After a few months of collecting aluminum cans and miscellaneous metal parts I decided to cash in my collection. I knew not to expect a fortune from my goods but in my mind I was not only picking up a few bucks but saving space in our over-stuffed landfills. I had about 16 pounds of cans, a few brass fittings and copper tubing from a plumbing job and some torn up real estate signs that were not salvageable for marketing purposes. I went to a recycling center to find that my scraps were worth slightly over $20.00. Shockingly, my aluminum cans were worth only $.50/lb. and the other junk that I just happened to toss into the barrel were worth over $12.00…and it was just a handful of stuff. Sure, its not making a land payment for me, but it is going to be reused and NOT buried with other household trash in our landfills. After all, trash doesn’t disappear, it’s just out of sight.
After I got my cash and my identification was recorded (because of copper theft), I picked up a flyer that lists some materials that they recommend for recycling. Here is a list of some of the things that you should keep an eye out for:
Basically…
I hope this helps when remodeling your next home or when you decide to clean up out your storage shed or attic. Many of these items I would have normally discarded. Be smarter than the average person and start collecting recyclable products for money. Keep a trash can for just metals and see how much money you can get after a few months of collection. It will surprise you... “One mans trash, another mans treasure”!
If you're looking for a recycling center you can call 1-800-GOOG-411 or 1-800-466-4411 for a free information directory based on a keyword such as "Recycling Centers".