wine corks on eBay for approximately $0.10 per cork. Of course, you’ll need to pay eBay seller fees and add shipping costs, but if you have a lot of wine corks lying around, you could earn enough money for a new bottle of wine.
11. Selling Plastic Bottles
According to Greenpeace, of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic produced, only 9% is ever recycled. Due to this trend, many countries and states encourage individuals to collect plastic bottles and recycle them for a cash reward. Tesco has installed reverse vending machines in the UK where individuals can turn in plastic bottles for money. As plastic bottles are a global problem, I expect this trend of paying for recycled plastic to continue. To find a plastic bottle recycling center near you, visit Earth 911.
12. Selling Glass Bottles
Recycling glass bottles for cash is nothing new. However, in the US, only ten states currently pay money for bottles: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. If you don’t live in one of these states, it’s still worth exploring. Do a Google search for your city and the keywords “sell bottles.” You may be able to find a local recycling center, a homebrew supply store, a vineyard, or a brewery that accepts glass bottles for cash.
If you can’t recycle bottles for cash in your state and you’re crafty, you can sell upcycled bottle crafts on Etsy for a profit. People have turned used bottles into candles, lights, home decor, tumblers, and more!
13. Cash For Junk Batteries
Does your vehicle need a new battery? If so, you can trade in your old one for a small discount on a new one. Most auto parts stores will automatically discount your new battery when you give them your old one (so be sure to ask about this before making your purchase). However, if you have old batteries lying around your garage, you may be able to sell them for cash at auto part stores, junkyards, or on sites like Craigslist. According to this article, you can earn anywhere from $5 to $12 per battery.
14. Selling Your Old Appliances
If you’ve moved into a new house or purchased new appliances, you likely have old ones that need to be removed so you can make room for the new ones. Depending on their age, condition, and whether they’re working, you may be able to sell them for cash.
If your appliances are in good condition and still work, consider listing them on Craigslist, VarageSale, or Facebook Marketplace. If your appliances don’t work, you may be able to sell them for spare parts on the websites mentioned above or to a local salvage yard.
15. Selling Toilet Paper Rolls
I would have never thought of this in a million years, but according to this article on Country Living, crafters and teachers need toilet paper rolls for craft projects. The going rate on eBay is $15 for 100 rolls; remember that you’ll have to cover shipping costs, packaging costs, and eBay fees.
16. Cash for Food Scraps
Back in my college days, when I waited tables, we would scrape the leftovers of patrons’ food into a giant trash bin. These food scraps were then donated to a local farmer, who would feed the scraps to his pigs. Food waste is a massive problem in America! In fact, according to the USDA, it’s estimated that 30-40% of our food supply is wasted by consumers each year.
While some companies and consumers have found creative ways to recycle their scraps, some clever entrepreneurs have found ways to make money from food scraps!
One company, Carter’s Compost, bikes to consumers’ homes, collects their food scraps, and drops them off at their compost sites. Your food scraps (coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps, paper, and eggshells) are turned into valuable compost, and the service is only $10 for monthly pickups or $15 for weekly pickups. They even hire crew members to collect trash on their bikes in Traverse City, Michigan. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and enjoy riding a bicycle; the starting pay is $15 per hour.
17. Sell Empty Pill Bottles Online
The other day, I went to my local pharmacy to recycle my empty pill bottles. Unfortunately, their recycling bin was full, so I started looking online for alternatives. Surprisingly, I found people on Etsy and eBay selling empty pill containers for cash.
Yes, if you save enough pill bottles, you can sell them online for people to use in craft projects, as party favors, or for storage options. Some crafters decorate their empty pill bottles with faux gems or painted designs, while others add vinyl stickers, and still others sell the empty bottles on their own. To give you an idea of what you can earn with this option, one Etsy seller sold five (1.5 oz) empty pill bottles for $3.00!
18. Start A Trash Pick-Up Business
If you’re looking to start a low-cost business, consider launching a trash pickup service. Brian Winch, the founder of Cleanlots, started picking up trash in parking lots as a side hustle back in the 1980s. Over time, he turned his efforts into a six-figure money-making machine. Today, he teaches others how to begin their own waste collection business. Not only is this an environmentally friendly option, but it’s also perfect for individuals who prefer not to spend their days sitting behind a computer.
To learn more about getting started, check out Cleanlots!
19. Start an Upcycling Business
Did you know that only 10% to 30% of the items that are donated to thrift stores are put on the floor for sale? The rest ends up in a landfill, filling our planet with garbage. If you’re artsy and crafty and interested in sustainability, you can start an upcycling business by transforming other people’s trash into cash!
I’ve seen small business owners on TikTok turn items like old jeans into tote bags, sleeping bags into jackets, and bed sheets into dresses. One such business owner is Kelsey from Rope Drop Design. She takes Disney-themed raw materials, such as bed sheets and sleeping bags, and turns them into dresses, skirts, jackets, bags, shirts, and more, selling them on her website. If you’re concerned that upcycling isn’t a lucrative opportunity, think again! One of her upcycled jackets goes for $500, and they are always sold out.
Another way to utilize recyclable materials is to repurpose items such as furniture, home decor, plates, and even toys. I’ve seen people take china plates and turn them into jewelry, as well as amazing furniture recreations. Not only does upcycling have a positive impact on the environment, but it also tends to have good profit margins.
To get started, consider what you want to upcycle and create an inventory of the items you plan to use. Once you have your items, start documenting your creative process via video on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube (you can use your phone to do this). Next, choose an e-commerce platform to sell your items on, such as Etsy, Shopify, or TikTok Shop, and film the final product, including a link to where it can be purchased.
Other Ways to Turn Your Trash Into Cash
There are lots of ways to make cash from your trash!
If you have unwanted items lying around your home, do some research to see if your garbage is worth any money. Many stores and organizations have recycling programs that reward you for recycling unwanted goods and trash.
For instance, TerraCycle is a company that allows individuals to recycle their non-recyclable items (such as toothbrushes, snack bags, and drink pouches) while earning TerraCycle points to support charities, schools, and win prizes.
This post from Rather Be Shopping lists stores that reward consumers for recycling their old goods. Each store offers some reward or discount, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Then there are the professional dumpster divers who make a full-time living digging through the trash and reselling their finds. This individual, who lives in my hometown of Austin, earned $100,000 last year by digging through the garbage of major retailers like Sears, Best Buy, and OfficeMax, then flipping his items on sites like eBay and Craigslist. Melissa and Rob Stephenson also have a reselling business, and many of their items are found in the trash, too!
As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Have you turned your trash into cash? We’d love to hear your story!
Originally published March 30, 2015. Content updated June 2025.
