Want to learn more about scrap recycling? Whether you're just interested in the process in general or you want to start scrapping for yourself, here are a couple fun facts and tips that a lot of people outside the industry simply don't know.
Everything you take into your local scrap yard should be cleaned and sorted to the best of your abilities: it helps you make the most money, and also ensures the safety of the employees at the scrap yard. It might just impress your local scrap yard (and your scrapping friends), too. However, sometimes you'll come across items that are quite challenging—and in some cases even dangerous—to properly take apart. In these situations, you have to ask yourself about your expertise, the tools you have on hand, and your willingness to put in the work. Of course, you'll also have to consider the additional profits you'll make from taking an item apart before scrapping it.
If you get a scrappable item that's in good working order—or close enough to it that you feel you could polish it up—it's often hard to decide whether you should take it down to your local scrap yard or put a little work in and try to sell it yourself. A lot of items that are still perfectly usable end up in recycling and trash facilities over time, and we all know that reusing is just as good for the environment as recycling. How to decide whether or not an item is good for resale?
Whether you need to get rid of an old part you replaced yourself, you own an auto shop, or you simply want to know what happens after you take an entire car to your local scrap yard, here's a bit of information about what auto parts can be recycled and what can't.
Getting the most out of your recyclable scrap metal often means simply knowing what you have—and part of knowing what you have is knowing your weights and measures, and how they affect your bottom line. We all know what a pound is, and most of the time when you see scrap metal prices displayed, they'll be in dollars per pound. However, there's a lot more that goes into truly understanding scrap metal recycling weights and measures.
The weather is heating up again, which means it's important to take some time to think about how to stay cool while you're gathering and working with scrap. It's not just a comfort concern, but a safety one as well! While there are plenty of dangers when it comes to collecting, sorting, and cleaning scrap, overheating is one of the most common ways people injure themselves. Follow some of the tips in this post to keep yourself cool!
You might use your scrap truck for work or pleasure as well as your scrapping enterprise, or you might have a truck just for scrapping. Either way, you rely on your scrap truck when it's time to get the job done—whether you're out collecting scrap or hauling it to the yard. Taking the time to take care of your scrap truck properly can keep it dependable for years to come. That means less transportation expense for you and an easier time scrapping for the foreseeable future. In addition to general good advice for taking care of any vehicle, there are a few other things you should consider for trucks used for scrap in particular.
If you scrap often, chances are you've come across some aluminum wire. Wire is one of the best ways to get the most value for each load of scrap you bring into the yard, because it's easy to work with and it's easy to find a lot of it at once. As much as you hear about copper wire, aluminum wire doesn't seem to get as much attention. While many of the basic principles are the same as far as scrapping it goes, it's worth noting the differences to ensure you get the most for your scrap!
Pewter is a metal you don't hear as much about as the ever-popular copper or ubiquitous steel, but it can still have some serious value at the scrap yard. That being said, finding it for scrap can be a real challenge sometimes. Pewter is most often used in decorative objects and silverware, and is most commonly found in antique items. Shopping for potential scrap at antique shops can be tough, because antique dealers usually know what they have and price their items at much greater than their scrap value. However, this can occasionally be a fairly successful way to find this metal for scrap.
If you're a scrapper, you keep a lot of tools around—and if you're a contractor, construction worker, or landscaper, you've got even more tools. A lot of businesses keep tools around, too. However, tools don't last forever, and there's a much more responsible and economical way to get rid of the old ones than chucking them in the trash.
