Game plan

So here's my idea and id like any feedback.



So I have my grandmas garage which is about 750 sq feet and I'm planning to fill it to the door with shred. Since prices are so low right now Ill hold onto it until they rise back up, or until I can't fit anymore. Than I'll get a 40yd dumpster from my yard dropped off and fill it up. My questions are how would I avoid theft? Do your yards have lids on the dumpsters they deliver? And how much weight should I expect a full 40yarder of normal everyday scrap such as appliances, bikes, weigh machines, duct work, random piping, chairs, and so on. Thanks a lot.

First, where is your grandmother (In general?) Is she in a populated area, or at the end of a long, private gravel road?

See how much the yard will charge for a container? Depending on your area, if the price is high, you may be better off to just buy a cheap trailer for the job. The price for a container out here is $100. If your grandmother's on a private farm, I'd be inclined to pile it up out back before I'd pay $100 for a container. If she's in town though, that won't work, obviously.

See what the yard would charge for a container? That's step #1.

Yep $100 for a container is like 5000 lbs of shred at $.02 lb. Price of the container will make or break this deal.

First off its free if I can fill it. Also I have no doubt it will be stolen if I leave an open ended container out there. And she is in a suburb and I can only use the garage not the yard, but it's plenty of space. And dumpster would be placed on driveway. And for sure won't give it for .02. Lowest id take is .08, so it'll be a waiting game.

I don't like this idea at all. I think you could better utilize the place storing better things than Shred. (Computers, Aluminum) Pretty much anything other than steel.

I would concentrate on what is the best material you can put in that garage to hold on too.

The density of the load will dictate the weight. I have seen 40 yrd. dumpster hold 10 - 15 tons of # 1 tubing, angle iron, and beams. I have seen them hold roughly four tons of household items.

The height of such a container (8 ft.) limits loading by hand unless it has a drop gate. Make sure if you go this route, you get one with a gate. Not all tubs have gates. Still at one point or another you will have to shut the gate and then everything has to be thrown over the top.

Next sort your metal to maximize the load. Putting all flat metal on the bottom will allow more in the load. In Omaha you can sort your shred and unprepared in the container to get more money. Most yards allow at least two different types of metal in the same container. Just make sure you are there when they weigh it and unload it.

As far as theft out of the container, it should not be a problem as long as it does not contain non ferrous. It will be too much work for shred.

If the yard will provide the container for free, great deal. If not you might want to consider your truck and purchasing a trailer as mentioned above. Good Luck.

It the container is free then it does not matter the price of steel even if it was $.01 a pound, you only have to load it and they take it away and pay you! This is a good idea!

^ He has a point. If the container is free. You can't lose.

Definitely. Some of the fee for us is due to the "We're in Wyoming" factor. The yard is 50 miles away.

If the container's free, I'd do it. You won't lose anything there. If they charge a fair amount (Like out here), I wouldn't. I can buy a pickup bed trailer for $200 that will haul 1 ton. I can take as long as I want to load it, and I can sell it if I desire.

Of course, I have plenty of rural space. Your results may vary.

If you're sitting on prices to quadruple, you'll need a storage plan for the interim. That day may be a ways off.

Home insurance will probably be revoked if metal is in driveway. I live somewhat rural 5 acres cant see my yard. I had over 6 tons stored behind my barn in a pile. My insurance came to the house and saw it. They gave me 1 week to clean it up or else home insurance would be revoked. I would say your plan is not viable and a good one. To many chances and risks for little reward. Just drive it in as you get it. I have many trailers I haul with one then load another one when full i drive it to the yard.

your plan is flawed for one basic reason. steel prices are not down, this is the new norm! $10+/ 100 was a bubble, it has burst! it will be YEARS before you see such high prices again.

Look at your localities high price in Oct-Nov 2014, divide that by 2. expect that to be your new normal price come summer and for it to stay there for years

unless you can horde steel for 20 years, sell it as you get it

V/r HT1

C. Dream- The state of MN makes your pond have a number??? I knew they were big into regulating and cataloging things but they have all the ponds in the state in a database??

I can't purchase a trailer until I am 17 claim my parents... Can't put in her yard. People stole her drainage grate so they will rob a ferrous dumpster. Possibly just fill the garage up and spend a week hauling it in with my truck and possibly a borrowed trailer? Either way it's not worth it to haul it to the yard now.

Originally Posted by HT1

your plan is flawed for one basic reason. steel prices are not down, this is the new norm! $10+/ 100 was a bubble, it has burst! it will be YEARS before you see such high prices again.

Look at your localities high price in Oct-Nov 2014, divide that by 2. expect that to be your new normal price come summer and for it to stay there for years

unless you can horde steel for 20 years, sell it as you get it

V/r HT1

What do you base this on?
We like facts. To me steel has never been "high" priced. Iam already seeing price increase.
So if you got some solid info please share.

I have nothing else to store there. If I have stuff to store I would leave it open but it's basically an empty area. And your idea on prices is warped and not backed by anything. As of now I feel it must go up a little. And driving directly to the yard with my truck full costs about $15 in gas, plus gas of picking the metal up so probably $30 expenses for 800lbs of steel which is valued at about $40 at the moment so it doesn't line up to keep taking loads, stockpiling is my best bet.