The shred pile isn't really about the steel at all - Page 2

Times are uber slow Voodoo, I haven't seen a computer in over a month. Trying to diversify as much as possible and get whatever i can. Back in november i handed out a bunch of cards to friends,family and other scrappers saying i'd buy their computers for better than shred and not one bite yet. I've gotten a few for free from friends and family, but mostly i've had to buy just to keep something coming in. Worst part is what i offer is roughly 50% of value and i still cant get anything lately. Hopefully when spring rolls around, everything will pick back up.

Tater, from what i understand the beryllium oxide on the magnetron is a carcinogen, i usually cut the copper from the magnetron with a sawzall or grinder.

OP "so when you get $0.08/lb for white goods, they yard is getting the full value off of all the metals even the copper and stainless"

There is only 2 yards in my town that have a shredder, so this isnt true for every yard. Most of the yards buy it and dont break down white goods, but resale them to the bigger yards with the shredder. So they only make a few cents more per pound. I see yards here breaking down some higher paying items, but most dont even waste the time breaking down white goods.

Magnetrons can be sold for electric motor grade price at my yard, but yours may be different and not even except them.

Small scrap yards with no shredder also known as feeder yards usually will buy microwaves. Yards with shredders usually do not buy microwaves because the steel mills will reject loads of shreds that contain too many microwave parts due to setting off their radiation detectors. Our yard has a super shredder and an eddy current we sell directly to the steel mill and do not buy microwaves at all but will buy the outside shell if broken down.

I throw everything but the magnetron, transformer, wires by or in my dumpster. I tried taking a shell to another less uptight yard here and they said the same thing. It apparently sets off the "radiation detector" at the refinery. Hmmmm... either these folks cantgetright or I'm missing something. As for that b word stuff, I can understand that being it kindof like removing a mercury switch but they won't take any part of a microwave if they see it they put it back in the truck.