If you are looking for a new hobby, scrap metal recycling could be a great fit. Not only is it a magnificent initiative that supports environmental preservation, it is a pursuit that can make you a great deal of money. Best of all, it is an activity that anyone, at any age, can do! Make it a family pastime, a student project, a side job for extra cash, or an eco-friendly volunteer program for your local community!
Whatever your reason for recycling scrap metal, the first place to start is learning where to get it and who to sell it to for the most cash. Continue reading to learn some of the best spots to find scrap metal materials.
Around the House
The first place to look for scrap metal to sell is around your house. There are several household items that contain a gainful amount of recyclable metal in them, including appliances, electronics, motorized equipment, machines, car parts, old cars and trucks, scooters, motorcycles, trailers, tractors, bicycles, hoverboards, power tools, plumbing pipes, fixtures, window frames, and more. Whether broken or operational, they are accepted by scrap metal buyers.
Post-Construction Sites
When construction takes place, whether commercial or residential, there is always a post-construction mess to clean up. General contractors will gladly give you permission to salvage whatever debris and leftover materials you can find. This saves them time cleaning up and discarding it themselves. Just be sure to always ask permission before trespassing onto the premises. Look for leftover sheet metal, beams, piping, bearings, and anything else made of metal.
Hospitals and Clinics
After asking permission, many medical centers will hand over old junk that is being sent to the garbage. Recyclable metal items include wheelchairs, hospital beds, bed pans, walkers, appliances, machines, leftover construction equipment, and more. You can check with hospitals, retirement homes, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and other medical facilities. Simply schedule a meeting with an office administrator so that you can ask permission and explain that you will remove these items for free.
Local Repair Shops
Any business that provides repairs will likely have old junk laying around. And in many cases, they will be more than happy to let you take them off their hands. Repair shops for appliances, cars, electronics, and furniture are great places to check with. Retail stores may also have old steel shelving, shopping carts, metal displays, and other large metal items they no longer need. When you offer to take this stuff away free of charge, it is appealing to business owners. So there is really no harm in asking!
Additional Sources to Consider:
Shooting Ranges » If there are public or private shooting ranges in your area, check with the manager about collecting the discharged brass shells.
Craigslist » You can post an advertisement on Craigslist, or a similar free public website, stating that you will collect junk or scrap metal from anyone who wishes to give it away for free.
Social Media » You can post an announcement on Facebook and/or other social media platforms asking family and friends to donate their old metal junk to you.
Dumpsters » There is no shame in dumpster diving when it is for the good of the environment and your wallet! Always check with business owners and property managers before getting started.
Farms » You can contact local farms and ranches to see if they have any old equipment to give away. They may have old or obsolete tractors, bulldozers, fork lifts, farming equipment, and more.