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As consumers, we create a huge amount of waste, filling landfills with all the products we’ve used and thrown away. While most people have a recycling bin with their trash can, they may not realize that many of the stores they frequent offer exceptional recycling programs for items that can’t go in the bin. recycling.
These major retailers have robust recycling programs that can refurbish and reuse your old clothes, smartphones, rechargeable batteries, or furniture. And, for items that aren’t reusable, these retailers partner with recycling companies that can break them down into their basic components to create a variety of other products.
While reducing the impact you have on the local landfill is reason enough to turn in your unwanted furniture, tablets, linens, or rechargeable batteries to these retailers, you might be surprised to learn that many of these companies offer additional incentives in the form of coupons, gift cards and redemption offers. Ahead, learn more about some of the best retailers that will take your unwanted stuff.
The big-box appliance and electronics giant has been a leader in recycling, reusing or repurposing 2 billion pounds of electronics and appliance waste since 2009. You can drop off your old electronics at one of over 1,000 Best Buy locations. and even earn gift cards for those that still have value. Best Buy will also carry old TVs, fitness equipment and appliances for a nominal fee when you buy new ones. Best Buy partners with Electronic Recyclers International, which breaks down electronics into materials that can be reused for use in everything from fiber optic cables to airplanes.
bestbuy.com
Few retailers have a recycling program as robust as home improvement giant Home Depot, which recycles a variety of disposable products. The company partners with nonprofit recycling company Call2Recycle to recycle old lithium-ion batteries that customers can drop off at any of its locations. The Home Depot also collects plastic bags, which it supplies to Trex, the composite decking maker in turn uses the materials in the construction of its products. The Home Depot also has recycling programs for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and cardboard boxes.
Not only will Staples recycle your old office supplies and electronics, but they’ll also pay you for it. Through the Staples Rewards program, you can earn $2 on every recycled ink or toner cartridge you bring to one of its more than 1,000 locations. The office supplies giant will also pay you for certain used electronics, including smartphones, tablets and laptops. Plus, they’ll take unwanted electronics and used rechargeable batteries free of charge.
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Like other retailers, Walmart will take your used cell phones, Bluetooth speakers, laptops, game consoles, tablets and other devices as part of its trade-in program. Plus, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home. Simply enter information about the device on Walmart’s website, get an offer for it, then ship it for free via FedEx using a pre-printed label and you’ll receive an instant Walmart gift card for your efforts.
The presence of mercury, cadmium, lithium and lead in car batteries makes these vital components of cars and trucks one of the most harmful products for the environment. Advance Auto Parts knows this, and therefore the company offers a nice incentive to bring in your old battery once it’s dead. Bring the used battery to any Advance store and you’ll get a $10 gift card, which you can use towards the cost of a new battery or anything else in the store. The old batteries are then used to make new ones.
Although Apple products may be more expensive when it comes to consumer electronics, they hold their value well. Apple makes it easier to cash in on that old iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or Apple Watch by letting users trade in their devices for store credit (Apple will also recycle other brands of electronics for free). If the device is in good condition, it will be refurbished and sold to a new owner. Those that cannot be reused are taken to one of Apple’s recycling partners, where they are broken down and recycled. Many iPhones end up with Daisy, Apple’s dismantling robot, designed to retrieve usable parts from a device.
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There are few better ways to dispose of used but usable appliances, furniture, and building materials than Habitat ReStores. Habitat for Humanity ReStores have some 875 locations nationwide, all of which accept appliances, furniture, miscellaneous household items, and even building materials. Habitat then resells these items in its store and uses the proceeds to build affordable homes for families. Habitat may not give you a gift card for your stuff, but you can get tax deductions for your donations because Habitat is a non-profit organization.
habitat.org
Have you ever wondered where the used products sold by Amazon come from? The online retail giant will take your old electronics and devices, including Bluetooth speakers and headphones, home security devices, wireless routers and gaming systems. The company will even reward you with gift cards for gently used electronics that she can refurbish and resell. Amazon also takes some products that no longer work. The company will recycle a variety of electronics for free, even covering the cost of shipping them via UPS.
Bedding, mismatched socks, old t-shirts: Clothing retailer H&M collects all linens through the company’s recycling program. H&M collected over 29,000 tonnes of textiles for recycling in 2019. Items were either cleaned and reused as second-hand clothing, turned into other products such as cleaning cloths, or recycled into other products like insulation. The company will give you a 15% discount card on purchases at its store with every bag of used laundry you drop off there.
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