The three R’s have now become four R’s. The advantage that the fourth R brings is incentive. The reality is, people tend to be more motivated to do something if there’s something in it for them. In some cases they will work for a common cause, but sometimes it’s just cash that ends up being the biggest motivator.
Fortunately, there are a number of programs that will pay people to do the right thing, which is fantastic if you need to raise money.
How it Works
Recycling programs for fundraising involve collecting recyclable items and then turning those items in for reimbursement. It’s easy to do and it’s free, plus there’s no selling involved.
Collection can take place either through a charity drive or through steady collection efforts throughout the year.
Green fundraisers like this have been around for a long time and have a wide range of appeal because of the “feel good” factor.
But Wait, There’s More
The hidden benefit is that it helps the economy too. Rather than sending those items on a one way trip to the landfill, – which doesn’t help anyone – they generate revenue, which is then pumped back into the economy.
In addition to requiring no up-front investment, the thought of keeping re-usable products out of landfills while raising money for your organization is gratifying and your contribution to the environment and the economy is good for your group’s image in the community.
No More Newspapers
With the right products, recycling can be profitable. In the past, groups who were interested in raising money through recycling focused on paper products, bottles, and aluminum cans, but those items are rarely collected today.
Since so many communities include the recycling of mixed paper, cans and bottles as part of their regular trash collection service, the payout for these items (which was never that great to begin with) has decreased somewhat. In response to this waning profitability, many recycling fundraisers have gone “high tech”.
The New Way
Printer cartridges and old cell phones are the items most non-profit groups recycle today, while laptops, PDAs and digital cameras are gaining in popularity. The amount collected per item varies greatly, but generally speaking, inkjet and laser printer cartridges net anywhere between $2 and $15 each.
Cell phones are typically valued between $1 and $6 per phone, while PDAs and digital cameras yield up to $50 each. Laptops are the most profitable, with the potential to earn $80 or more for your group.
One hold out from the “old school” type of recycle fundraiser is the clothing drive. The advantage to raising money with clothing is that community participation tends to be very high – everyone has old clothes they want to get rid of.
For this, volunteers collect wearable clothes for groups that then redistribute them to the needy, usually in third world countries. They are usually done as a “drive” and pay approximately $.04 per pound of clothing collected.
Another old style recycling activity involves collecting bottles and cans. In these states you can still turn in empties for the deposit and beer and pop cans are always in demand since they’re continuously recycleable. This is an ideal on-going fundraiser since you can collect bottles and cans from all of your supporters and their friends and families all year long.
What others say…
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