Hello from Lancaster, PA!

Hey all,

Just wanted to say hello. I'm new to the scrapping game but have plenty of experience picking up heavy things and moving them around. No shortage of long hours under my belt either.

Im hoping to get into the e-waste side of things but will never turn down a load of metal.

Plan of attack? Save up some money over the next 2 months, sell my car, buy a truck.

In the meantime make a bunch of phone calls and try to source some suppliers of old computers and parts. I'm hoping to get a few contacts with local IT Dept's at the colleges around (although it seems some already have a state run provider for the service I want to provide). If that doesn't work I'll try to see what companies around here are doing with their old equipment. I'm hoping I can find some places that are currently giving their stuff away. If thats the case, i can offer them next to nothing and have them give me a shot. Or places that are getting paid but have to deliver. Offering free pickup might get my foot in the door.

I'm very green but I'm great with people and hope I can make this work to the point that I can quit my job. Might be wishful thinking but even if I can't quit if I can come up with an extra $1000 a month I can use scrap money to pay for my student loans with enough left over to take my gf out to dinner once a month.

Its illegal to throw away any electronic device in my county - anything that has a board in it has to given to waste management separately so they can be dealt with as scrap, not garbage. They take electronics for free, I think they charge $2/piece for CRT monitors and if its just a lamp you can throw it away. I'm not sure if that's going to help me or hurt me. Time shall tell.

I'm here to learn some tricks of the trade. Learn to grade boards. Find some buyers. All that good stuff.

Hope you're all doing well even with prices as low as they are.

-CTS Solutions

Welcome aboard. Sounds as if you have a plan already. Thanks for the intro. Look below my signature line and the third linq will help you get started. From there check out the electronics section. Read,read and read some more. If you have any questions after that feel free to ask. The knowledge posted here did not come cheaply but was shared freely by people who have been scrapping for a long time. Please show some respect and do some studying!!! Most if not all your questions will have been asked and answered. Its all right at your fingertips. Good luck and good scrapping.

Quote:

---

Its illegal to throw away any electronic device in my county - anything that has a board in it has to given to waste management separately so they can be dealt with as scrap, not garbage. They take electronics for free, I think they charge $2/piece for CRT monitors and if its just a lamp you can throw it away. I'm not sure if that's going to help me or hurt me. Time shall tell.

---

There is a similar law here in Ind. since January of 2014 but that hasn't stopped people from throwing it away. They just stuff it down into the trash can/hopper. The law didn't hurt me but didn't really help either. Just put a bigger problem on the smaller trash services trying to figure out how to keep the stuff out of the waste stream.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

Welcome aboard. Sounds as if you have a plan already. Thanks for the intro. Look below my signature line and the third linq will help you get started. From there check out the electronics section. Read,read and read some more. If you have any questions after that feel free to ask. The knowledge posted here did not come cheaply but was shared freely by people who have been scrapping for a long time. Please show some respect and do some studying!!! Most if not all your questions will have been asked and answered. Its all right at your fingertips. Good luck and good scrapping.

---

:cool:

Thanks man. Yes there is a plan, but even the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

I have been reading for months, lots of YouTube videos and lots of research. I know what to look for, but I don't know how to get my hands on it...yet.

I hope to someday have a tater-like thread. Don't know if I'll be in Lancaster pa or somewhere else. Only time will tell my story.

I'm just glad there is a forum to help me with this adventure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

There is a similar law here in Ind. since January of 2014 but that hasn't stopped people from throwing it away. They just stuff it down into the trash can/hopper. The law didn't hurt me but didn't really help either. Just put a bigger problem on the smaller trash services trying to figure out how to keep the stuff out of the waste stream.

---

Yeah I figured it really wouldn't make much difference. Outdated equipment is of no use to a business. They're going to get rid of it either way. I'm just hoping that I can pull the "well being that you're in Lancaster county, giving your waste to me is your best option for keeping your waste off the radar at no price to you" line to make it seem like I'm doing them a favor while actually just doing free pickups.

Starting with a plan is great. Mech gave you a hint as to where to start, Let's see if you can figure it out.

Starting with a plan. What a concept! I started with a pocket knife, a broken coffee pot and a temper tantrum. You just never know what's going to create a scrap junkie...that funky monkey.
You're blissfully doomed. ;) Welcome aboard!

Here's my little bit of help, links, links, I've got them coming out of my ears. My personal one, I started with home made "business" cards and handed them to everyone I met and family and friends. They may not have what you need right now, but they may know someone who does.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...ess-cards.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...ting-free.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...lan-topic.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...ness-plan.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/priva...+business+plan

This is a good starting point, hope it helps.

Welcome aboard. I was just down your way (not scrapping) two weekends ago. Wait, the Amish use computers? Who knew?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Here's my little bit of help, links, links, I've got them coming out of my ears. My personal one, I started with home made "business" cards and handed them to everyone I met and family and friends. They may not have what you need right now, but they may know someone who does.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...ess-cards.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...ting-free.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...lan-topic.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...ness-plan.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/priva...+business+plan

This is a good starting point, hope it helps.

---

Thank you for taking the time to share these links - i just got off third shift and need to catch some sleep but I clearly have some homework to do!

I will be reading all weekend. I'm excited to see what I'll learn.

For anyone wondering... CTS Solutions stands for Crap to Scrap

Where others see junk I seek treasure ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ItAllAddsUp

Welcome aboard. I was just down your way (not scrapping) two weekends ago. Wait, the Amish use computers? Who knew?

---

That's how the Amish Mafia keeps in touch,,,,:&