Recycling scrap metal is an easy way to turn some old metal furniture, building supplies and other metallic items into cash. But not all metal is alike or worth the same amount. The simple test is to see if a magnet sticks to your metal recyclable. If it does, it’s ferrous metal, which is likely steel or iron. Ferrous metal is less valuable, but still very much recyclable. If the magnet does not stick, there is a good chance it’s a much more valuable material like copper, brass, bronze or stainless steel.

Does your small business go through a lot of toner and ink cartridges every month? Yes, you can recycle them for free -- or you can earn some cash for recycling them! The website usrecycleink.com pays cash for empty ink and toner cartridges. It also covers the shipping cost to its recycling facility with a prepaid label. In as few as two weeks, you’ll receive payment for your empty cartridges. Schools and nonprofit organizations can collect these items as a way to raise money for their charitable efforts, too.

Many of us use paper shredders to protect our personal information from getting into the wrong hands. But what do you do with that shredded paper? Unfortunately, recyclers don’t want it because the fibers are cut very short, and often the shreds are mixed with non-recyclables like stickers and bits of plastic from things like credit cards. If you shred your own paper, it is possible to divert it away from landfills. You can layer shredded paper with grass clippings (and other organic matter) and turn it into compost. But if that doesn’t work, bag it up and throw it away. Sending it to a recycler contaminates real recyclables.