How to make money recycling appliances?

Author: Mr. Lenny Reichel Jr.  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Sell to Scrap Buyers A scrap dealer, processor or recycler like Cohen can buy your old appliances at a scrap recycling center near you. Pricing changes at least monthly, based on the market values of metals, so call ahead and ask what they are paying for mixed iron if you'd like an estimate.

How much money can you make recycling appliances?

Alternative Solutions to Hiring a Junk Removal Company to Remove Your Appliance. Scrap yards pay varying amounts for appliances based on current metal pricing, the appliances size, weight, and condition. Typical payouts for appliances like washing machines, stoves, and dishwashers range from about $10 – $50.

What is the most profitable appliance to scrap?

Plumbing Appliances

Water heaters and other appliances that use plumbing for operation are especially worthy of collecting for scrap metal purposes.

Can I get paid for my old refrigerator?

Check with Your State Energy Office or Local Electric Utility. Local utilities and energy-efficiency organizations support a growing number of refrigerator and freezer recycling programs. Some programs offer cash to recycle your old fridge; others offer utility bill credits. Ask about Municipal Pick-Up of Appliances.

What recycling makes the most money?

Scrap Metal. The final and most profitable material on our “best items to recycle for money” list is scrap metal.

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How many plastic bottles do you need to make $1000?

In selective US states, deposit incentive per piece varies from $0.05 to $0.10. If $0.075 is taken as the average number, the approximately 13.3K bottles or cans need to be deposited in order to make $1,000 out of them.

What is the best thing to scrap to make money?

The best things to sell for scrap are items that contain high-value metals like copper, brass, and aluminum. This includes appliances, cars, metal furniture, plumbing pipes, fixtures, electrical wires, and electronics. Catalytic converters are particularly valuable due to their platinum content.

Can you scrap a fridge for money?

Yes, you can get cash for your old unit, especially if it's still working and in good condition.

What is the machine that pays you to recycle?

The reverse vending machine has several environmental and economic benefits. A person can be rewarded a monetary gain or other rewards by disposing of their waste, such as plastic bottles. This economic benefit is an incentive for people to dispose of their waste correctly.

How to sell junk appliances?

Here's an overview of your selling options if you do need to sell old appliances:
  1. Classified Ads. ...
  2. Garage Sales. ...
  3. Used Appliance Stores. ...
  4. Scrap Metal Dealer. ...
  5. Friends and Family. ...
  6. Online Sites.

How can I sell my appliances fast?

There are many places where you can sell your used appliances online such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp, Letgo, Nextdoor, and appliance-specific websites such as Appliance Exchange and Used Appliances For Sale.

Is recycling worth it financially?

According to author Harvey Black of the Environmental Health Perspectives Journal, in San Jose, California “it costs $28 per ton to landfill waste compared with $147 a ton to recycle” (Black 1006). In Atlantic County, New Jersey, selling recyclable goods brings in $2.45 million.

Are old appliances worth anything?

Your lightly used, but very workable appliances, still have a lot of value. One option is that they can be sold outright. Used, but working, appliances are usually very much in demand and you could first try selling them in a garage or yard sale.

What states pay you to recycle?

Currently, the following states have bottle bills and will pay you for recycling your glass bottles:
  • Iowa.
  • Maine.
  • Hawaii.
  • California.
  • Connecticut.

What is the app that pays you to recycle?

Redeem your RECICLOS for a chance to win prizes, or if you prefer, donate them to social and environmental projects. Deposit your items in the machine. Scan the QR code on the machine using the app and get RECICLOS points.

Are reverse vending machines effective?

Smart RVMs can sort recyclables efficiently, reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills. Furthermore, it is estimated that smart RVMs can save up to 90% of the energy needed to recycle materials.

Can you make money off of a broken fridge?

You can make money on an old fridge by selling it secondhand or for parts to a scrapyard. If your refrigerator still works, you can sell it online; if it doesn't work, you can sell the scraps.

Are old fridges worth anything?

Let's say you have a 5-year-old GE refrigerator that originally cost $750. Depreciation per year: $750 / 15 years (expected lifespan) = $50 Life left: 15 - 5 = 10 years Value: 10 years x $50 = $500 If the refrigerator is in excellent condition and there's high demand in your area, you might price it around $500.

What is the most profitable thing to recycle?

Scrap Metal

One of the most profitable materials to recycle is scrap metal. That's why, scrap metal theft is quite common and there even have been reports of community recycling dumpsters raids in search of metal. Some of the most common scrap metals you can recycle for cash are copper, aluminum, and steel.

What appliances are good to scrap?

The kitchen is one of the best places to find recyclable appliances in a home. Some of the most common kitchen appliances that can be sold for their value in scrap metal include ovens, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, metal sinks, faucets, and much more!

What appliance has the most copper in it?

Refrigerators, stoves, and air conditioners in particular are great sources of copper as they require a larger power supply and therefore tend to contain thick insulated copper wire.

How many cans do I need to make $20?

At an average of 59 cents per pound, that makes a single can worth about 1.8 cents. At that rate, you could make $20 for about 1,000 cans (or 84 12-packs of 12-ounce cans). Looking for more everyday items you can recycle for money?

How many cans to make $100?

If you make $1 per lb, you need 2200 cans to make $100. From a scrapyard, you likely need double that, with 4400 cans. And if you make $2 per lb in a bottle bill state, you'll only need half, which is still 1100 cans.

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