Brass is one of many metals that are sought after by the recycling industry, which is always hungry for scrap metal to regurgitate for use in industry. Some people make a very good living out of collecting brass to sell as scrap. If you have the desire to kit yourself out and collect and sort brass for scrap, you’ll need some tools and the knowledge of where to find brass, in terms of devices and appliances that contain this elusive metal.
Getting The Word Out
If you are serious about collecting scrap metal, you need to let the local community know and you will have some serious competition. There are quite a few companies that handle scrap brass recycling Sydney or your city has, and you’ll have to match their prices if you want a share of the market. A leading scrap metal dealer offers the homeowner a comprehensive pick-up service, which is going to be difficult to match; you might want to find a few electricians and locksmiths and forge a connection by paying them for their scrap brass, which brings a regular supply and the more connections you make, the more scrap you can process.
You Need A Truck
If you already own a ute, you’re good to go. Make sure you have a sturdy liner on the back, as it will take some punishment, with old fridges, cookers and compressors. Your phone should be with you at all times once you start marketing and you have to be ready to collect scrap as and when required. You’ll need a set of scales and make sure you record all transactions. You have to register your business in order to be allowed to collect scrap metal for cash.
Sorting & Dismantling
To get the best per kg. prices, you need to strip down appliances and separate the various metals; this might be a bit frustrating at first, but like most things, you soon get the hang of it and remember to wear eye protection when using power tools.
Selling The Scrap
Once you have a lot of brass scrap, you obviously aren’t going to recycle it yourself, rather you need to choose one large scrap metal dealer and strike up an agreement with them. If you have a truck, you can deliver the scrap to their yard, which might get you a better price, otherwise the dealer will collect. Start with the nearest, and when the dealer realises you are collecting for a living, he should be interested in striking up a deal with you.
If you crunch the numbers, it might turn out not to be worth your while, as there is stiff competition in the scrap metal market. You can still collect all the unwanted stuff on your property and sell that to your local scrap metal dealer. Brass recycling is big business if you have access to a lot of old brass, which would fetch a good price.
