Copper Recycling Could Be A Good Side-Income For You
Copper is one of the more valuable metals, so if you take up recycling for extra money, you'll probably want to collect copper. Copper is plentiful, but it takes a lot of time to process since you'll get more for copper that is stripped and clean. Here's where you can find copper and some tips for preparing it for the recycling center.
Find Copper In Wiring, Pipes, And Appliances
Plumbing pipes are the ultimate find since these don't need much work to get ready for the recycling center. Modern homes are switching to PEX tubing more and more, so older homes are the best source of pipes for copper recycling. You may not have access to plumbing waste though, so you can look to appliances for a handy source of copper.
You can offer to haul off appliances for free so you can take them apart and separate the different types of metal, including copper. Wiring is another good source of copper, but you may want to strip the insulation off of the wires first. If you're processing a lot of wiring, you may want an automatic tool that does the work for you.
Decide How Much Processing You Want To Do
Talk to your recycling center about the difference in price between bare copper and copper that still has the wire insulation on it. Compare the difference with the amount of time you need to invest to process the wiring. Even though you'll make less with copper recycling without stripping it, you may find that to be acceptable so you don't have to invest so much time in stripping wiring.
There are different grades of copper, and bare, bright copper is the most valuable, but it may also take the most work to get it bright again. The dirtier the copper gets, the less it's worth. The lowest price is paid for copper that still has insulation on it.
Keep All Metals Separate
When you take your copper and other metals to the recycling center, separate them according to their type of metal. You may further want to separate copper according to its grade and how well it's cleaned so you always get the best price. If different types of metal are lumped together, you'll probably get the lowest price for the whole lot.
Different metals have different prices, and the prices fluctuate daily, so you'll want to know how much copper is worth so you sell it when you get the most money. You may want to sell your copper bit by bit or allow it to accumulate over time as you find more wires and appliances and have time to process them. Ask your recycling center if they have a minimum amount of copper they accept.
Reach out to a copper recycling service near you to learn more.
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