cutting cost of scrap collection

This is a possible help thread so chime in with ideas.

for those curb shoppers not currently doing so. Get a map of your town. get a schedule of trash days. refine your rout for maximum efficiency.

face book, back yard and craigs list are all free use them and schedule pick ups as best you can for maximum savings.

Create a drop off situation if at all possible.

maximize yard trips with larger loads and fewer trips

better sorting of loads to maximize profits.

better shopping of yard prices. one or two cents add up in these times.

Thanks olddude except your giving my competition too many good ideas!

Handle material as little as possible, don't unload and reload if its not worth it. Estimate your cost vs benefit before doing pickups and for curb shopping make sure you get there before your competition.

This used to work for me. My operation has changed since then, but here's what I did (Remember, I do E-Scrap):

There is a yard that pays shred price for printers, scanners,...

I set up my trips so that I would pick up the "junk" items on the way up, so I would have a really, really full load when I got there, and I would then pick up the nice stuff on the back.

I was getting paid for the junk, so that would pay for the trip. This saved a lot of money, compared to running a truck around to just pick up stuff, and then to pass the same spot again.

I use my phone and mark via gps where my scrap yards are. Referring back if i need to drop a load

Maximize the amount people will hold for you.
I do barrels and they call me only when they are full now, plus a small pile next to them or additional barrels. IE almost a full truckload before I go
Fine line though, don't want to push it too far, need to work close to your accounts to make sure it's not bothering them, or in their way.

Take a different route everyday, when you are going to work, the grocery store or gas station. If you have to drive anyway, you might as well cover new ground every trip. You never know what you'll find. Try it...

So I landscape and plow snow here in NE Ohio and if I see anything I pull over and pick it up, no matter what. Threw a washing machine into my truck at 2 a m while plowing snow about 2 weeks ago. Didnt help for visabilty much but it seemed opportunistic at the time. And I find I am not able to pass it up.