Surprisingly valuable junk

Though most of us wouldn’t expect to find any hidden gems within garbage piles on junkyards, the truth is quite the opposite. Though most of us dispose of items that can no longer be used, that doesn’t mean all of their elements are completely void of use and value. If you know what to look out for, you might be able to profit from your scrap – or at least put its particular elements to good use.

Checking your sources

The first and most important factor you should consider if you want to get the bast value from your scrap is the collector you’re choosing. Your scrap collection company needs to be a trusted one. This is because you may not be aware of the value of the scrap you’re returning, but they definitely will, and whether or not they’ll tell you about it depends on their integrity. Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that some scrap yards have been known to partake in illegal activities, including buying illegal wares, such as coins and railroad elements.

What items can I safely scrap?

There is no point in keeping old electronics and household equipment around. Their only purpose is probably no longer achievable anyway, otherwise you wouldn’t be considering scrapping them, and they hardly ever possess any valuable parts. The same goes true for any glass, tins, bicycles, and various other types of everyday rubbish. All of these items can and should be recycled – their individual elements can be used to make new items even if they don’t have much monetary value on their own. You can also sell items made from gold, silver, and other valuable metals – you should be able to get a high price for them. Aside from jewellery, you can find these materials in various electronics as well as cars. By that logic, it’s always a better idea to scrap your computer than, say, just dump it at a nearby junkyard.

Know the value of your items

Many people try to make a living by selling items they’ve found for scrap, some of whom even resort to stealing to get the items they need. The sad thing is, these items may be worth a lot less for their material alone than they would be as full-bodied products. Many pieces of art, such as statues, may contain valuable non-ferrous metals, but the price of that metal might actually turn out to be quite minuscule compared to what the untouched artwork may fetch if you decide to sell it through other means. It’s always important to do your research and make sure you aren’t losing money when you could be gaining a lot of it.