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Thread: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

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    Default Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Anyone have experience in doing this as a business venture? Considering the value of metals and their availability in everyday consumer / electronic products and public waste, it seems like a low cost, environmentally sound operation, with potential for large income stream in the long run...

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    Senior Member AngelWithHorns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    From what I've seen, it *sounds* much better than it is. Most industries with low barrier to entry (all you have to do is collect metal-everyone with two hands/a vehicle/a pickup truck/etc. can do that) have many people trying to make money. So scrap metal is kind of a buyer's market, not a seller's market.

    Unless you just have a bunch of old gold jewelry that you don't intend to wear lying around, which would really only get you capital gains, not a sustainable source of income...unless maybe you have an eye for gold and wanted to scout yard/estate sales and online auctions for real gold & sell it off...but again, anyone with the time could do that, so...competition=less money to be made. Best of luck though. I could be way wrong.


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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Sorry I was just going through the threads and saw this- but I have actually thought of this myself- and the earning potential, like any another self started business, depends on how much time and effort you put in to it. People will give you their junk. You just have to find the right type of people, and try to find larger clients as well like plant nurseries, and other industrial business that would need someone to pick up scrap for them. Right now for mixed scrap (iron, alum, steel) is about $150 per ton (ton = 1,000lbs of scrap) You would also have to obtain knowledge on scrap metal.. for instance copper is worth much more than iron, and should not be scrapped with mixed scrap. You could pass out flyers door to door, and offer free pick up services for all scrap. You would also have to find a recycling center and see how much they would pay you for stuff like tires, cardboard, glass, and whatever else is able to be recycled. It would take time, and lots of effort, especially with big businesses like 1800 got junk popping up everywhere and becoming the mainstream. Find yourself a niche like, call today, pick up tomorrow, free pick up, OR even a consignment program where you pick up their junk, evaluate it, and agree to split a profit (say 2%-8%) of whatever you make from their junk. You just need to find what is right for you, and how much time you are willing to invest in it. Time only equal money after some hard work. Don't expect to even make $100 a week at first- but after a while it could be either a nice supplemental income or your main income. Hope that helps!

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    Senior Member t_plush's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Oh, BBW Chanel I'm diggin' your signature

    I agree, it's like any other business. I actually do this on the side, at a leisurely pace, keeping up with the fluctuating cost of metal and keeping the metal until I like what I can get for what I got. At this time, I primarily sell aluminum and a bit of steel. There have been better times when I sold gold and silver (not sterling silver necessarily) does very well, sometimes better than gold.

    I have found interesting ways to collect, I'm a digger with much patience, so it works out. For instance, I watch the ground of highly trafficked places, ask friends & family to save stuff, see stuff out on the curb, etc. I have a dusty old pick-up, so it's easier for me to haul. At this time, I do more inside, at-home type stuff, so not so much of this now. I've done well enough to make what I've put into it and have "glue" money (you know, help things stick together better...).

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    Senior Member Niko-n-Justine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Quote Originally Posted by BBWChanel View Post
    Right now for mixed scrap (iron, alum, steel) is about $150 per ton (ton = 1,000lbs of scrap)
    No, a ton is either 2000 lbs. or 2240 lbs. depending on whether they are talking net or gross tons.

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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Quote Originally Posted by Niko-n-Justine View Post
    No, a ton is either 2000 lbs. or 2240 lbs. depending on whether they are talking net or gross tons.

    whoops... well, around here they put 1 @ 1,000lbs on the receipts, I assumed that was 1 ton @ 1,000lbs per ton.

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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Thanks for the input

    I'm curious, BBWChanel.
    Quote Originally Posted by BBWChanel View Post
    try to find larger clients as well like plant nurseries, and other industrial business that would need someone to pick up scrap for them.
    How and what type of metal do plant nurseries use in their operation and do they generate alot of this type of waste? Tried researching this but didn't find much on it besides the mention of the use of metal tags for labeling plants (is this what you're referring to)?

    And T_Plush.
    Quote Originally Posted by t_plush View Post
    There have been better times when I sold gold and silver (not sterling silver necessarily) does very well, sometimes better than gold.
    What type of products can you find Silver and Gold besides jewelry? I heard that photography, movie and dental / medical x-ray films contain mostly Silver, but that alot of it would have to be collected and sent it to a refiner / buyer like Kodak or Kitco.com to make a decent profit i.e. more than 50 lbs. Same with medical catheters and car catalytic converters which both contain platinum.

    Right now, I've been collecting soda/beer cans and electronics (cutting the cords and selling them as Copper ) from an extended-stay hotel that I lived temporarily...Because of the high amount of traffic and the lack of recycling services in the area people always seem to be leave alot of stuff behind. I guess my question would be, T_Plush, if have you have recycled electronics for metal in the past, how did you safely break them down (like how did you take them apart and get them ready for recycling while avoiding toxic metal i.e. lead) and what types of electronics have the most valuable metal? Did you need any special cutting tools for the metal or just hire someone else to do it for you? It just seems so time consuming and am wondering if the profit balances out for effort in collecting and processing "finds..."

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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    ^how coincidental. I was just doing a housecleaning today for a guy who collects scrap to sell. He saves up the copper and then strips it while watching tv. Not sure about tools or avoiding toxic exposure to lead, but watching tv while stripping copper doesn't sound too bad He said the price of steel is down so he doesn't bother with that, mainly aluminum and copper.

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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Midnight Oil, the gold/silver I've found has been mostly in jewelry by far. One time, I found some utensils that were made of silver, but badly damaged. I took a chance and took it to the local recycling place and was surprised with what I walked out with - enough to cover a bill. It was then I was told that silver prices can be higher than gold, so I did some research. Apparently, it can be found in some older photography equipment, like 1970 or so from what some guy told me. I've also cashed in gold from some miscellaneous tea set thing I got for cheap at a thrift shop. Not sure how that got past staff...

    As for the cords of electronics, the place I frequent will cut them for me. I don't think they've charged a fee for that, at least I haven't seen it listed on the receipts I've gotten. I'm unsure what equipment typically has the most valuable parts for I generally would bring in auto parts and the occasional computer stuff.

    The things I'm consistent in bringing in are aluminum cans and sometimes food cans, which from what I understand, are mainly made from steel.

    For me, I haven't invested enough time to see how lucrative it can be for me. I perceive we can generate decent money from whatever we feel like doing...It was mostly something I tried on and now I'll collect leisurely and when I have too much to store at home, I go ahead in turn it in. It's usually enough to put gas in my vehicle, grab us something to eat, some cigarettes; so that's nice for me.

    I think it's fun to play around with a variety of income opportunities Process of elimination or regulation...

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    Veteran Member pushit69's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    <3 recyclers!

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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Quote Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post
    Thanks for the input

    I'm curious, BBWChanel. How and what type of metal do plant nurseries use in their operation and do they generate alot of this type of waste? Tried researching this but didn't find much on it besides the mention of the use of metal tags for labeling plants (is this what you're referring to)? ."
    Plant nurseries use all kinds of steel. Especially for greenhouses, which need to be broken down once a year, and usually ends up in a pile. Also, plant nurseries will have miscellaneous items that are also able to be scrapped- such as broken down trucks, trailers, tires, old tools, plastic containers.. a lot of nurseries will just throw stuff into the woods..just random stuff. I know this because I grew up on a plant nursery, and was in the process of starting a retail nursery... until the economy crashed. I would say if you could find 5 nurseries and did a scrap pick up from each every 6 months, you could make a really nice profit. Or if you just told the nursery that you would haul their waste for free, and if they could just throw everything they want hauled into a pile for pick up every month- that would be good, too. I wish I could help with your other question about safely breaking down other products- but that's a little out of my range of knowledge. I do know that there are diamonds in catalytic converters for cars ... and engines are a great find on nurseries. we never used metal tags for tagging plants- usually plastic. Also, greenhouses use a shitload of plastic. If you think you can make a penny- take it! Keep me updated for sure! I love hearing about junking/scrapping. I'm a country girl. Good Luck!

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    Default Re: Recycling: Scrap & Precious Metals

    Oh yea, nurseries will also use stainless steel for things, (or #1 steel) which is worth much more than scrap steel.

    Edit: Sorry, i just saw what you said about the catalytic converters before i told you..sometimes I get caught up and don't read thoroughly But old engines are definitely able to be found on nurseries- always look back in the woods if they'll let you.
    Last edited by BBWChanel; 01-26-2011 at 10:45 AM.

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