Save the Planet, Get a Little Green

The easiest way to recycle is to dump everything into your curbside bin and let the city cart it off. But you could be dumping some money into that bin along with your bottles and cans. Here are a couple ways to get some money back when you recycle:

Grocery Store:
Many grocery stores have recycling centers in their parking lots. Save your glass, plastic and aluminum up and then use the recycling center on your next shopping trip to the store. Depending on your items, you may make more money by recycling per item than by weight.

Also, save your grocery bags, some stores will give you 5cents for paper bags or a discount for each plastic bag you reuse. If you use reusable fabric bags, some stores discount for that too. It all depends on the store, so be sure to ask.

Trade it in:
Many stores where you will be making major purchases, like electronics and mattresses, will let you trade in your old stuff for a discount off your new stuff. Not only will you not have to worry about how to get rid of your old things, you’ll be saving some money.

Ladies, recently DailySugar.com posted an item saying that you can do the same thing with your empty fragrance bottles. Bond No. 9 or Saks Fifth Avenue stores will recycle and sanitize your bottles for reuse. In return for your good deed, you get a free refillable pocket spray ($40 value) with any new Bond No. 9 purchase. Just make sure you don’t go out of your way to make your donation, otherwise your car’s carbon output may outweigh the exchange.

Lots of stores and companies are going green and giving you green, so just ask what the business’s recycling policy is and you could start earning something back.