I've had nothing but positive experiences with Gazelle. I have sold them two digital cameras, a cell phone, and a laptop. They offer pretty reasonable prices, pay for shipping (sometimes they'll even send you the box you need), and in all cases I received my money less than two weeks after I shipped them out. Recently they even sent me an coupon code for a $5 bonus on my next sale.

I also like the fact that even if they can't pay you for an item, they're still willing to pay shipping for you to mail it to them. Even if I can't get a cent for it, it's nice to get it out of my house and know it's not ending up in the local landfill.

I've used Gazelle and wrote a post about it here:

http://www.wisebread.com/turn-old-electronics-into-cash-with-gazelle

It's definitely an efficient site and works quite well. 

I've also looked into the My Emissions Exchange site, and it's pretty weird.  It says I have no emissions because my apartment is all electric, so I can't really get any credit. 

The golf balls one is pretty interesting.  I will probably tell my parents since they take walks on a golf course a lot and pick up balls.  They do play with those balls, though. 

I took my old mobile phone, recharger and accessories to my local mobile phone company which advertised that you could bring your old mobile phones in to be sent off for recycling. The customer service person that i dealt with was quite unprepared for the event, but eventually worked out what they needed to do with my old mobile. They will get used to it once more people bring in their old phones for recycling. This one wasn't a paid program.

Thanks for the website suggestions.

Another tip is many times you can get paid for recycling your soda cans. There's a place a few miles away from my place, which pays me for the cans, based on weight and whatever the price of aluminum is at the time. The very first time I turned in the cans I got about $15, which isn't too bad considering all you have to do is save the cans, put them in a bag, and drive down to the center.

You can use your old fabrics by cutting them into rags and use them for cleaning in the home, washing your car, washing windows, braiding them into rugs after cutting them into cloth strips (something our grandmothers did routinely), making patchwork quilts or pillows. I use them when I paint my oil paintings ( I am an artist)to clean my brushes.
These are just some ideas.
Use them instead of paper towels, they get recycled, some may even get a new life as a carpet and you are saving trees and saving money.

I have 3 Direct TV reciever boxes w/remotes. They would not take them back when we switched to Verizon FIOS. Is there anyone who takes them?

Hey Xin,

Sorry that the site was weird for you. Many of our users live in residences that are all electric, and they most definitely have emissions and are able to generate credits. I am not sure what the problem was with establishing your emissions, but I will look into your account and send you an email, and hopefully we can get it worked out so that you can begin earning for your energy reductions.

You my friend,

You did a really great job with this article. I had no idea that there were sites that paid for your older things. Keep up the great work. P.s. I found you on Google so you are ranking pretty high.

Just though you should know.

Jay's Saving Your Money