I know one guy who would collect people's junk. Then melt down anything that had steel in it and sell it. I think it's called "slag" when it's melted down like that. This guy made millions and he told me that the "best businesses are ugly businesses."
Around 12-15 years ago, there was a guy I used to talk to who was in his 70s and he had a company that sold a spray-foam insulation product. He bragged to me that he designed his own website and was able to rank #1 on Google, because he had figured out SEO, all by himself. He also hired out-of-work blonde models to demonstrate the product in videos on the home page. Now that I have a better understanding of SEO, I realize that he probably ranked so high because there was no online competition for what he was selling at the time. Still, he was very impressive for an older man who had learned how to increase his sales with a website and SEO. I agree that, while many of us are trying to figure out how to compete in all the obvious, saturated markets, there are quiet millionaires making money at dirty, unglamorous jobs that most people would never imagine existed.
If you are creative and into arts, then I guess you have to make something useful out from it. For example, we reuse plastic containers as garden pots. You can paint it too look pretty.
I started kiteboarding in 2003. When the gear gets old and worn out most people through it in the dumpster. I thought about taking the waterproof material from the kite to create recycled shower curtains or bags. A few years after I thought about it a pro kiter's wife started doing this as a business. > https://www.facebook.com/sewnagain/
I also noticed from searching online that several companies do this with old sails as well.
I also noticed from searching online that several companies do this with old sails as well.