Setting up a scrap metal drop-off is a great way to make some extra cash from the waste material you may have lying around your home or job site, but there are some rules and best practices you should be familiar with before doing so.
Before your next scrap metal drop-off, take a minute to review these dos and don’ts we’ve put together to make sure the process goes smoothly.
- Do: Call ahead. This is important for two main reasons. First, it allows you to ensure the company is open and able to accept your scrap metal drop-off. Secondly, you can ask about current market prices and get an idea of how much money you may be offered for what you bring.
- Do: Sort your metals. If you’re bringing a large load or have a variety of metals, try to sort them as best as you can so that the drop-off process goes as smoothly and quickly as possible.
- Don’t: Bring dirty or contaminated metals. If the scrap metal company has to clean a lot of residue or contaminants off your pieces, you may get a lower offer. This is because the company will have to account for the labor cost of cleaning or decontaminating the materials.
- Do: Know where your metal came from. There are rules and regulations around what materials can and cannot be included in a scrap metal drop-off, so make sure you are prepared to tell the scrap company where the materials came from.
- Don’t: Try to scrap metal you don’t own or have permission to take. If you’re unsure if you can take something to a scrapyard, it’s best to wait until you find out and have express permission from whoever owns it.
- Do: Choose a buyer you can trust. There is no shortage of scammers who will give you an unfair price for your scrap metal drop-off, so make sure you find a legitimate business with a good reputation for fair dealings.