Did you know some retailers reward you for being environmentally conscious and recycling? By simply bringing in your recyclables, such as electronics, clothing, and containers from beauty products, you can earn discounts and freebies. We know recycling is always a good idea, and we feel great doing our part. But getting a reward for recycling changes the game.
Recently even Hydro Flask got in on the recycle for a reward phenomenon. When you send back one of your old Hydro Flask water bottles, they’ll send you a $5 coupon for a new one. But more on that and other recycling rewards below.
Download The Krazy Coupon Lady app for money-saving tips, deals, and coupons.
Limited-Time Offer: AE Real Rewards members who recycle a pair of jeans get $10 toward a new pair.
If you're an American Eagle Real Rewards member you can get $10 towards a new pair of full-price jeans when you recycle any pair of jeans at your local American Eagle store. Offer is valid until 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 31, 12024.
1. Get up to $990 off new Apple products when you send in your old devices.
Apple has multiple items that they’ll take from you to recycle in exchange for a store gift card. Of course, restrictions apply and some items may not qualify. However, those that do will net you an Apple store gift card that can be used for purchasing new devices or gaming titles. Check out these estimated trade-in values:
Smartphone: Up to $620
Tablet: Up to $580
Computer: Up to $990
Apple Watch: Up to $390
Android Device: Up to $345
2. Trade in your old electronics to Amazon and get an Amazon gift card + 20% off a new Amazon device.
Get an Amazon gift card (for the appraised value), plus up to 20% off a new Amazon device (one per customer) when you trade in your old Amazon and some non-Amazon devices. For example:
Trade in a Fire Tablet, Samsung, Apple, Microsoft tablet and get 20% off a Fire Tablet.
Trade in Apple AirPods Pro and get a $20 Amazon gift card.
You can even trade in your old cellphone (Apple, Samsung, Google and more), or Gaming systems, games and accessories for gift cards.
3. Receive a bill credit up to $1,000 that can help pay down your AT&T bill by bringing in old devices.
Regardless of your device’s brand or carrier, AT&T will give you a bill credit for your unwanted or unused wireless phones or tablets. Under their current trade-in program, bring in a smarphone valued (after their assessment) $290+ and you can get up to $1,000 bill credit. If your trade-in has a greater value than the current offer, you may receive the difference as a one-time credit, either as a promo card or instant credit.
4. Trade in your old Levi’s and get up to $30 in gift cards per piece of clothing.
With Levi’s Secondhand, you can bring (by appointment) up to five pieces of Levi’s clothing into a participating Levi’s store, and they’ll reward you with Levi’s gift cards. Depending on the age and condition of your clothes, here’s what Levi’s accepts and their trade-in value:
Levi’s jeans: $10 – $30
Levi’s denim shorts: $5 – $20
Levi’s Trucker Jackets: $10 – $30
Levi’s 501 jeans you’ve cut off yourself: $5 – $20
5. Trade in your old gadgets for gift cards at Walmart.
Like other retailers, Walmart has a trade-in program that can earn you some money, this time, in the form of gift cards. You’ll need to sign up for a free Trade-In account before you can send in your device(s) like cellphones, laptops, tablets, etc., and get a gift card for them.
To trade in your stuff you have to ship it via FedEx or UPS (with a prepaid label you’ll print from Walmart’s trade-in site). Once Walmart evaluates your item(s), you’ll immediately get your eGift card via your Trade-In account. Expect the process to take about a week.
Here are a few recent values we found for Walmart’s trade-in program.
iPhone 15 can get you up to $615
HP Victus 15.6″ laptop can earn you up to $280
Playstation 5 can get you up to $250
Fitbit Versa Lite can earn you up to $21
6. Rack up Best Buy’s recycle rewards for in-store savings.
Best Buy is kind of a one-stop recycling center for all techy gadgets and gizmos to keep them out of landfills. Here are their current recycling promotions:
Recycle any HDD or SSD (USB excluded) storage device in-store and save 10% on select WD and SanDisk storage devices. This offer is valid until Jan. 27, 2024.
Bring in any used PC or PC gaming accessory to Customer Service and get 20% off a new Logitech purchase.
Learn more about Best Buy’s recycling program.
7. Get store gift cards when you recycle used electronics at Target.
Target will give you store gift cards (via email) in varying amounts when you recycle everything from cell phones to iPods to gaming systems. Find out more about Target Trade-In.
8. Get a $5 coupon when you trade in Hydro Flask products you no longer use.
With the Hydro Flask Water Bottle Trade-In program, you can trade in old Hydro Flask water bottles or other Hydro Flask stainless steel products and get a $5 coupon that’s good at HydroFlask.com. What about stuff like tumblers, mugs, food jars, bowls, and plates from other retailers? Yep, they’ll take those, too! Check out all deets on the Hydro Flask recycling program.
9. Reduce fashion waste and get a 15% discount from H&M.
Be it torn, worn, or completely outdated, for each bag of used clothing you drop off (any brand) at an H&M store, you receive a coupon/voucher worth 15% off your next purchase at H&M. You are, however, limited to two coupons per day.
10. Get a $5 store reward for each clothing item you donate at Eileen Fisher.
Retailer Eileen Fisher takes donations of gently worn Eileen Fisher clothing and resells them. Part of the profits go to support girls, women, and the environment through various charitable contributions. You can drop off your clothing donation at any Eileen Fisher or Eileen Fisher Renew retail store.
For each item you donate, you’ll get $5 in Renew Rewards good in store and online at eileenfisher.com.
Related: Check out Earth Day deals and freebies.
11. Earn 200 points per ink cartridge when you recycle at Office Max and Office Depot.
If you join Office Depot/Max’s Recycling Rewards program, you can earn 200 points ($2) per cartridge (limit 10 per month) if you spend $10 that same month. Your Recycling Rewards will post in your account the day after your purchase.
12. Give Madewell a pair of old jeans (no matter the brand) and get $20 off a new pair.
Dig out your old jeans and bring them into Madewell, who will send them off to be turned into eco insulation for housing. In return, they'll give you a hefty $20 discount on a new pair of Madewell jeans in-store.
13. Drop off unwanted The North Face clothing or footwear and get a $10 reward.
Through their Clothes the Loop recycling program, The North Face will give a $10 reward toward your next $100 or more purchase when you drop off your gently used, unwanted The North Face clothing or footwear at an outlet or retail store.
14. Receive a $5 credit per T-shirt you recycle at Marine Layer.
You can upcycle your old (cotton are best) tees with the Marine Layer Re-Spun program and get a $5 store credit for every one you drop off in-store or send in with their pre-paid recycling kit. You can get up to $25 in store credit every quarter. This earning period resets in January, April, July, and October. So you can get $100 in store credit each year by recycling.
15. Cash in used printer ink cartridges for $2 each at Staples.
It pays to shop at Staples. Buy at least $50 in ink or toner (within 180 days of recycling) and then drop off your used cartridges at your local Staples store. You’ll get $2 per cartridge as part of their Staples Rewards program. Rewards can be used in store or online.
16. Bring your own reusable bag to some Target, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger stores and get rewarded.
The list keeps growing of stores offering rewards when you bring your own reusable bags!
From cents off per bag, entries into raffles, or even fuel rewards, we compiled a list of stores that reward bringing your own bag.
17. Recycle the packaging from Lush to get a free fresh face mask.
Many of Lush’s products come without any packaging at all. However, their liquid, jelly-type products are packed in these little black recycled plastic pots. If you one empty pot back you’ll received $1 off your purchase. Bring five empty pots into one of their stores, they’ll reward you with a free fresh face mask (in the fridge)!
18. Recycle your old Reformation clothing and shoes and get $10 store Ref credit.
You can drop off old Reformation items at your local store or through an online recycling request. Once donated, you’ll get a range of Ref credits for your items. They’ll give $10 for any of the following items:
Shoes
Bags
Outerwear
Denim
Sweaters
Active
Tees
You’ll receive your credits in your SuperCircle account. According to a Reformation rep, there is no minimum or maximum amount of credits you can use at one time.
19. Get up to $100 off at Universal Standard when you recycle your old clothing (any brand).
Recycle any of your old clothes to Universal Standard and get up to $100 to spend with them. You must buy a prelabeled recycling bag for $4.50 which you can fill up with 1- 4 items and send off to Marimole (Universal Standard’s recycling partner).
In return you’ll get a $-off code to use the next time you shop:
Recycle one item, get a $25 off code for the next time you shop.
Recycle two items, get $25 off the next two times you shop.
Recycle three items, get $25 off the next three times you shop.
Recycle four items, get $25 off the next four times you shop.
20. Earn 10 reward points for every Kiehl’s product bottle you recycle.
Are you a superfan of Kiehl’s luxurious body products? For every full-size Kiehl’s bottle that you bring in you’ll get 10 points in your online My Kiehl’s Rewards Vault. Once you earn 100 points you can redeem them for a $10 voucher.
21. Get a $10 Advance gift card when you trade in a car battery to AutoZone.
AutoZone will recycle motor oil and gear oil, plus oil filters and batteries. While you won’t get anything back for handing over your oil and filters, turn in an automotive battery and you’ll get a $10 Advance gift card.
22. Bring in an empty Buff City Soap laundry detergent container and save $1 on your refill.
Buff City Soap (similar to Lush) packs their $19.50 plant-based laundry detergent in 30-ounce reusable plastic containers. You’ll save $1 a refill when you bring back your empty Buff City Soap laundry soap containers at participating locations across the U.S. Find your nearest Buff City Soap location.
Honorable Mentions
Although the following retailers don’t offer incentives for donations, they still have recycling programs to help our planet.
Costco takes your old glasses and donates them to those in need.
Look for the eyeglass donation bins at your local Costco Optical center. They take prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, and readers and send them to Assist International, a nonprofit that distributes the used glasses locally and internationally.
Home Depot accepts batteries, compact fluorescent bulbs, and plastic shopping bags.
You can drop off household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) and rechargeable batteries, compact fluorescent bulbs, and plastic shopping bags (must be clean) in the labeled recycling bins at your local Home Depot.
Patagonia accepts clothing that is beyond reuse or repair.
Recycle your washed/cleaned unwanted clothing at a Patagonia retail store. Or, you can mail your stuff to their Service Center. You won’t receive any incentive, other than knowing you did something good.
Patagonia Service Center – Recycle Program 8550 White Fir St Reno, NV 89523-8939
SodaStream works with TerraCycle to recycle old sparkling water makers.
Instead of throwing out your old SodaStream, recycle it. All you have to do is visit SodaStream.com to get a prepaid label and mail it out to Terracycle. While there’s no financial incentive to recycle your SodaStream, they will reuse the materials to make recycled products.
Ulta will take back any brand of beauty empties (as long as they are clean, of course).
Ulta will take back your clean beauty empties, no matter the brand. Be sure to use their Packaging Drop Off Guide so you know whether you should take your containers back to an Ulta store, curbside recycling Pact (their recycling partner), or the trash.
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