Where are the best places I'm not looking?
Trying to get a decent thread here where folks chime in with spots that aren't thought of that yield good scrap.
To start...since I work at a tv station and there is plenty of stuff moving through there, of which I have done very well with...not every night, but if you could set up a once a month drop-by, you would likely make it worth your while. Computers, monitors, electronics, extra cables, etc. Best lead is the chief engineer.
Where are the best places I'm not looking?
where to look will depend on what you recycle. then you need to think out of the box from there.
blue collar type of businesses (plumbing furnace appliance repair) are more likely to take their own stuff in or have stiffer competition for their product.
in my opinion its easier to get into office type environments. less competition and less likely to have someone internally recycling for them. get lots of computers, office furniture, and equipment. generally they are looking to get rid of it and right it off versus sell it for high dollar.
another thing we have done through facebook is give away a refurbished computer system for every 50 dead computers brung in. bring in 3 computers and get 3 chances of winning. can usually get several usable ones out of the 50.
biggest thing is to think what type of users use the product you want to recycle and find them before they find someone else.