Tin steel has got to be better than cardboard right?!?

Today I recycled a load of tin and also a load of cardboard. Guess which paid more per ton.

130/ton tin
145/ton cardboard



That is right, at todays prices cardboard is worth more than tin. I know that a lot of guys like to focus on one area of recycling but, I think that cardboard is good for many reasons: it is easy to stack, you can pick up regularly from clients that have businesses, there usually isnt any breakdown involved, and there are no permits that you have to get like e-waste and appliances. The drawbacks are: its not as fun, it is lighter (although easy to stack), and ........ that is all I can think of right now.

Thoughts?

Makes sense too me. That's why you always keep things on the back burner for situations like this, and NEVER TURN ANYTHING DOWN, even if it's cardboard.

That is pretty good for cardboard. I just sold 22 tons of it for $135, but that was baled and picked up.

My amount was after the trucking expense and the broker getting their part. Also depends on how full the regional mills are.

Originally Posted by Filthy

and i was just looking at prices on a cardboard bailer. $4900.
it would also be good for plastics and light wire.

the real reason i was checking is because my company just asked my department to draft a letter cancelling our paper shredding contract with this outside company.
They leave slotted receptacles (similar to mailboxes) which they come empty, shred the documents in their truck and then leave. its understood that they probably bale it at their warehouse and sell the paper too. i was trying to justify picking up the contract, my company is currently paying $240/month for their service, in addition to the sale price of the paper itself.

that means my company could pay for the baler within 21 months... hmm
http://www.aasurplusinc.com/balers/u...al-baler-1.JPG

what do you guys think. aren't these things loud and 240v and stuff

Why not just suggest your company do it in house, save yourself the time and trouble, as well as the expense, and risk of future conflicts that might arise with your employer. After you explain to them the benefits, you might find yourself in line for a raise ; )

Originally Posted by bpatnoe

That is pretty good for cardboard. I just sold 22 tons of it for $135, but that was baled and picked up.

That seems to be quite low. The place I do business with takes bailed and loose cardboard at the same rate. They only charge $85 for freight, which is for one big roll off container. I do know most places out there buy cardboard for pretty cheap, you just got to find the right one. Or you could pay the freight to ship it directly to a cardboard manufacturer. I feel you should of gotten at least $1000 for that transaction (22 tons) and that is after freight. Like I said earlier the cool thing about cardboard is that there is a lot of it out there and businesses go through it on a regular basis. So, you can get repeat business for a long time.

I was going to post a thread talking about how I think tin metal is over rated. It is something that I deal with and recycle but, when I get paid for it, its usually not a whole lot. One load of tin I sometime get $80 for storing it, picking it up, loading it up, and handling it. For just one working fridge that I sell I get $150, thats a lot less work. Tin is over rated especially now that prices are so low.

In that case Im grateful for the opportunity I have here with cardboard. Hopefully some higher paying businesses pop up in you area.