Need to find a scrap yard near me. That's precisely what you'll search for when you have a ton of scrap metals or other things, and you want to make money from it. Learn everything you need to make extra cash from scraps.
Sometimes, we find ourselves with a lot of scrap metals that we don't know what to do with them.
I feel you.
I've been there, and it's not easy to throw things away, especially if you want to live cheap and want to make the most out of what you have.
Believe it or not:
Finding those “recycling yards near me” for scrap meals near you is easier than you think.
Sure, you may not get rich quick selling your scrap materials, but you can make $500 fast or even more if you have a ton of metals to sell.
Here's a fact:
Scrap metals are re-used to form other products. Click here for more information on what these scrap metals are used for.
If you are ready:
Read on!
Benefits of "Scrap Yards Near Me" post
If you read the article from start to end without skipping on any step, then, you'll know the important things like:
What is a scrap yard?
A scrap yard ( also known as a recycling yard or a wrecking yard) is a business that takes in scrap metals that you may not find any used for.
Some of these scrap metals include:
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Copper
- Iron
- Lead
- Nickel
- Steel
- Titanium
What items can I sell to the scrap yard?
When you've identified the “scrap metal yard near me,” the next thing you need to know is to determine what items you can sell to the scrap yard.
Not all metals can be sold. That's a fact.
You're probably asking yourself this question, that is, “What can I sell as scrap metal for cash near me?”
That's a good question.
Scrap yards buy specific items that have particular metals in them. What are those metals? They're the ones I mentioned earlier, which include aluminum and titanium, for example.
There are so many products that contain metals I mentioned earlier. Here are some ideas you can sell to the scrap yards.
Items you can sell
- Appliances
- Bicycles
- Boats
- Cars
- Copper Tubing or Pipe
- Metal fences
- Smartphones
FYI: If you can't pay bills and need to find ways to make money, you can sell scrap metals to earn extra money.
What are some of the most popular scrap metals that are sold?
Believe it or not:
Some scraps are sold more often than others. Not because they're more abundant but because they are just popular.
Here are some of the metals that are often sold to the nearest scrap metal yard near you.
- Aluminum Cans
- Aluminum Car
- Aluminum Siding
- Appliances
- Car Batteries
- Cast Iron
- Electric Motors
- Scrap Cars
- Lead
- Light Iron
- Scrap Electronics
- Sheet Aluminum
- Stainless Steel (Non-Magnetic)
Believe it or not, there are a lot of scrap metals – that could have gone to better use – that go to waste.
Facts about scrap prices
The prices you can sell the scraps for vary from one metal to another.
After you've identified the types of metals or items you can sell, and you've answered your question on “what is the closest scrap yard near me?” it's now the time to find the scrap prices and other pricing information for the items you want to sell.
Here are some of that information:
Average scrap prices
Unfortunately, the prices vary from one type of metal to another. The money you'll get from selling the scraps will depend on the item type, supply, and demand for that metal, location, and which scrap yards you sell to.
To give a price gauge, here's a site that shows updated pricing per metal type or product. Click on the image to get redirected to the website.
Scrap metal recycling industry in the US
Here are some interesting facts about the metal recycling industry in the US:
- Total revenue in 2019: $29 billion
- Number of businesses: 500 companies
- Industry employment: 24,698 employees
How can I easily find a scrap yard near me?
There are several ways to find those near you. Believe it or not, finding those is easy.
Here are some ways you can use to find them:
- Google. Type in the keyword “recycling yards near me,” and you'll find a list of yards closest to you.
- Look at your local directory. Your local phonebook directory lists all the yards that buy scraps.
- Local advertisements. Sometimes, you'll find their ads on the street.
- Gas stations. Believe it or not, some scrap metal yards advertise their companies near gas stations. Click here to find the cheap gas near me – the place where these yards advertise.
The basics of scrap metal for money
Sure, you are ready to sell those junks for cash. But there are some basic things you need to know to maximize your profit.
Here are some of these basics:
1. Ferrous vs. non-ferrous metals
Determining if you have ferrous or non-ferrous metals, and separating them is one of the many steps you need to take before selling metal scraps.
Here are the differences:
Ferrous metal. If a magnet sticks to the metal, then it is ferrous metal. You won't get a lot of money from it, but any scrap yard would be willing to recycle them for you.
Non-ferrous metal. If the magnet doesn't stick, then it's a non-ferrous metal. This is the kind of metal you'd want to sell as it can help you make more money. Metals like copper, steel (stainless), and aluminum are great examples of metals that can be sold at a pricier amount.
2. Metals and corresponding dollar equivalents
The truth is:
Unless you're familiar with metals, it's tough to distinguish one type from another. Knowing the basic metals (i.e., what they look like) can make a big difference.Copper. The color of copper is red (in good condition). If it's worn out, you'll see a darker brown color with rusted green areas.
Copper is the best one to sell to your nearest scrap yard as it sells for a lot compared to other metals.
Aluminum. The color is silver (sometimes whitish, silver). It's often painted, and it bends easily.
The metal on soda cans, for example, is aluminum. Other products where aluminum is present include:
- Gutters
- Siding
- Doors
Brass. The color is yellowish. It is quite heavy compared to other metals.
You can often see these on doorknobs, keys, and light fixtures.
Steel. Its color is silver and often ruts easily. Also, it's one of those ferrous metals (i.e., a magnet will stick to it).
Scrap yard near me: Tips to get more money for scrap metal
Finding the right scrap yard near you is just one of the few steps to sell your scrap metal. Next, you need to find out the best ways to make the most out of what you have to sell.
Here are expert tips to help you earn more:
1. Do your research first
To avoid yourself from getting a low-blow offer, it's best if you do research first on how much money you'd get for the scrap metal.
Before going, you research the nearest scrap year near you, find out how much your stuff is worth.
Here are some places to find out the metal scrap prices:
2. Separate scrap metal before going to the nearest scrap yard
Make sure you segregate the ones that can be sold and those that can't be.
You don't want to go there to find out that you don't have much to sell.
Organize all your scrap metal. This allows you to exactly know what stuff you can sell and for how much.
3. Bring as much as scraps as you can
The more scraps you bring, the more money you'll make. It's that simple.
Just because you have something to sell doesn't mean you have to do it. Take into account the transportation cost, the effort you put in, etc.
Maybe when you put all these costs together, you'll find that it may not be worth it to go out, go to the nearest recycling yards near you, and sell those.One thing you can do is find people in your community who are willing to give metal scraps for free.
Find out who gives free unused, non-working things like appliances. Get those and sell them.
People like to get rid of old things to get new ones. This is your opportunity to get free items.
Here are places you can go to for free items:
4. Find other places to sell your metal scraps
Don't trade for the nearest scrap yard you find.
Always have a backup aside from the backup. Remember that just because you find that the prices of metals you're willing to sell are high doesn't mean that you'd get a high amount.
Just like retail stores, you'll find different selling prices from different scrap yards.
It's best to take your time looking into several places and get several estimates to see the best places to sell those metal scraps.
In short, you'd want to get top dollars for your products.
The Practical Saver Pro Tip
Don't settle for the nearest scrap yard to sell your scrap metals. That doesn't always work in your favor especially when this company knows you didn't search elsewhere.
Other tips for selling your metal scraps
If you're hauling a lot of scraps, then there are other things you need to consider. Here are they:
1. Borrow a truck
Truth be told: If you're using a small car to haul metal scraps, chances are you won't be able to haul a lot.
To make the trip worth it or to get the most, borrow a truck from a friend or rent one so you can take as much metal as you can.
Taking a truck is even more applicable if you're selling big appliances like a refrigerator.
As always, borrowing a truck is still better and cheaper than renting. Even better is if you can borrow a truck for free.
You can even split the profit between you and the person who you borrow the truck from. This way, both parties get the benefit.
Renting a truck poses so many challenges. First, you need to make sure you don't damage the truck. Second, you may need to get insurance coverage on top of the day-to-day cost of using it. Going to this route will surely eat up your profit.
2. Add in more aluminum and copper, as much as possible
Because some metals are priced so low, it's best if you add more metals that are priced high such as aluminum and copper.
Believe it or not:
Getting these types of metals isn't that hard.
Copper, for example, is the most expensive metals you can sell and is one of the most common in many products sold in the market.
For example, copper piping and HVAC units have copper that you can quickly sell. While aluminum isn't highly-priced compared to copper, it's one of the most abundant metals present in many metal products in the market, like appliances and kitchen necessities.
What are the best places to get these types of metals?
Here are places you can go to for free items:
3. Scarp old Christmas lights
Over the years, you'll find that some of your Christmas lights won't work anymore. It's bound to happen.
That said, you shouldn't necessarily throw them away. You can make money by selling them for scrap metal.
Why?
Most Christmas lights contain copper.
Sure, you won't make a fortune out of them, but it's something that can add up to your total scrap income.
So many people throw away their lights every year. That's where you can come in. You can collect those and sell them.By scrapping, you're not only taking those out of the owners' hands, but you are also keeping them away from the landfill. Not to mention, you can get money out of them.
The Practical Saver Pro Tip
Search Craigslist, your neighborhood, and even apartment complexes to find discard items that you can sell. You'll find out there's plenty out there that people leave out or freely discard. Their trash is your treasure.
Best practices for making money out of scrap metals
If you're serious about making money from scraps, then, you should consider the following best practices:
1. Get free metals
A lot of people throw away metals in the forms of appliances, cars, trucks, among others. You can go to sites like Craiglist and Facebook Marketplace to find free items.
Make sure to respond to free items as soon as you see them.
2. Create a recurring network of metal sources
Where is the best place to get free things consistently other than Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace? The answer is apartment complexes.
People come and go in this type of living spaces. You'll find people putting their discarded items near the community trash bins.
You can even visit the apartment complexes on Saturday, the time that most people prefer to move out.
Tip: If you're living below your means, you can find treasures in others trash (i.e., get free items that people leave near the dump truck).
3. Never scrap for everything
If you want to make money from scraps, you need to focus on where the most money is.
Focus on copper and aluminum as they are the most commonly-used metals, and they're discarded all the time.
Can you make a living from scrap metal?
The answer is yes. Often times, many scrap collectors can easily make $100 – $200 cash per day. No kidding on that.
Some people find scrap metals for a living.
If you were to sell 2,000 lbs of metal in a day, then, you're roughly going to make $200 in cash.
Does that mean that you can just quit your job and do this for a living? The answer is no.
As with anything, it takes time for you to make a living out of this side hustle. If it were easy, then a lot of people would be quitting their jobs and making money this way.
It takes time, experience, and a lot of patience to make a living out of this work.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on scrap yards near me
1. What is the current price of scrap?
The best place to find out the current prices of scraps or metals is by going to IScrapp.com.
You'll find the latest prices of metals from aluminum to steel.
2. Can you take cast iron to the scrap yard?
Yes. You can take your cast iron to the scrap yard and get paid for the material with the most current cast iron scrap prices.
3. What is the price of scrap metal?
The price of a scrap metal depends on what type of metal it is that you're selling. If it's copper, then you'd get more money than in you were to sell aluminum.
Scrap yard near me: Conclusion
Scrap metals should not be overlooked as one of the ways to make money.
While you won't make a living out of it right away, you can make a few hundred dollars from items that you would otherwise easily discard.
There are a lot of scrap yards where you can sell your scraps.
The next time you search for “Scrap metal yard near me,” make sure to list a couple of them, make phone calls, ask them their prices, to name a few before making your final choice as to where to sell your scrap metals.
Are you ready to sell your scraps? Which “recycling yards near me” sight have you identified?
