Defend Nature through Recycling: Everything You Need to Know

Make Money Collecting Scrap Metal

by Arnold Bowman

Are you looking for ways to earn extra money? There are all kinds of money-making opportunities out there, and you don't even have to spend a lot of money to get started with many of them. Take the scrap metal business for instance. This is something that you can easily do in your spare time, and there is pretty good money to be made. In fact, many people turn their part-time scrap metal collecting businesses into full-time jobs, and they are able to enjoy the benefits of having their own businesses and setting their own hours. Here are some tips that will help get you started in this lucrative business opportunity.

You Need the Right Vehicle

If you only plan on collecting small items, you don't really need to have any special type of vehicle other than the car you are currently driving. But, this is not the way to make money. You need to be able to collect a lot of scrap to make money at it, and for this you will need the right type of vehicle. The best choice is a pickup truck. If you don't already have a truck, you may want to look into getting a good used model. A pickup is best, because heavy loads of metal can be lifted by crane out of the truck, saving you a lot of back-breaking work.

Separate Metals

You will need to separate the various metals into categories, because different metals bring in different prices. For example, you will get more money for copper than you will for steel. You will still get paid if you keep it all together, but you may not get paid as much as you could, because the scrapyard employees likely will not separate the metals, and just give you a cash amount for the overall weight of the scrap metal. When you separate everything, you will get paid for each type of metal that you bring in. Check with local scrapyards to see what metals they take, as not all scrapyards take all metals.

Contact Local Businesses

You should also start knocking on the doors of various businesses, as they always have items that they are getting rid of. Some items you will be collecting can include old appliances, photocopiers, machinery, etc. You can pay a small price for these items, and then cash them in at the salvage yard for a higher price than what you paid for them. This is a win-win situation for everyone, because the businesses get rid of the stuff they don't need, and you get to make money.

For more information, check out companies such as Collins Recycling.

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