Moving Day
The last week of the month, and the first week of the month are generally good for scrapping. In the Center City and 3rd ward neighborhoods, we have a high rate of rentals - about 70% of the houses are rentals. He also have a high rate of transience, most renters here do not stay in the same place for more than two years in a row. That means there are many opportunities to scrap.
The last week of the month, you will find real scrap, the trash that is being tossed because the tenants are moving. The first week of the next month is even better pickings, because the house owner comes in and clears everything the tenants left behind, which includes bed frames, lamps, appliances and electronics.
The first week of the month, it pays to hit everywhere in the high rental areas, whether it is trash day or not. Just do a sweep daily. A lot of slumlords will just come and and clear the house of all trash, not waiting for trash night to put it by the curb.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise
This week did have its share of movers, but not a lot of good scrap to be found. Yesterday was a waste, so I arose this morning well before dawn. I am not a morning person, but it was so damned humid that I could not get back to sleep when I woke. So I made the best of a bad situation.
I got out way ahead of the other scrappers, and ahead of the garbage trucks. There wasn't a lot in the 3rd Ward, but I did find a steel daybed frame, and a steel flower stand and assorted curtain rods and aluminum scrap. It was worth the early rise, I got the big stuff before the other guys got out.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
September 29, 2010
"Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug..."
Today, I was the bug, but every day can't be a winner. On Sunday I stopped by a house where there were some metal poles in the trash, and some lamps. The woman of the house came out and informed me she had a section of drain pipe in the back, and did I want it?
That happens a lot, people will have junk that is too big or too heavy for them to move, and will gladly allow you to haul it. Of course I wanted it! Well, until I saw it, and even more so, smelled it!
It was a section of sewer pipe over twenty feet long! It had been out there for a little while apparently, and there wasn't too much odor - until I took a sledge to it to break it into smaller sections that I could handle. Then, pee-eeew!
That pipe weighed close to 300 pounds - scrapping ain't for the weakling or faint of heart! As I was breaking the pipe, she asked me if I wanted the metal desk in the back yard, too? This was an old office desk that had served as a work bench. Problem was, I had no more room in my truck. I told her I would come back Monday morning, after I unloaded the truck at the recycling center.
The load I took on Monday weighed in at well over 450 pounds. I immediately went back to the house, with a hand truck, and carted the desk. I knew the desk was heavy, but that and about 60 pounds of other scrap gave me a 360-pound load of shredder feed for that second run.
Tuesday was okay, but I only picked about 200 pounds of scrap. Today, nada. Nothing. Not even a curtain rod. I hit the West Side, and the 3rd Ward. Twice I made a quick pass, just to catch anything good before anyone else got there. Zilch.
Tomorrow I will have to be up bright and early, and will hit The Lake. People on the West Side and the 3rd Ward will put their trash out before 4PM, even though city code states trash should be put on the curb no sooner than 4PM the night before collection. People at The Lake, however, usually obey the rules. They are, after all, generally the people that wrote the laws. But they also throw some really good stuff away.
Today, I was the bug, but every day can't be a winner. On Sunday I stopped by a house where there were some metal poles in the trash, and some lamps. The woman of the house came out and informed me she had a section of drain pipe in the back, and did I want it?
That happens a lot, people will have junk that is too big or too heavy for them to move, and will gladly allow you to haul it. Of course I wanted it! Well, until I saw it, and even more so, smelled it!
It was a section of sewer pipe over twenty feet long! It had been out there for a little while apparently, and there wasn't too much odor - until I took a sledge to it to break it into smaller sections that I could handle. Then, pee-eeew!
That pipe weighed close to 300 pounds - scrapping ain't for the weakling or faint of heart! As I was breaking the pipe, she asked me if I wanted the metal desk in the back yard, too? This was an old office desk that had served as a work bench. Problem was, I had no more room in my truck. I told her I would come back Monday morning, after I unloaded the truck at the recycling center.
The load I took on Monday weighed in at well over 450 pounds. I immediately went back to the house, with a hand truck, and carted the desk. I knew the desk was heavy, but that and about 60 pounds of other scrap gave me a 360-pound load of shredder feed for that second run.
Tuesday was okay, but I only picked about 200 pounds of scrap. Today, nada. Nothing. Not even a curtain rod. I hit the West Side, and the 3rd Ward. Twice I made a quick pass, just to catch anything good before anyone else got there. Zilch.
Tomorrow I will have to be up bright and early, and will hit The Lake. People on the West Side and the 3rd Ward will put their trash out before 4PM, even though city code states trash should be put on the curb no sooner than 4PM the night before collection. People at The Lake, however, usually obey the rules. They are, after all, generally the people that wrote the laws. But they also throw some really good stuff away.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
September 26, 2010
Yesterday was my birthday, so I didn't do much scrapping. I did take my $20 bill - birthday money - and walked to the Old Oar House Irish Pub to celebrate. Lo and Behold, they were tossing an old refrigerator.
Well, birthday business came first, I went inside and ordered a beer. Then Jenn W. bought me a beer for my birthday. I love Jenn, she is good people. Then Erin, the bartender bought me a beer.And somebody else bought me a beer, so I had three beers and a chip for a beer by the time I left. I left a $7 tip, and walked home with $10 in my pocket. Life was good.
My girlfriend arrived home about the same time I did, and she wanted to take me to Larry's Bar for a few more drinks and dinner, for my birthday. But first, I made her swing by the Oar House and I loaded the fridge on my truck. there is nothing like free money!
Well, birthday business came first, I went inside and ordered a beer. Then Jenn W. bought me a beer for my birthday. I love Jenn, she is good people. Then Erin, the bartender bought me a beer.And somebody else bought me a beer, so I had three beers and a chip for a beer by the time I left. I left a $7 tip, and walked home with $10 in my pocket. Life was good.
My girlfriend arrived home about the same time I did, and she wanted to take me to Larry's Bar for a few more drinks and dinner, for my birthday. But first, I made her swing by the Oar House and I loaded the fridge on my truck. there is nothing like free money!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Here's a good website for recyclers
American Recycler is an industry website, but it has some worthwhile stories. One feature is the market watch for scrap metal prices.
One quick note, these prices are not what you can expect from your local scrap yard, they have to make a profit, too! These are the average prices based on large-scale transactions. But this page is a good reference point.
One quick note, these prices are not what you can expect from your local scrap yard, they have to make a profit, too! These are the average prices based on large-scale transactions. But this page is a good reference point.
Friday, September 24, 2010
September 23, 2010
Yesterday's haul was very light. You have to expect ups and downs.
I don't know if others beat me to the routes or if nobody was just tossing any good scrap. I did find two houses with a decent amount of scrap - and I picked up a very nice Huffy bicycle which I couldn't bare to scrap.
The tires were flat, but I figured if I could patch the tubes, I might be able to get $20 out of it o n Craigslist. I washed the bike, and took the front wheel off to assess the amount of work I would have to put into it, and behold there was no tube. That accounts for the flat tire. The rubber on the tire itself was in pretty rough shape, upon a closer inspection.
To buy new rubber and new tubes for an old bike, I would have more money and time into it than I could expect to get - so, into the scrap heap!
I don't know if others beat me to the routes or if nobody was just tossing any good scrap. I did find two houses with a decent amount of scrap - and I picked up a very nice Huffy bicycle which I couldn't bare to scrap.
The tires were flat, but I figured if I could patch the tubes, I might be able to get $20 out of it o n Craigslist. I washed the bike, and took the front wheel off to assess the amount of work I would have to put into it, and behold there was no tube. That accounts for the flat tire. The rubber on the tire itself was in pretty rough shape, upon a closer inspection.
To buy new rubber and new tubes for an old bike, I would have more money and time into it than I could expect to get - so, into the scrap heap!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Big Hauls
But being the avid blogger that I am, and being married to my laptop, I had to come up with alternative methods of finding the big hauls.
On my Facebook page I announced that I would be happy to haul any metal scrap for free. I immediately had two replies.
Homer
One was from the Barn Studio of Art seeking to have an old coal furnace removed. One look at this beast and I told them I would not, could not in good conscience scrap it. It is 99 years old. It is in perfect working condition. Pat fondly named the heater "Homer". Everything in The Barn has a name.
I offered, and they agreed, to allow me to broker a sale to an interested party. I volunteered my expertise at dismantling the unit, and will post ads to find a good buyer. I take a percentage, and the Barn gets some much-needed operating funds. Win-win.
Greed is bad - I could have just taken it and scrapped it. Would would I have gained, $30? And a dose of bad karma!
"A Few Pieces of Metal"
The other big haul was a few miles away. A friend on Facebook saw my note and told me to contact her husband, Chick. He said he had an old AC unit, and some scrap.
Chick is a retired Millville police officer, retired USMC, former private detective, and has had an interesting life. We spent more time chatting than we did moving scrap. He had more than a few pieces!
I got back into Millville with half an hour to spare before the scrap yard closed, so I unloaded the AC and some other pieces that had to be dismantled, and made a run to the scrap yard. In short, "a few pieces of metal" turned out to be 300 pounds of scrap. And I didn't even do the aluminum or copper, let alone the AC cores, and electric cords.
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!
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!
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