The truth of the matter is that there is very little that is thrown away on a daily basis by most of us that cannot be put to good use by someone else; it's just a question of knowing how to go about disposing of it. So let's examine just a few of the ways you can make and save money by recycling and adopting a greener approach to life.

Old computers and computer parts

Computers are an integral part of life in the 21st Century and these days it is not uncommon for households to have more than one, however, there are still many people who find it too expensive to buy new. If you have an old computer that is no longer any use to you, you could sell it on as a complete unit to someone else or strip it down and sell on each of the individual parts. Try placing an ad in your local supermarket or newspaper or advertising it online on sites like eBay. Just make sure that if you are selling it on as a whole, that you remove all your personal data and clean up your hard drive first.

Mobile phones

There are still thousands upon thousands of mobile phones thrown away each day when they could be sold on to someone else. Some people upgrade their phones each year and all too often their old one just gets dumped in the bin. There are many organisations that will pay for your old mobile, as long as it is in working order and has a battery and charger to go with it. This means that there is no excuse for any working mobile to end up in landfill whatsoever. A quick internet search will bring up a number of organisations that will purchase your mobile for cash. Many will even pay the postage for you to send it on to them.

Metal

Anything made from metal can be collected and sold on to a scrap dealer for cash.

Aluminium cans are also highly sought after because they are so easy to recycle and can be back on the shelves in as little as six weeks. There are a number of organisations that will pay you straight cash for cans and there are charities that will welcome cans so that they can claim the cash. Never be tempted to throw your old cans in the bin, it's like throwing money away.

Car boot sales

Anything that you no longer require could be worth something to someone else so holding a car boot sale is a highly effective way of getting rid of your unwanted items. Yes it takes a little bit of effort to organise it but the rewards are worth it. Not only do you benefit by getting some cash, you help reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill and you provide someone else with something that they want.

Other ways to save money and help protect the planet

- Invest in energy saving light bulbs, they last ten times as long, use up less electricity and although they cost a bit more to begin with, you still come out with more in your pocket after a matter of months.

- You could also try switching your energy provider to one that is more 'green' and you can get a list of these greener providers from the Green Electricity website.

- When the time comes for you to buy new household appliances, make sure they are energy efficient as these appliances cost less to run and will therefore save you money in the long term.

- Buy recycled Ink cartridges and make sure you recycle your old ones too. Ink cartridges can be refilled several times and cost less than the original cartridge to buy.

- When buying goods that require batteries, try to use rechargeable ones and not the ones that are discarded after a single use. Rechargeable batteries are more cost effective and are less damaging to the environment.

Once you get into the true spirit of recycling, which means reducing the amount of waste you produce in the first place, finding other uses for as much as you possibly can and then disposing of the rest in an environmentally friendly way, recycling can be a lot of fun. There is a huge amount of satisfaction to be gained from finding new and creative ways to give an old item a new lease of life or by selling on your waste for a little bit of cash. Always remember that one person's trash really is another person's treasure.