When you have metal and recyclable materials you are trying to get rid of, finding the right place to take them is crucial. Old cars and other scrap metals often require scrap metal yards for disposal, and most yards will recycle the metal for a profit. This keeps the material out of landfills and dumps and has a positive impact on the environment.
Scrap Metal
The definition of scrap metal may vary depending on who you ask, but to scrap metal yards, any metal they have a resale market for is typically considered scrap. Copper, aluminum, steel, and iron are all high on the list of metals these businesses are looking for, and most will pay cash for loads of materials if you prepare them and have it sorted when you arrive at the scrap yard.
Scrap metal yards have been around for a long time, and the business has not changed much. How each yard functions can be slightly different, but in most cases, when you arrive at the scrap yard, you show the attendant what and how much metal you have. The material is sorted and weighed, a payslip is issued for the material and weight, and you collect cash or a check from the office on the way out of the yard.
The system works well in most places, and anyone can bring a few pounds of material to sell or an entire truckload. The amount of money the seller makes is based on the price per pound of material that day, and the prices change based on supply and demand.
Scrap Cars
Some scrap metal yards will accept entire cars as scrap metal. However, many operations require the seller to remove the vehicle's interior, drain all the liquids like oil, gas, and transmission fluid, and sign off that they are entitled to sell the vehicle legally. Scraping an entire vehicle is more labor intensive than small loads of metal, but if you can get the car or truck to the scrap yard, they can lift it off your trailer or truck with a crane.
The vehicle's weight is still the determining factor for paying you for your scrap but often the price per pound is lower in these cases because the car is a mix of several different metals that are not separated when dropped off at the scrap metal yard. For anyone trying to make a living with scrap metal, taking the time to strip the chassis and separate the materials will produce more money when selling scrap cars. However, it also means more time investment that can reduce the profit because of the amount of labor involved in the process.
Contact a local scrap metal yard, such as TNT Auto Salvage, to learn more.