How to Recycle Metal for Profit

As the price of nearly every good continues to rise, so does the value of metal. Recycling metal is not only good for the environment, it can also be good for your wallet. You can choose your hours, work as much or as little as you want and even establish a viable business.

Things You'll Need

• Truck or trailer
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Locate several local recyclers. Find places within easy driving distance that purchase metal for recycling. Keep their numbers handy so you can check and compare their pay rates often to make sure you are getting the most for your metal.

2. Secure regular sources of metal. Offer free residential pick-up service of all metal goods. Work with construction companies to haul away any metal scrap from their construction or demolition sites. Contract with cities to dispose of metal brought to their transfer stations. Offer to haul away the metal from illegal dump sites.

3. Sell the metal. Haul the metal to the recycling center offering you the best rates. If rates are too low, hold on to the metal for a week or two until they go back up. To be sure you are making a profit, calculate the amount you spent in gas to pick up the metal and drive it to the recycling center and compare it to the amount being offered.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use gloves and make sure you have a tetanus shot before handling scrap metal.