Some business owners don’t recycle because they’re more focused on using their time to run their businesses and make revenues. They see the process of recycling as a waste of time. Their dumpsters overflow with items that should never go into landfills, including highly recyclable paper products and electronics that contain toxic components that can damage the environment and harm all forms of life. Some business owners do recycle, but they only recycle bulk items like used office paper, old newspapers and cardboard boxes, or they give these and other unwanted items away to recycling firms or junk haulers who provide free disposal.

These business owners fail to realize that almost every broken or used item in a business is a potential money maker:

Printer Cartridges

Whether you own printers that contain ink or toner, you don’t need to give the cartridges away to keep them out of landfills. Printer and cartridge manufacturers and computer and office supply retailers typically offer businesses a discount or credit toward future cartridge or other purchases in exchange for used ones. The process to acquire raw materials to make cartridges actually costs manufacturers more than recycling empty cartridges for the same purpose. If you want cash for your cartridges, you can also find plenty of refilled cartridge sellers online who buy empty cartridges. They usually offer free shipping as well.

Office Tech

Ink and toner cartridges aren’t the only office technology that you can recycle for money. You can also find both offline and online buyers through classified ads and local office equipment repair shops who purchase phones, computers, printers, fax machines, copiers, scanners and all other electronics found in an office. If the equipment isn’t too old, they might buy the tech to use in their own offices or for parts. They might resell the equipment or parts to other people, including used equipment resellers and manufacturers. They might also buy the equipment to gain access to precious metals and other materials that they can upcycle into new parts or sell to scrap metal dealers.

Scrap Metal

Most business sites contain metals in one form or another that can be sold to scrap metal buyers for cash. Beyond office equipment that contains copper, gold, aluminum, steel and other recyclable metals, you can find a wide range of additional objects made with metals. For example, always collect aluminum cans around the office and at any special events that feature beverages in cans. Before you throw out broken chairs or tables that feature steel legs or other metal components, remove the metal and take it to the scrap dealer. If you’re planning a building renovation project, keep in mind that you can also sell old aluminum gutters and roof flashing, copper electrical wires and pipes and stainless steel sinks.

Wood Pallets

Instead of giving away wood shipping pallets to recyclers or the public, sell them to local manufacturers, pallet brokers and pallet recyclers who pay cash. Manufacturers reuse the pallets for shipments. Pallet brokers resell the pallets or wood. Pallet recyclers recondition the wood and then re-manufacture pallets from it, grind it into mulch, reuse it in other products or sell it to third parties. You might also try selling your wood pallets to members of the public who want to use them in craft projects, but wood pallets are often treated with harsh chemicals to prevent insect damage, disease and mold growth. Don’t sell any pallets this way unless you know that they are untreated and specifically produced with home recycling and safety in mind.

There is absolutely no reason that you should ever throw away free money. This is only a small sample of items around your business that you can recycle for cash. There are always people willing to purchase almost anything that a business might sell to them, including furniture, retail product shelves and building materials. You can even find people who buy old cracked or broken planters and pots, sections of sod, cut flowers and other unwanted outdoor items often thrown away after landscape maintenance or renovation. It’s time to add recycling to your revenue stream.