New Member - New Business.... Beginning of a new life..

It has been my goal to start an e-waste recycling company for the last 2 years of my life. I have been managing a fairly large private sanitation company in NYC for the last 3 years. Having seen an incredible decrease in paper collection over the last 5 years, I knew e-waste was what I needed to start thinking about.

I have access to a decent amount of electronics through my customer base. I even had the added bonus of charging them for the removal of their material. Not being able to legally break down e-waste as a company I got my universal waste handlers permit and started collecting and storing and selling e-scrap in large quantities. Currently, I have about 60 gaylords of assorted electronics. Roughly 20 tons or so...

Well... a calculated decision was made to sell the garbage company.. Part of the deal I made for myself was to take control over all e-waste collection for the next 3 years of both companies.. This has given me access to a customer base 6 times the base I had originally. Having worked for a company all of my life it is a completely new step to now work for myself. As you might imagine, I am very excited and anxious...

I just got a building and will begin full operations in the next few weeks. I have found this forum to be extremely helpful and informative and hope to continue learning and sharing what I learn as I move forward.

This is a rather large step and I know there are others here who have made similar moves. I was hoping some of you would share your experiences in starting a medium to large scale operation and some of the pitfalls you encountered that I should be aware of and possibly avoid.

Thank you for reading! I look forward to reading all of your stories moving forward, possibly doing business with some of you and growing this industry together.

Like PDiddy said....."mo money mo problems" I wish you well

good luck!!

Welcome to the forum. Best of luck with the new venture, Mike.

Where are you going to be located at. You should do well since there is a lack of ewaste buyers in the NYC area. Good luck .

I look forward to hearing about some of your adventures as you step up to the new business, your not the first one to attempt it. Good luck,,,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

Where are you going to be located at. You should do well since there is a lack of ewaste buyers in the NYC area. Good luck .

---

My shop is in NJ just outside the Holland tunnel.. I don't know about a lack of buyers.. There are certainly companies out there vying over the available material... The thing is there is a lot of material in such a small area... These large offices turn over their equipment very very quickly. I remember prior to the downturn in 2008, companies were replacing their equipment almost every year... Obviously, that slowed down quite a bit due to the lack of disposable income.. But, now things are ramping up again.. I have seen it first hand in my customer's waste streams..

I read olddude's opinion. While I agree to a certain extent, I think his great fear of no more computers and only cellphones is a bit premature.. As the economy gets better and companies have a little extra money to spend they will replace their current units/workstations... It is inevitable.. The more money in system the quicker the replacement rate.. At least that is what I am banking on...

Thanks, was hoping you were going to be on this side of the tunnels and bridges. As far as olddudes opinion I think the fear is the inevitable influx of lower grade overseas boards, with smaller sockets and less pm being used in the manufacturing of them. Of course this will eventually have the trickle down effect to the rest of us.

Wish you luck. I am going to jump into the e-waste full time by winter.

Welcome aboard, best wishes and God bless!

Just noticed I spelled Technology wrong in my original user name... :rolleyes:

The real issue I am facing is one that I think many others are facing as well... Permitting. As I get going I will write up my struggles to get a Class D permit for my facility. I know that it is a much easier process in PA than it is in NY and NJ. I have already run out of space in the space that we were renting... It is hard because the only things I can really scrap are the things that I am refurbishing.. I can't wait to be able tear down the stock pile I have and start making money off of it.. I have been forced to sell pallets of towers for .30 a lbs just to make room for the new stuff..