Make money off your e-waste

Sure, you already know you should recycle your e-waste — and that every week, a new company seems to come out with its own recycling program. But with all the different take-back programs, sell-back programs, rebate programs, and the like, how’s one supposed to know which method to go with — or better yet, which methods are actually profitable for the would-be-environmentalist?

 

Because while both Best Buy and Office Depot will charge you about $10 to recycle your laptop, the former offsets that cost by giving you a $10 gift certificate and the latter doesn’t. Other sites, like Collective Good, might in fact pay YOU for the privilege of taking your unwanted laptop off your hands. Others might offer to donate the proceeds of your recycled product to your fave charity. What’s a do-gooder to do?

 

All these programs will inevitably vary for you in terms of locations, convenience, restrictions, etc. — which is why some anal environmentalists find their attempts to e-cycle using only sustainable transportation and packaging an all-day endeavor.

 

Luckily, PC Mag has just published The Electronics Recycling Superguide (thanks to reader Tim for the tip!). This article shows you exactly what e-waste recycling program all the major electronics manufacturers offer — and all the nitty gritties of these programs: “if they charge a recycling fee, whether or not you get cash in return, and which geographical regions they service.” The guide even has a list of retailers along with their own recycling programs — AND a list of 7 cash-back websites that might pay you to send them your e-waste.

 

The Electronics Recycling Superguide’s a great resource for environmentalists in an economic recession. Now you can recycle easy — and hopefully make some easy money, too.