Where Are You Bringing Your Scrap ??

[CalgaryPT]

Where are you guys bringing scrap these days? Usually I just drop off stuff (< 20 lbs.) at the landfill because I am going there with household stuff, but after my big cleanups I should have several hundred pounds.

I get that most places are closed these days maybe, but at some point I want to get a few dollars for this steel. Who takes small loads these days, and what's the procedure? I seem to recall at Federal you could drive in, get weighed, unload and get reweighed. I seem to remember you tossed smaller stuff on a scale maybe.

How does it work these days? It's been at least five years for me....

 

[Tom Kitta]

Well before pandemic it looked exactly like you described. You got weighted in, you dumped your stuff and then you were weighted out and got your $$$.

I was dumping lots of scrap last time about 6 months ago or so - over $100 worth.

I have no idea what is open now - I am waiting on a pile of few hundred lbs for stuff to slowly re-open so I can get it recycled.

6 months ago federal was closed - I went to place closer to the city center.

 

[Chicken lights]

My experience has been to get weighed between commodities. “Shred” usually pays the least, so I’d scale, toss off any shred, then go scale and kick off the next one, usually #1 heavy. Then go scale and move onto the next one. Pretty much anything that had a spot outside I’d use the big scale.

Once all that’s done any batteries, brass, copper, aluminum etc usually gets weighed inside on a smaller scale, individually.

That old sink? If it’s stainless it’s usually worth $5-10, rather than $0.25 as shred for example

 

[CalgaryPT]

That’s useful. Thanks guys. What constitutes “shred” vs. “heavy”?
I recall lots of places wouldn’t take things like chicken wire, expanded metal, etc. because it jammed shredders.

 

[Chicken lights]

I was always under the impression anything could go for “shred”. I could be wrong

“#1 heavy” is thicker steel, under 4 foot lengths, typically

 

[Alexander]

Federal metals has been inconsistent in the past. I personally prefer blackfoot metals because they have always been friendly. Either one is pretty good most days.

 

[CalgaryPT]

Federal metals has been inconsistent in the past. I personally prefer blackfoot metals because they have always been friendly. Either one is pretty good most days.

My last experience @ Federal was five years ago. It was bad too. And I still remember it. So I have no doubt you're correct.

Prior to this I used Calgary Metal, and we all know how that freight train derailed....

 

[Tom Kitta]

I never had anything bad to say about Federal until about 6 months ago when I send my parents there with over 1t of scrap and they seen a closed sign. I had to send them to another scrap yard. They were closed for multiple days - not sure why.

 

[Alexander]

My last experience @ Federal was five years ago. It was bad too. And I still remember it. So I have no doubt you're correct.

Prior to this I used Calgary Metal, and we all know how that freight train derailed....

Oh I haven't been to federal in 8 months to a year. Last time I dropped off there was a few years ago. There is nothing wrong with them. But I'll always follow the path of least resistance. Blackfoot metals seems to get me in and out quicker