Can I Take That?

There are plenty of folks who make a decent amount of money trading their scrap metal for cash, and we gladly help them do it. It’s no secret, however, that some try to do that using less-than-ethical means.

It’s also no secret that times are tight right now. The prices for most everything are up, and we’re seeing an increase in the number of reports of theft of items like copper and catalytic converters.

Full Disclaimer: We employ cameras and record license plates and will freely share them with our local law enforcement partners if they’re investigating a theft.

So, how can you trade valuable scrap metal for cash and be honest about it?

The first step would be to start at home. Look around your house for old tools and appliances that you can trade. If you get new gutters or a new washing machine, bring us the old ones.

Scour your alleys or venture out on trash days. If you’re digging through trash cans, however, be certain that you’re doing so with the permission of the home or business owner. A homeowner may be leery of someone digging through their trash and many businesses have liability concerns about dumpster diving.

Construction sites are often littered with scrap. No contractor orders the exact amount of copper pipe or electrical cable. Understand, though, that many contractors hang on to their scrap as they don’t know when they’ll need a 6-inch piece of pipe or jumper cable for an electrical box. Ask them first.

Visit some of your local garages or machine shops. Quite often, they have a pile of scrap building up and it’s more expensive for them to dispose of it than it is to just let it sit there. A partnership that allows you to swing buy and gather their scrap makes a few dollars for you and removes a task from their to-do list.

This same thought goes for your local home improvement or appliance centers. They may have damaged or returned merchandise that can’t be salvaged or resold. You picking it up saves them the trouble.

It’s easy to make money trading scrap metal for cash. It’s easier to do it the ethical way.