Make Money by Recycling

Brittany — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:50:17 +0000

Right now is the perfect time to do some post-spring deep cleaning out of closets, bookshelves and garages. School has just ended for those on the quarter schedule, and behold it is summer. Whether your closets are bulging with clothes, your bookshelves are bending from too much weight, or you’ve got an unused bike in the garage collecting dust, think about recycling your stuff to businesses that would buy them from you. Some extra cash and extra room sounds nice, does it not?

Selling Clothes

When selling clothes there are a couple of things to look for, before taking them directly from closet to store. Most shops only take clothes that are in good condition. Which means:

Photo by apreche

rip and tear-free
no loose seams
stain-free
good condition

Some shops may only take clothes that are ‘in season.’ This means during summer season they will not take winter jackets, and during winter they will not take shorts and tank tops. Keep these things in mind, so you aren’t rejected for all of your winter clothes when you go in during July. You can call certain stores like Buffalo Exchange and ask what kinds of items they are currently buying from sellers. Some other places you can sell clothes: Plato’s Closet, Ebay, Crossroads Trading

Selling Books

Depending on where you sell your used books, there are certain things that buyers look for. It is most likely that buyers will not buy a book if it has these qualities:

Photo by Rob Enslin

Rips, tears, stains or odors
Tape repairs
Beaten up, in worn-condition
Covered in stickers or price markings from other stores
Writing or highlighting (with the exception of owner’s name in front)
Pages falling out
Broken spines/bindings

These are the qualifications for Powell’s Books in Portland, OR. It is also mentioned that the prices they pay for books, online or in-store, are based off of what they think it will sell for, as well as the ‘desirability, current and historic market values, in-print prices, conditions, and [their] current stock levels.’ Some other places you can sell your books: Cash4books, Half.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon

Selling Bikes, old furniture, televisions, etc.

When selling old bikes, furniture, televisions and other things that are stowed away in the garage, there is usually more leeway when it comes to pricing, because it’s the seller who sets the price. Selling these items is usually done online so the price is comparable to the quality. Here are some websites where you can sell your stuff: Craigslist, Ebay

Photo by jayhay312

Simple Tips To Be A “Green” Student

brianne — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:57:17 +0000

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

We were taught these terms in elementary school, yet how often do we apply them to our everyday adult life? Being “environmentally friendly” sounds daunting– an image of a hemp-clad hippie comes to mind. Please, erase this image from your mind. There are lots of simple ways for anyone to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

The “Three R’s” in action:

REDUCE your water waste by doing things like cutting down your shower to 5 minutes, not letting the water run while you brush your teeth, and only running your dishwasher when it’s full. Also, reduce your gas pollution by riding your bike or walking places instead of driving whenever you can.
REUSE items like your grocery bag, water bottle, and coffee mug. At a lot places, it will save you 5-10 cents every time you bring your own bag or bottle. This might sound small, but it adds up. Plus, reusing goes hand in hand with reducing your waste.
RECYCLE simple things like paper and soda cans– it’s so easy to just have an extra bin in your house for recyclable items. Don’t know what you can recycle and what you can’t? Go here. Another way to recycle is by donating your old clothes to a shelter or selling them to a resale shop. Buying from resale shops completes the recycling circle.

Why?

We all leave an “ecological footprint” on the planet which impacts our environment negatively. Find out how you’re effecting the planet by taking this short quiz.

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