How is everyone hanging in there with these low scrap prices?

I have been recycling metal for about 7 years now and in that time I have seen light iron as high as 385/ton and as low as 55/ton but I can't remember a time when it didn't move for months and months.
My current light iron price has been steady at 105/ton for a couple months and before that it was 95/ton for quite a while. I guess it could be worse but I miss the glory days when a load of light iron was a decent paycheck.

To compensate for the lower prices we have started braking down and separating more of our loads and charging fees for the smaller scrap pickups, We also hoard some of our non ferrous so we can get better "bulk" prices for it (although that is a gamble in itself because prices could drop while your saving, or you might get lucky and they will go up)

On the bright side though is if we can maintain through this long duration low then we all should be doing well when the prices do come back up, and that's something to aim towards.

I'm basically doing the same thing you are doing. Breaking stuff down I used to pitch, hoarding copper, selling bulk, etc.

In addition, I'm cutting expenses wherever possible. Brown bag it instead of the $3 slice of pizza, going without the nifty tool that I would have bought a couple years ago, 65 mph on the interstate to save on fuel, wearing my gloves with the holes in the fingers, etc.

I've cut expenses as much as I can, and do a lot more with more than scrap value items. Why sell RAM by the pound when you can sell it as working, usable sticks?

I specialize in ewaste anyways, so I won't go out of my way AT ALL for steel now...I take it only if I am going to the yard....and even then I want to take wire and other things to pay for the gas and time (ie to sorta make it worth my while)....my expenses are SUPER low anyways and I don't buy my stuff at the moment...I get for free...so that helps. Definitely feel for you guys that still do metal...not a chance would I load 1000 pounds for $40-50 since I would load, drive to the yard and unload...just not worth the time.

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Originally Posted by webuyselltradestuff

I specialize in ewaste anyways, so I won't go out of my way AT ALL for steel now...I take it only if I am going to the yard....and even then I want to take wire and other things to pay for the gas and time (ie to sorta make it worth my while)....my expenses are SUPER low anyways and I don't buy my stuff at the moment...I get for free...so that helps. Definitely feel for you guys that still do metal...not a chance would I load 1000 pounds for $40-50 since I would load, drive to the yard and unload...just not worth the time.

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I'm the same way, I won't take metal to the yard unless I fill a rolloff first. Just isn't worth it.

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Originally Posted by logansryche

I'm the same way, I won't take metal to the yard unless I fill a rolloff first. Just isn't worth it.

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At 6.5 to 7 cents for light iron, you're a lot better off than most of us. Maybe if you took in some shred, you wouldn't need kickstarter.

Last year i would run steel to the yard once or twice a week. Now its every other day pretty much. Steel is flipped as fast as i can get rid of it. Its freakin every ware. Been saving copper, wire, and brass. At current pricing, I will hold off for a better price for #1copper at 2.10 a lb. Alum goes too because it takes up too much room for the weight. I miss the days of $100.00 shred runs. (250/Ton at 800 lbs) Now its $40.00 for 800 Lbs. It sucked at first, but now the lower prices are the norm. Any price increase will be awsome. Im still loving what I do and am having fun doin it along the way. Hang in there everyone

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Originally Posted by logansryche

I'm the same way, I won't take metal to the yard unless I fill a rolloff first. Just isn't worth it.

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How close are you to filling a roll off?

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Originally Posted by mikeinreco

How close are you to filling a roll off?

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Not very.

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Originally Posted by mthomasdev

At 6.5 to 7 cents for light iron, you're a lot better off than most of us. Maybe if you took in some shred, you wouldn't need kickstarter.

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Possibly but I doubt it at $1.25 a metric ton.

Cash flow sucks, but if the staff complains I threaten to fire myself.

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Originally Posted by erewen

Cash flow sucks, but if the staff complains I threaten to fire myself.

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I now only take my steel in to keep the scrap yard going, yes after 10 trips to this yard I get a +$.10 increase on the next load which is all the better stuff... rinse and repeat! And it would be cool to fill a roll off with steel items!

ScrapGuro Net or Gross tons on your prices?

Just got 4.4 yesterday for a roll off of server cases, $124.96 for 2840 # But my roll off guy is going out of business this month his lease is upand he's not going to renew it.

Basically hauling in the shred @ 4.5 a pound for gas money. So it's a break even situation while I pile up the better stuff. Doing a lot more hustling these days and getting some decent loads for when it does go up. Currently holding and stacking

It is about the world economy. I warned you a year ago. and I don't look for it to get better for some time, only inflationary, that is not an improvement, so We all need to make adjustments like those above.

If I have on too many computer cases, microwave cases, the yard classes them as appliances and I get 100 a nt. If it's misc. steel-tin, pipe, etc. then they pay me 150 a nt. No rhyme or reason for it.