Can Money Be Made in Grand Junction With This Broken Garbage Disposal?

Could this 15-year-old non-functioning garbage disposal be worth anything to anyone in Grand Junction? In a word...YES! It's not worth a fortune by any means, but it is worth something to someone.

So what's this busted down garbage disposal going to do, sell its body on the streets? No, not at all. Keep in mind, a garbage disposal, like many common household appliances, contains an electric motor, wiring, and the mounting bracket.

These materials are completely and totally recyclable, and that means money. How much money? Not a bunch, but hang in there for a moment.

This non-working disposal was taken to Western Metals Recycling just off of 7th Street in Grand Junction. They were 100% interested in taking it off my hands.

How much money did it bring in? A total of $.60 cents. In this case, the $.60 was rounded up to $.75 (I'm not sure why).

While collecting the $.75, I noticed an "Operation Interdependence" collection jar on the recycling center's counter. Those coins went straight in the jar, providing funds going towards providing civilian rations for the troops overseas.

Start to finish, how long did all of this take? By my clock, just a little over four minutes. That's four minutes from the time I pulled into the lot, conducted my transactions, and left the lot.

By my math, this was all time well spent, and money well earned. The materials were recycled, a little less trash went in the landfill, and some money, not much, but some, went to a good cause.

The next time you find yourself getting rid of an appliance or a kitchen component, please keep recycling in mind. It takes a matter of minutes, it's good for the environment, and there is money to be made. Should the proceeds not equal enough to buy something you need, consider donating it to a great cause.