Roadside Scrap Drop Off.

Hey everyone,

Recently, I had an idea for a way to get free scrap. I continually noticed at local dumps and landfills that scrapping and salvaging was illegal which is completely disappointing considering the amounts of metals that are thrown out. However, if you can get people to drop their scrap off before it crosses into landfill property you can keep as much as you want. To do this, I was thinking about parking a truck with a trailer on the side of the road with a scrap drop off sign on it. As people pass by they would be able to dump their metal scrap into the trailer. Has anyone ever tried to do this before? If so, what's the best way to go about this process? Thanks!

scale is the problem. need to be certified by the state around here,

Unless you're gonna sit there all day and night, I would think some of the more 'less honest' scrappers would steal your scrap. Or worse yet, take off with your truck, trailer and the scrap. In a perfect world, it would be a good idea, but it ain't.

Id say the city or county could easily shut you down unless you had permission and permits to sit on side of the road.....many other ways to accumulate scrap faster and more efficiently

I have a different perspective. In your part of the country, theft is limited. I have not thought of your strategy, but businesses around here will give you the metal to reduce landfill fee. Further more I would not leave the truck with the trailer. Lock the trailer hitch and move the truck out of site.

Not a new idea. Seen it done a few times. Also saw one guy get shut down by his town.

Some people on my street and the deadend across from my house just bring their scrap over. Its nice to come outside and have a dryer in your driveway.

"Our house, in the middle of our street" -Madness

I would still try it, maybe don't weigh it. Heck some people could just give you the metal vs going to pay to dump it...

The idea isn't a bad one, just if your not with the trailer your prolly gonna get a trailer full of the stuff the landfill doesn't accept. You would prolly be better served to find a new construction site and speak to the contractor owner or foreman, they may let you park your trailer next to the roll off boxes for the metal to decrease their dumpster weight. Provided they don't have a box for scrap metal

I would attempt this but the road leading up to the landfill here is kinda tight and no parking anywhere. If you do try it you might be best to stay with the truck and make sure you get business license and other paper work and permits for it depending on your area. Get a DOT number for your truck for free to be safe. You may get more business doing this method with a beater 2500 or bigger and well used dump trailer with giant sign than you would with a brand new 350 dump truck. And to clear up the confusion that some of you may be having this guy is not trying to buy anything. Just sit there with sign and hope people give him metal instead of chucking it in landfill. Ive seen it work, but if you dont got the right papers and your town needs money your putting yourself out there in the public eye.