One of the reasons that consumers have to spend more money in today’s economy is that too many products are easily disposable and require frequent replenishing. Years ago, when you bought a piece of equipment such as an iron, it lasted for a generation; today it seems that the usable lifetime of many small appliances is designed to expire after a year.

While manufacturers can make more money by creating less durable items that have to be replaced repeatedly, many consumers have also adopted a ‘throw-away’ mentality, where they choose to discard products in favour of new and improved models. Just think of the disposability factor of mobile phones!

The challenge with this lifestyle is that it creates a massive amount of waste material that is difficult to put away safely. Plastic bags and bottles can take dozens or hundreds of years to decompose in landfills, while items made of styrofoam and other food and drink containers are reportedly not biodegradable at all.

One of the ways to create an income is by providing profitable solutions to people’s problems. Waste removal issues can therefore be viewed as opportunities for creative entrepreneurs to earn more money. The key is to think of ways to turn somebody’s trash into your treasure by repairing, reusing or recycling it. Let’s look at some possible options: Continue reading Making Money from Repairs/Recycling →