By Elizabeth Lotts, Money Talks News
Recycling often requires a little extra legwork. But that doesn’t mean you should hoard old electronics just because it’s a hassle to dispose of them. What you need is some incentive — preferably a monetary motivation.
Each of the following companies offers a recycling program that turns your donations into store credit, a coupon or — best of all — cold, hard cash. Whether you have last year’s iPhone, empty ink cartridges or bags full of clothes, you can get rewarded for recycling.
1. Advance Auto Parts
Even if you didn’t buy your car battery from Advance Auto Parts, the retailer will take it off your hands. Drop off your car or truck battery at a participating Advance Auto Parts location, and you will receive a $10 gift card.
2. AT&T
Have you accumulated a few old phones or tablets? The AT&T Trade-In Program lets you safely recycle these electronic devices in exchange for an AT&T Promotion Card. AT&T will assess the value of your old gear and give you credit in an amount of “up to $150 or more,” the company says.
If your device doesn’t have any trade-in value, AT&T will still safely recycle it for you.
3. Best Buy
Best Buy makes it easy — and worthwhile — to recycle your used electronics and appliances. For instance, you can turn in your HP printer and get 15 percent off the purchase of a new HP printer. Check Best Buy’s Current Promotions page for the most up-to-date recycling offers.
4. Eileen Fisher
Through Eileen Fisher Renew, you can drop off your old Eileen Fisher clothes at a retail location near you. For your kind donation, you’ll get a $5 Eileen Fisher Rewards Card per item. The company will either resell the clothes if they’re in good condition or turn them into brand-new designs.
5. H&M
If you’ve already filled a bag with clothes to donate, drop them off at your nearest H&M store. All H&M stores around the globe participate in the retailer’s textile recycling program. According to H&M’s website, stores will accept clothing of any brand and in any condition in exchange for a voucher.
“Just ask for the garment-collecting box, often located next to the cash desks,” the website says.
6. Madewell
You could hold onto jeans that haven’t fit for years, or you could leverage them to buy a new pair. Madewell lets you donate your old denim for $20 off full-priced Madewell branded jeans.
The donated denim goes to a partnership between Blue Jeans Go Green and Habitat for Humanity that recycles jeans into housing insulation. You get new clothes at a discount, and someone in need gets an upgraded home. It’s a win-win!
7. Levi’s
Are you Levi’s for life? Levi Strauss & Co., too, has a recycling program that rewards you. Bring in any brand of clothes or shoes to a participating Levi’s store, and receive 20 percent off a single, full-priced item.
Levi’s has partnered with I:Collect to reuse and recycle apparel, footwear and other textiles. I:Collect turns them into wearable items or gives them new life as cleaning rags, insulation and more.
8. Microsoft
When you’re ready to let go of old electronics, stop by a Microsoft store. The store will evaluate your old laptop, tablet, phone or gaming console for free. If the item has held its value, you’ll get store credit to upgrade to a new Microsoft device. Even if it misses the mark, Microsoft will safely recycle your item at no cost to you.
9. Office Depot
Don’t throw out those ink cartridges! Take your empty ink and toner cartridges to the nearest Office Depot, and they’ll give you $2 back in rewards per cartridge. The Office Depot Recycling Program does come with a couple caveats, though. You have to make a $10 qualifying purchase during that same month, and the retailer does not accept damaged cartridges.
10. The North Face
The Clothes the Loop program from The North Face helps ensure clothes don’t end up in landfills. When you drop off your used clothes or footwear at participating retail stores, you’ll receive $10 off your next purchase of $100 or more at The North Face. Donations are accepted from any brand and in any condition.
