Three Places Your Scrap Metal Can Go And How To Get It There
Scrap metal industries have been driving this nation since WWII, when scrap metal drives became necessary to build the machines for the military. People still collect, sell, and buy scrap metal by the ton. It still has purpose and not just for recycling. If you have a lot of scrap metal you want to unload, and it becomes a sort of business on the side, here are three places your scrap metal can go, and how to get it there.
Scrap Metal Yards
There is probably a scrap metal yard within fifty miles of you. (This does not apply when you are living deep in the country, so take a good look around.) Scrap metal yards may do scrap metal pick up for you, but generally they expect that you will bring the scrap metal in yourself. Drive it up in a truck or van, sit on their truck scale, drive off, and drop off the metal where they tell you to, then drive back to the scale to weigh your empty truck. Drive to the office, pick up your cash, and you are done. Repeat as often as you like.
Metal Recycling Plants
Metal recycling plants are rather particular about what they will and will not take. Most of the time they receive the metal they want as it is sorted out through a commingled recycling plant, then transported to the metals plant. It is both rare and unusual if you have a metal recycling plant that allows you to drive up with metal in a truck and ask to dump it or trade it for cash value. With the exception of aluminum recycling, you are best to leave the scrap metal curbside and let the weekly recycling truck pick it up.
Salvage Yards
Salvage yards typically pick up cars and trucks, but some of them will also pick up large loads of scrap metal. Generally, they will advertise this if this is a normal business practice for them. All you have to do is park the metal in a dumpster outside, give the salvage yard a location for pick up, and wait for them to come and get it. Just be aware that not all salvage yards that provide this service will pay you for your scrap. For some people, just getting rid of the scrap metal is all that matters, and that is why the lack of payment is fine. If your purpose is to unload the scrap metal and make a profit, you will need to find a salvage yard that pays.