|
| Wednesday, May 14, 2008 |
| Should I scrap or just trash it? |
 How much is my household metal worth? That is a question I have been pondering lately. I have some excess metal items around the house that I need to get rid of. The problem is, should I just throw these away? Or should I expend the effort to haul the items to a scrap metal yard? So far I have identified the following household items that I would like to scrap. Two rusty metal trash bins left in my shed by the previous homeowner. Two metal poles left by previous homeowner behind shed. A rickety metal railing which is now hidden inside a hedge and a metal bedframe.
The problem with scrapping these items vr. just putting them out on the curb on trash day is transportation. These items will not fit in my little VW Jetta. So borrowing a larger vehicle is hassle number 1. Then there is finding a scrap dealer whom I can take these items to. Having never scrapped something before, I am not sure where to go. Then, once getting the items to the scrap yard, is the payment worth the trip and hassle?
I guess I could say that getting any payment for items I would otherwise trash is a good thing. There is the knowledge that by expending the effort and taking my items to a scrap dealer, I am recycling these goods, rather than just putting them in the landfill. Perhaps I should ask around within my family - we could pool our scrap and that would make a trip worthwhile.
What about you? Have you ever taken items to a scrap dealer? Do you know how much small household items might fetch? Any recommendations or advice? Let me know in the comments!
- Scrap Riches? |
| posted by Boston Gal @ 1:00 PM *
* Subscribe to Boston Gal's Open Wallet |
Links to this post:
|
| 10 Comments: |
-
Or you can freecycle it and take the karma points--that's what I did with a 15 foot long iron antenna thing left next to the garage by a previous owner. It had to be cut up and everything, and it was worth someone's while to do it, just not mine and not in my skillset. The fellow who took it was happy to spend the day doing it, and I got it off my property, so it was win-win.
-
Post on craigslist in the free stuff section and someone will probably pick them up for free. You may not make any money, but it is minimal hassle.
-Erica
-
My dad is a scrap dealer and though I haven't learned a lot from his trade I suspect you wouldn't get much for those items unless they are copper. There are also two types of steel - one sticks to a magnet, one doesn't - but I forget which one is valuable! Obviously I'm not much help. I'd freecycle if you can - reuse is a step better than recycle.
-
when my dad did construction he would sometimes take stuff like brass or copper to the scrap dealer. But unless you have a lot of it, it's probably not worth your while.
Also, cheaper metals like iron probably aren't worth your time/energy unless you have something reaaaally heavy like a radiator.
-
My parents have people who patrol the neighborhood the day before garbage pick up. They pick up all kinds of scrap metals. You might try setting it out a day or two ahead of time and see if they grow legs and walk off.
-
I am not sure where in Boston you are located, but there are a surprising number of scrap yards/dealers in the city and in surrounding suburbs. A quick yellow pages search will give you a list of places. Work the phones and find out which accept small loads from homeowners (some only deal in bulk, but many accept all comers). Get a feel from the places you call how much you could expect to get for your items.
Your idea of asking friends/family if they have scrap and combining the trip is a good one. You would be surprised what people have in their garages, basements, sheds, etc.
-
-
The last time we hit the scrap yard up in Lowell, they said they only handle $20 worth or more. I don't think you have enough, but if you pool with family you should hit the mark and then some.
Check your town's recycling office, they should be able to direct you to a local metal collection site/scrap yard.
-
I second the idea of either using freecycle or leaving it out to see if it will "walk" off. Both will end with reuse/recycling and not the landfill.
Where I live, they have a special spot at the dump for metal. Here we have to pay for trash pickup ($80 a month!) or take our own trash to the dump so I'm out there twice a month anyway. You pay by the pound to get rid of trash (about 25lbs per dollar) but metal is free. I figure anything the town makes off of it will reduce our future bills at the landfill.
-
Someone told me there was a place in Somerville also...
I called my town DPW and they suggested trying free scrapping it first. I have an old aluminum front door to get rid of.
The guy said these items ARE going "freely"...
Otherwise, $$$ not really worth the trip. Let someone else profit if they want to put in the energy.
|
| |
| << Home |
| |
|
|
|
|
Or you can freecycle it and take the karma points--that's what I did with a 15 foot long iron antenna thing left next to the garage by a previous owner. It had to be cut up and everything, and it was worth someone's while to do it, just not mine and not in my skillset. The fellow who took it was happy to spend the day doing it, and I got it off my property, so it was win-win.