Now that the weather is finally cooling off, you may be looking around your house and deciding it's time to purge your house of things you don't need or want anymore. Before you throw things away or put them in the recycle bin allow me to give a quick lesson in how to make money in recycling with items from your home or office.
The most obvious items you may have are aluminum cans and plastic bottles. You can bag these items up separately and take to your local yard for some quick cash. It takes about 28 cans to make a pound so for space saving crush the cans first. Plastic bottles are a little more effort since they don't compact nearly as well, but nonetheless they have value. Next, let's talk about some of the other items around your house that are potentially worth some cash. Do you have old extension cords lying around? Maybe some old aluminum pots and pans, or cast iron cookware? How about an old car battery? Christmas lights that are so tangled up they can no longer be used? Old computers and laptops? Surprise, all have a value at your local recycling facility!
Going to a scrap yard can be a bit daunting. You are not a scrap expert and may not know exactly what you have. If you bring your items to a reputable yard, they should be able to educate you on what you have and explain the reason for your pricing. Don't be afraid to ask questions and learn as much as you can about what is worth money and what isn't. You should walk out with a better understanding of recyclables and how they can help generate a little extra income for you, not to mention helping the environment and keeping usable items out of the landfills!
Lastly, let's talk about the actual selling process. Your items will be sorted into their metal types, then graded and weighed for payment. A good facility will have the weight indicators in the open and available for you to see. You should receive an itemized receipt with your weights and per pound price so there is no confusion as to your material. You will need an ID to sell most items and there is a limit of 300.00 per transaction per day for individuals.
At the end of the day just remember, it always pays to recycle! Do your part to help our planet and make a little money doing it. It's a win/win for everybody!
Will Ribadeneira
