Hello.
It's been a while since I cranked out a report on items I've recently sold, all of which were personally salvaged from my local curb's recycling piles.
There's been lots of poor and cold weather lately, but I'm still at it. While my focus is on making more space in my apartment, I'm still going outside to find stuff, and also keep using the packaging for my shipments.
Check out some of the the latest notable items to make moves below.
Results:
This enormous electric knitting machine part was sold online as untested for parts/repair for $505. I found it leaning against a building a few years ago. It's valuable, but it required a specific power supply I couldn't find. I removed one part from it years ago and sold that for $75, but kept this leaning in a corner of my apartment until someone finally bought it.
Shipping was a pain since I had to build a huge box from scratch. Almost all of the weight was on the bottom and it was impossible to find a box outside that this could fit in without paying a ton of excess cost for the dimensions. I was able to get the label cost down to $71 since it was shipped across the country (bummer). The package was 77" tall.
Below was the end of the "easy" phase. I needed to get a lot more materials for the rest.
The Law of Attraction worked as my biggest challenge of reinforcing the 4 corners was solved by these thick L-shaped pieces found in my own building on my way out to try to find something like them.
Structural integrity for the middle section achieved.
I had to add panels all the way up, while stuffing it with small boxes and paper to keep the structure firm all the way up. Shipping without a uniform shape leads to surcharges or even refusal.
Weight with recycled packaging of 35 pounds. Not as easy as it looks.
This set of LEGO Duplo bricks were sold to a woman who teaches LEGO building classes. They were precisely what she needed and was thrilled to pay $110 cash for them. I could've gotten $20+ more, but gave her a deal to make her feel good about her investment into her business.
I've been selling the HUNDREDS of pounds Duplo bricks I saved a while back (22 large black trash bags full), and have LOTS to go. Selling to someone who will use them in classes with kids is the type of positive reinforcement I need to keep going.
Recycled weight of 15 pounds 12 ounces.
Pair of factory sealed perfume sold online for $55. I found few other new items like this at the same time, a few of which I gave as Christmas presents. While it doesn't make sense why people would toss these, there were no expiration dates, and I can say that I saved them to do my part.
Weight with recycled packaging of 2 pounds 5 ounces.
This pair of factory sealed new air purifier filters components was sold together online for $126. They were given to me by a building maintenance man I started a conversation with about salvaging recycled items. I also have another set yet to sell. They were tossed out with a high-end broken air purifier that I tried to fix, but couldn't. Regardless, chatting got these out of the trash room inside the building and ultimately sold to a church, I believe.
Weight with recycled packaging of 3 pounds 9 ounces.
This electronic drum module board was sold online for parts/repair for $55. It worked, but there was slight damage. The case it was held in was cracked, so I felt it was better to sell it like this (plus much cheaper to ship).
I've found two near complete electric drum machines over the years. They're usually compatible with my Roland kit, so I can perform tests on the pieces I save. I've been tempted to keep some cymbals or drums in the past, but ultimately choose to pass them on for the money and space since they're not a precise match for my kit (sensor-wise).
Weight with recycled packaging of 15 ounces.
Summary:
- 5 items sold for $851 revenue = $170.20 each. (skewed from knitting machine)
- 13% received as cash.
- No repair or parts costs. All free money.
- Total weight of recycled items = 57.5 pounds.
- All items shipped with recycled packages and padding, and LOTS of it this time.
If you're seeing my recycling post for the first time, the value in it isn't in the entertainment from the handful of items I show as saved/sold. It's from the passion and hustle I consistently exhibit off-chain to produce the items for posts, and my goal of motivating others to address our global waste problem.
Thanks as always for your interest and support.
Please reuse, repurpose and recycle. If you aren't able, then donate them to shelters, churches, or thrift stores.
