September 21, 2010

Rule #1
Always be courteous and polite!

When you are scrapping, don't leave trash scattered around the curb. In fact, it can't hurt to take a few seconds to pick up loose stuff and toss it in the bin.

Many municipalities have anti-scavenging laws. For instance, in Haddonfield, NJ you face a stiff penalty, and they don't mess around.

I suppose that part of the reason for these prohibitions are that too many scrappers are inconsiderate, and scatter trash and leave a mess.

If there are garbage bags that you suspect of holding booty, never, ever rip them open. If you can't untie them easily (and re-tie when you are done) then you have no business snooping. You are giving the rest of us a bad name.

Always be polite and say hello to people when you are pickin'. Yesterday I saw a weed whacker on the curb. Generally I would just pass it by, not worth the stop for the few cents you get. It is mostly plastic and scrap. There isn't enough copper wire to make stripping it worthwhile, and the motor only weighs a pound or so, so it is worth maybe 30 cents tops as scrap.

But I saw the owner putting the trash out, and stopped. That was fortuitous. We started chatting, and he asked how much metal scrap was getting these days. I told him a dime, and he asked if I wanted some, he had some in his back yard.

I helped him haul it, made three trips to my truck! There was some copper, some aluminum, several lamp cords, and most of a cast iron stove. That was a worthwhile stop!

It pays to be friendly!