Can I Get Paid for Recycling?

Dear Recycling Bins... I try to do my bit for the environment, but at the moment I’m struggling. The cost of everything is going up at an unbelievable rate. Are there any ways that I can help the environment and get rewards? Could I get paid for recycling?

Thank you for your question. The cost of living is soaring at the moment so every little saving helps. The good news is that yes, you can get paid for recycling! Here are some ways you can have more cash in your pocket and send less to landfills.

Get paid for recycling Old CDs, Computer Games, and Tech

You can sell your things on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. However, Moneysavingexpert.com recommends you trade them in on specialist sites. The bonus of using one of these sites is that you get an instant valuation of your goods. Oh, and they don’t end up in landfill!

Here are the sites they recommend:

• WeBuyBooks
• CeX
• Ziffit
• GameXchange
• Music Magpie

Don’t Forget Your Tech Accessories

This is a bit of a forgotten way you can get paid for recycling. Do you have a drawer full of remote controls, cables, smartphone boxes, and chargers you don’t use? Rather than having them clutter your home or end up in the rubbish, why not sell them?  Yes, you can get money for tech accessories, boxes, and user manuals on eBay, Facebook, or Gumtree.

Save Money By Ditching Single-Use Coffee Cups

Disposable coffee cups are notoriously hard to recycle. In recent years, discerning customers have invested in reusable coffee cups. Now the big coffee chains have rewarded them. Of course, the cheapest and most eco-friendly way to brew up is to make it at home. However, if you do enjoy a coffee on the go, save up to 50p with your reusable cup at Starbucks, Pret, Greggs, and more.

Get Rewards for Recycling Clothing and Beauty Products

Even fashion and beauty lovers can get paid for recycling your old goods.

Beauty Recycling Rewards

At Boots, you can get 250 Advantage Card points, worth £2.50, when you recycle five beauty product containers.

MAC offers a free lipstick in return for six used MAC containers.

As Lush is an ethical brand, you’d expect them to have a recycling scheme in store. Save five of the retailer’s black recyclable pots and you’ll get a free skincare face mask in return.

Clothing Recycling Rewards

You can get £5 off a £35 spend at Marks and Spencer if you take your old clothes to Oxfam. Just bag the clothes, drop them off, and get a voucher in return.

Take a supermarket carrier bag full of clothes or textiles to H&M and you can get £5 off a £25 spend. The clothes can be from any brand and in any condition.

So there you have it, you can get earn while recycling. Whether you save 50p or £5, every little helps your finances and the planet. For more interesting articles on all things recycling, check out the rest of our blog.