How to Recycle College Textbooks

The semester is finally over, but now you're left with several college textbooks that will only take up space on your bookshelf. What do you do with them? You hate to throw them away, because you did have to pay several hundred dollars for them. But, on the other hand you don't want to keep them. Luckily there are several ways you can recycle college textbooks.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #1: Sell to College Bookstore

The best way to recycle college textbooks is to sell them back to the college bookstore. College bookstores will often buy back college textbooks and sell them to future students. You can actually get a decent price too. When you recycle your college textbooks at the bookstore, you can usually get half of the purchase price. This can be anywhere from $20 to $50 dollars depends on the cost of the book.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #2: Sell to Other Students

You can also recycle college textbooks by selling them to other students. Let's face it, college bookstores charge outrageous prices and many students would prefer to pay you $20-30 than pay the bookstore $50-60. The quickest way to sell your college textbooks to other students is to post flyers, advertising your used books, right outside the bookstore.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #3: Make a Table

College students can't afford the latest in furniture trends, but they can recycle college textbooks into furniture. The first way to do this is to make a table. First find a cheap table that has thin legs and then take several old college textbooks and drill holes into the books using a large circular bit. Then slide the books onto the table legs and you're done.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #4: Make Creative Bedposts

Another way to recycle college textbooks into furniture is to make creative bedposts. Simply follow the steps in tip 3 to turn a boring metal framed bed into something creative. This is a great way to recycle college textbooks, while making your furniture more appealing.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #5: Make a Lamp

To recycle college textbooks into a lamp, you will need a lamp that is really thin and unscrews at the top or bottom. Simply slide college textbooks down the lamp and reattach the rest of the lamp. Make sure to leave enough room between the bulb and the books so that the heat from the bulb doesn't catch the books on fire.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #6: Donate

There are always college students who are barely making it. This year, do something nice and recycle your college textbooks by giving them away. If you know students who can't really afford the prices in the bookstore, offer them your books. This way, you get rid of your books and feel good about helping someone out.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #7: Post Them on Paperback Swap

Believe it or not, you can take college textbooks that your school will no longer use and recycle them into credits on Paperback Swap. I was shocked to find out that people actually wanted my old textbooks. This meant I was able to send them my books that I thought were worthless and get a credit for a book I actually wanted.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #8: Use Them for a Bon Fire

Have you ever had a class that you absolutely hated? Then you've probably been even more discouraged when you can't even get money for the textbook that was used for that class. Luckily, you can recycle those college textbooks into something useful. Simply use it for a bon fire. You'll be able to stay warm on a chilly night while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #9: Creative Wallpaper

A great way to recycle Literature books is carefully tear the pages out and use them for wallpaper. This looks amazing in a room that you want to use for a personal library. This is a project that will take a long time, but it looks great when you're done.

How to Recycle College Textbooks #10: Use as Gift Wrap

One other great way to recycle Literature textbooks is to use them for gift wrap. If you know someone who loves to read, wrap their birthday gift in pages from your Literature book. It's easier to wrap small gifts and actually looks better than when you try to wrap large gifts.