How To Make Some Extra Cash Recycling Scrap Metal: Metal 101
by Jessica Scott
There are plenty of people who make good money recycling scrap metal. Maybe you're interested in how they do it. If so, the first thing you need to do is learn what you should look for. All metals are not worth the same. Some metals are probably not worth your time. Other metals are very valuable and can bring in some serious cash.
If you're interested in making a little bit of cash, then the first step is to understand which metals you should look for. Here is an overview of the main metals that are purchased at scrap yards.
Copper: The Diamond In The Rough
The most sought after scrap metal is copper. It fetches the highest price. Because of this, it is also hard to find. You won't find a pile of copper pipes sitting out on the curb. If someone does put them out for the garbage, the odds are an astute person will grab them up quickly.
However, there are ways to get copper. It requires a bit of extra work. Unlike steel and aluminum, you might have to hunt it down.
One method you could use is to offer to cart away debris from renovation projects. If you have a pickup truck, you can place an add online offering to cart away debris from people who are renovating their home. Often times you will come away with some old copper pipes or copper wiring. You should always stipulate a price to cart away the debris. Never offer to do it for free hoping that there is copper. You don't want to show up to the site and end up carting away a truckload of drywall and tile without getting paid.
Aluminum: The Next Best Thing
Aluminum is not worth as much as copper, but it is more abundant. Many people don't even know how valuable it is. You are much more likely to find aluminum sitting out by the garbage.
Most people are aware of aluminum cans. You can collect these and redeem them for their deposit, or you can crush them and bring them to a scrap yard.
There are other ways to get aluminum. If someone is replacing the gutters on their house, then you can ask them for the old gutters. Old broken ladders, bikes, and chair are also often made of aluminum.
Stainless Steel: Bottom of the Barrel
Stainless steel is not going to fetch as much money as copper or aluminum, but it is easy to find. People routinely throw out stainless steel items. Some things to look for include pipes, grills, old pots and frying pans. If you're not sure if something is aluminum or stainless steel, check it with a magnet. One problem people have when they are first starting out is differentiating between stainless steel and aluminum. The magnet will stick to the stainless steel item, but not the aluminum.
Talk to experts like White Recycling for more information.
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We only have one earth to leave for our grandchildren, so we need to do everything in our power to ensure that it is a healthy environment for them to raise their children in. Do you recycle? If so, do you recycle everything that you could be recycling? Many Americans think that they are doing everything that they can to keep trash out of landfills, but many of them are missing several materials that could be eliminated from the landfill. Visit my site to learn more about those missed or forgotten materials so that you can improve the recycling efforts in your home.