How to make money collecting scrap metals?

By James Mathew
Scrap metal prices have indeed soared in recent years that it could be lucrative for people to earn an extra income or even do a full time job of collecting scrap metals, according to Matthew Powers, a ten year and full time scrap collector based out of Texas and promoter of the website www.scrapinasnapshop.com.

Those enterprising enough can easily earn an extra $2000 a month on sell to scrap metal price dealers or people who need it. Scrap metal prices vary from location to location. "You can take one piece of scrap metal to a dealer for pricing and get 10 cents or it and take the same piece to a different dealer for a price and end up getting 50 cents for it! Scrap metal prices should be fair for both parties so ask around and try and find a reputable dealer or you’ll end up wasting a lot of time and effort. This page is all about information about prices and how to sell obtain it," according to Powers.

Most junkyards will display 'scrap metal prices chart which makes the job easy for collectors. However, Powers warns that pricing is possibly the most important aspect of collecting scrap metal because 'if you work hard only to get ripped off then you've only wasted your time. Make sure that you take your time, do your research, to ensure you’re getting the best price for your area. I know people that have been collecting scrap metal for upwards of ten years and could get a MUCH better scrap metal price if they just simply did a little more research and changed a few things. In the world of scrap metal collecting it’s usually not one small thing that you change but a number of small things that really add up to a big cash in.'

"As with any business recycling metals has its ups and downs, it’s a lot like the stock market in that a pile of aluminum sold today could be worth twice as much another day. That’s just the nature of markets like these, but right now it doesn’t look like prices are going down dramatically any time soon" says Matthew Powers. 

"You can make around 60k a year or more in scrap metal collecting and only have to collect three times a week. This is much less work than going to work every day and working for 8 hours. My first year I was only making around 10k a year at the most but it takes time to learn the ropes in collecting. If I had to say one thing that was most important for getting a good deal would recommend finding the best location for collecting your scrap metal and keeping an eye on the price list. But how do you find that? I found it by building a good relationship with my scrap metal price dealer and then he began to tell me where other people were collecting. This skyrocketed the scrap metal price I was getting because the it was of higher quality than what it used to be and I was able to find more of it. So maybe I should say that the most important part is building a good relationship with your dealer."

The website features scrap metal prices as well as a comprehensive guide to getting started with collecting scrap metal. "Our website encourages people to get involved with collecting scrap metal in their area. Not only does it help clean up their environment but they can make money from doing it as well. You’d be surprised how many businesses will even pay you to come in and remove their scrap metal, and you get money when you cash it in as well".

Scrap recycling is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States alone and is on course to having one of the highest revenue generating years in the past three decades.., according to Matthew Powers.