How to Recycle Used CDs for Money

Don't throw out those old discs! Each one can represent money in your pocket with a little creative recycling.

As our culture becomes more environmentally conscious, people are seeking more ways to recycle everyday items. Sometimes, there can be a small profit involved. CD recycling is not yet as common as can, bottle, or newspaper recycling because there is not enough valuable material within them to make it truly profitable. However, if you are earth-conscious, open minded and determined not to toss your disks in the garbage, you may be able to make a bit of money in the process.

Instructions

1. Recycle by recirculating. Have a yard sale, reserve a table at a flea market, or list your used CDs on auction sites such as eBay or Amazon, and you can prevent them from ending up in a trash heap. You may be able to recoup a little bit of the money you spent on them. Also consider offering your discs in a bulk auction rather than individually. Sometimes people will pay more for a collection of CDs from a specific genre or artist than they will for each disc purchased individually. This also makes shipping easier and less tedious on you.

2. Visit your local used media store and trade your used CDs for store credit. You will likely only receive pennies on the dollar from the initial purchase price, but whatever money you are credited can be used to reduce the price on another CD, movie, or video game.

3. Create crafts, gifts, or other quirky items out of your unwanted compact discs. If your old collection of Barry Manilow, New Kids on the Block and Vanilla Ice won't earn you cash through sales, why not create sun catchers, coasters, or Christmas ornaments and sell them for profit? Your own personal creativity, combined with some savvy marketing, will determine the amount of money you are able to earn.

Tips & Warnings

• When obtaining new music in the future, keep your recycler's mindset. Consider downloading music to your MP3 player rather than burning a CD. For data, utilize flash drives which can be constantly erased and restocked with data.

• If you are willing to consider recycling old CDs without monetary compensation, consider these companies:

• NESAR Systems

• 420 Ashwood Road

• Darlington, PA 16115

• [phone] and

• Digital Audio Disk Corporation

• Attention: Disc Recycling Program

• 1800 Fruitridge Avenue

• Terre Haute, IN 47804-1780

• Telephone [phone].

References

• CD Recycling Services in the US, Uk, and Australia.