Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 25

Running into problems scrapping applainces in Iowa

| Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
  1. #1
    milesjascha started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Des Moines, Iowa
    Posts
    7
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Running into problems scrapping applainces in Iowa

    So... I need help as I am new to scrapping and cant seem to figure some things out.
    I have a pretty steady supply of AC units, water heaters, furnaces and other appliances but 1 yard I went to wont take dismantled appliances. I can take in the radiators from the ac units and copper but if I take the copper and brass off of water heaters they wont take them and basically I have to take another load to the garbage dump. I want to make a go out of scrapping cause I enjoy taking stuff apart and would like to make some money.

    I also was doing some more research on this matter and came across a website for Alter Recycling which has a location near me in Des Moines and this is what was written on their site. APPLIANCES, HOUSEHOLD
    (refrigerators, dryers, microwaves, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, commercial coolers, dishwashers, furnaces, freezers, clothes washers, hot water heaters, kitches ranges/ovens, thermostats, drinking fountains, fluorescent lights, trash compactors, vending machines, etc.) Iowa facilities may accept demanufactured appliances from certified demanufacturers only or may accept if facility is certified to demanufacture (may be subject to fee).

    Facilities outside of Iowa may accept if certified free of refrigerants or if facility has the equipment to recover refrigerants. White goods must also be free of PCB-containing small capacitors and ballasts, and mercury-containing components (bulbs, switches), or be removed by the accepting facility.




    I need help! I looked into that certification but in order for me to have it I have to have a facility for recycling. Am I missing something? Any help would be much appreciated!!! Thanks!

    Miles


  2. #2
    KeyCityRecycling's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    94
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 57 Times in 36 Posts
    Not sure what you are missing. Maybe you are confused by all the wording. In Iowa if your not certified to demanufacture appliances the yard should not be purchasing your scrap appliances regardless of whether or not you have torn them apart.


    If you are not a certified demanufacture most reputable yards will not buy from you for good reason. This is done because the yard can get in trouble buying from individuals who are not certified and slapped with a big fine. Individuals who are not certified usually do not processing the units properly. Most times the freon is not being recovered properly, but is just being released into the environment when the lines are cut, this is harmful to our atmosphere. Most individuals do not remove the capacitors from units, which will contaminate the shredder fluff. The oil from the compressors is not drained and disposed of properly, which eventually drains onto the ground from handling and contaminates the ground and the ground water. The mercury switches are not removed, which will also contaminate the ground and ground water and the shredder fluff.

    Yes in order to get certified you will need to go to apply for a license with the DNR. Take a course which costs a couple of hundred dollars. Provide a letter from your city or county stating your business is properly zoned for appliance demanufacturing. Provide a ground water run off permit. Complete an inspection with the DNR proving you have the proper equipment to process the different units you will be receiving. Plus a bunch of other hoops you must jump through before they will issue a demanufactures license. Bottom line if your doing this in your back yard or your pickup truck your not going to get a license to provide to a reputable yard in order for them to purchase your carcasses for scrap.

    Good luck and don't get caught cutting those lines on the AC units your picking up. DNR officers will conduct sting operations by calling individuals who advertise free appliance removal on websites such as Craigslist to see if the individual is unlawfully demanufacturing appliances or if yards are purchasing those units from unlicensed individuals. The fines and the prison sentences are not worth the risk of making a few dollars off of scrapping old appliances if you are not doing it right.

  3. #3
    milesjascha started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Des Moines, Iowa
    Posts
    7
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Thank you! The ac units I get are legally recovered of freon. My Step-father is an HVAC guy that does the recovering for me. He gives me most of the scrap I get. Ill just try to get other scrap that I can make money off of and just take the furnaces and water heaters whole to the scrap yard. I appreciate the detailed answers.

  4. #4
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale FL
    Posts
    38
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts
    Well i am not located in Iowa far away in South Florida,so i am not familar with your local laws .I have been in the scrap metal Industry for 12 years.It might make it hard for a new person starting up with all the hops that have been installed for policeing our Industry,But if you get all your licences and permits you will become a reputabile Recycling company,witch will enable you to advertize all your licences and permits putting you on top of all the street peddlers, then you will see your business Grow!!!!! I have gotten a few large national companys that have searched us out, because of all the Federal, State, and City compliances that we follow.Good Luck to you.Also a yard that will not take water heaters because you have removed the brass is a yard that i would stay far away from, If you are selling shred then thats what you should be payed for, and they should also pay you for your brass, if thats what your are selling them Hamburger is a different price then Steak.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to johny for This Post:


  6. #5
    EcoSafe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    May 2011
    Posts
    3,705
    Thanks
    3,713
    Thanked 6,807 Times in 1,954 Posts
    so you are saying is that some one needs to spend a lot of money to be a REPUTABLE scrapper. congressmen and senators spend 10s of millions to get their jobs and presidents close to a billion, soooo by these standards they are very REPUTABLE, and then there is Wall street, and the Banksters, thanks but I put my money on common sence morality and learning. But then I guess thats why Ill never be a politician or rich.

  7. The Following 7 Users say Thank You for This Post by EcoSafe:


  8. #6
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,972
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,350 Posts
    Glad I don't live in Iowa....LOL

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to mikeinreco for This Post:


  10. #7
    milesjascha started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Des Moines, Iowa
    Posts
    7
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    LOL okldude. my thoughts exactly.

  11. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor




    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    ks
    Posts
    2,187
    Thanks
    2,513
    Thanked 2,140 Times in 898 Posts
    Sounds like a lot of crap to get a deman license, if your not too far from a state line I'd consider selling cross the line. Might run into a bunch of red tape that way also, better check to be sure, just a thought tho
    Alvord iron and salvage
    3rd generation scrapper and dam proud of it

  12. #9
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,972
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,350 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by taterjuice View Post
    Sounds like a lot of crap to get a deman license, if your not too far from a state line I'd consider selling cross the line. Might run into a bunch of red tape that way also, better check to be sure, just a thought tho
    I have never heard it was illegal to haul scrap across state lines........Do we lived in a communist state or is that just Iowa????

  13. #10
    SMF Badges of Honor




    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    ks
    Posts
    2,187
    Thanks
    2,513
    Thanked 2,140 Times in 898 Posts
    Aint illegal here n kansas but where Iowa requires a deman license, itd be logical to think they'd regulate that stuff from be moved out of the state without a permit of some sort at least if not a deman license, I'd imagine this loophole been regulated some how

  14. #11
    rca987's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    938
    Thanks
    46
    Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts
    I thought the 5 cent deposit return on bottles and cans was illegal if you cross into a state that does this from a state that doesn't.
    Garbage keyboards > spɹɐoqʎǝʞ ʎɐqǝ

  15. #12
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by taterjuice View Post
    Sounds like a lot of crap to get a deman license, if your not too far from a state line I'd consider selling cross the line. Might run into a bunch of red tape that way also, better check to be sure, just a thought tho
    I think he's from the middle of the state, might have a bit of a run to a state line.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  16. #13
    SMF Badges of Honor




    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    ks
    Posts
    2,187
    Thanks
    2,513
    Thanked 2,140 Times in 898 Posts
    My bad

  17. #14
    milesjascha started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Des Moines, Iowa
    Posts
    7
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Thats always an option. I think im about 70-80 miles from the closest out of state scrap yard in MO. Might be worth saving up and taking a full load down when I can. Iowa has some stupid laws on a lot of things. Its almost as bad as California and Chicago in some things.

  18. #15
    KeyCityRecycling's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    94
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 57 Times in 36 Posts
    All yards regardless of which state you are in are required to verify the units you are delivering have been properly processed. The yard should be having you sign a paper stating that you have properly recovered the refrigerant. This is a federal law. If you look at your receipt you receive from the scrap yard you are selling to it may contain a statement that you have removed the refrigerant from the units or vehicle you are selling. The yard might have you sign a signature pad before paying you which accomplishes this requirement.

    This puts the liability on to the person selling the material. If you are selling appliances to these yards and you are not licensed to demanufacturer it is only a matter of time before you may be caught.

  19. #16
    SMF Badges of Honor




    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    ks
    Posts
    2,187
    Thanks
    2,513
    Thanked 2,140 Times in 898 Posts
    Never heard of any thing like this before and I've sold in 3 different states

  20. #17
    KeyCityRecycling's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    94
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 57 Times in 36 Posts
    Read this flyer from the EPA at the following link.

    Government official do from time to time check yards to see if they are keeping the required paperwork for disposal of refrigerant. If a particular customer is frequenting the same yard and delivering appliances they will be checked to see if they are licensed for demanning appliances and if you are not you could be subject to a fine.


    This pertains to all metal recycling yards in the United States. There could also be state and city regulations that a particular yard must follow in addition to the federal regulations.

    Pay particular attention the area labeled "Verification of Refrigerant Removal Prior to Arrival at Landfill"

    This is a copy of what every yard in the United States is supposed to do pertaining to keeping records.

    You must maintain copies of these documents on
    site for at least three years. This documentation
    must include:
    • A signed statement from the customer that
    sent the appliance for disposal stating that all
    refrigerant has been removed from the appliance
    in accordance with the standards listed in EPA’s
    regulations, and
    • The name and address of the person (for
    example, an appliance retailer) who removed the
    refrigerant and the specific date the refrigerant
    was removed, OR a contract that refrigerant will
    be removed prior to delivery.



    http://www.epa.gov/ozone/downloads/S...alBrochure.pdf

  21. #18
    happyscraper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    spring hill,fl
    Posts
    2,864
    Thanks
    350
    Thanked 1,371 Times in 847 Posts
    Every paper I've ever signed asked if the unit had the refrigerant removed or had it leaked out. If you bring refrigerator that is broke down to the metal and plastic how do they know that you didn't find/given to you that way.

  22. #19
    msearl3244's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Waterloo, Iowa
    Posts
    218
    Thanks
    234
    Thanked 289 Times in 96 Posts
    I live in Iowa myself. I do not deal with appliances, but with e-waste. Every state has their quirks. I have been to all of them in the lower 48 many many times over the years. I have found thus far dealing with the DNR in Iowa has not been so bad. I do have a facility and it is not in my back yard. But thus far the State has seemed to be trying to do everything they can to make the process tolerable. They certainly have not been splitting hairs with me. Everything seems to be pretty straight forward and has been explained to me in layman's terms.

    I come from a background in the trucking industry and it seems to me that this industry has far fewer regulations that the trucking industry did.

    Our system is broke and needs a TOTAL overhaul from the ground up. Our government seems to get farther off track every day.

    But if starting and running any business were easy everyone would do it. I don't even feel close to anything like "Big Brother" is watching me. But I do try in every way I can to do the next right thing.

    I love IOWA and I am certainly not sorry I live here! I am sure every state in the union has its own little annoying regulations about one thing or another.
    There may a million better places to live than Iowa, but none of them are home!

  23. The Following User Says Thank You to msearl3244 for This Post:


  24. #20
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Location
    canada
    Posts
    38
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by msearl3244 View Post
    I live in Iowa myself. I do not deal with appliances, but with e-waste. Every state has their quirks. I have been to all of them in the lower 48 many many times over the years. I have found thus far dealing with the DNR in Iowa has not been so bad. I do have a facility and it is not in my back yard. But thus far the State has seemed to be trying to do everything they can to make the process tolerable. They certainly have not been splitting hairs with me. Everything seems to be pretty straight forward and has been explained to me in layman's terms.

    I come from a background in the trucking industry and it seems to me that this industry has far fewer regulations that the trucking industry did.

    Our system is broke and needs a TOTAL overhaul from the ground up. Our government seems to get farther off track every day.

    But if starting and running any business were easy everyone would do it. I don't even feel close to anything like "Big Brother" is watching me. But I do try in every way I can to do the next right thing.

    I love IOWA and I am certainly not sorry I live here! I am sure every state in the union has its own little annoying regulations about one thing or another.
    Well said


  25. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Website up and running
      By PartTimeScrapper in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 29
      Last Post: 10-31-2017, 05:22 PM
    2. Running an auction
      By BurlyGuys in forum Auction Talk
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 04-25-2012, 03:35 PM
    3. My employees and my problems
      By PistoneScrapProcessing in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 44
      Last Post: 03-22-2012, 07:26 AM

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook