Recycling isn’t just good the environment; it can also be a money-making opportunity. Because the value of scrap metal is so high, you can earn by regularly bringing items into a scrap metal recycling service. These tips can help you make the most of your efforts.

3 Tips for Making Money Selling Scrap Metal

1. Know Where to Search

A lot of people simply throw out scrap metal because they’re not aware of how much value it offers; you can earn some extra cash by collecting it from dumpsters. However, you can earn more by letting people know what you’re looking for. Distribute flyers, or offer to pick up metal items directly from people so they don’t need to figure out how to dispose of them. You could also partner with contractors or businesses that deal with a lot of scrap metal.

2. Remove Additional Parts

Scrap yards aren’t usually picky about the condition of various metal components. However, they will need to spend time or resources disassembling or removing spare parts from whole items you bring in, so taking care of this part of the process for them can up the value. Also, remove paint or additional finishes from the material, but check the prices from the scrap yard first.

3. Separate Each Type

Different types of metals have different values. For example, non-ferrous metals like copper usually sell for a higher price than ferrous metals like aluminum. You can use a magnet to tell which items fall into which category. Non-ferrous metals are almost always magnetic, while ferrous metals are not. By separating them, you’ll get a better price for the non-ferrous metal. It will be weighed separately, rather than thrown in with the less expensive scrap.

If you’re looking to make money by recycling scrap metal, Metalico Rochester will help. Serving customers throughout Monroe County, NY, this scrap yard offers fair prices for everything from aluminum to used auto parts. They also provide online resources and email newsletters to help businesses and recyclers stay up to date on industry trends. To learn more about the scrap metal recycling process, visit the company’s website or call (585) 436-0713.