Deduction for "trash"

I'm looking at bidding on some city buses for scrap. My regular yard guy always complains about the trash (plastic seats, wood floor, etc.) but he will generally pay a bit less than whatever current price is for car bodies. I talked to the rep for a bigger yard that has a large shredder, thinking they might pay a bit more because they can process and separate the various metals, trash, etc. more efficiently. The rep told me that they would deduct weight for the tires (no problem, that's business as usual) AND 30% for trash. So; on a 20K + bus, they would pay shred price on only about 15K.

I need to have another conversation with the rep but I'm confused as to why they will pay shred rate on the full weight of "dirty" sheet and car bodies, knowing that there is about 30% (the rep's statement) trash in that material but they want to deduct the 30% on buses.

Buses have a larger % of glass,seats, etc. A regular car has a higher % of aluminum, copper, motor block (diesel motor blocks are worth less). So some yards may deduct for a bus vs. a normal car. Also I saw at the scrap yard I go to, a $300 catalytic converter that someone left on (Honda Accord). Old buses have worthless cats so there is another factor.

There is a lot of trash in city busses compared to school buses. but I find it hard to believe that theres 30% weight thats non metal. Maybe try a smaller shredder yard. the big guys usually just read off a paper and can't differ from that with out getting the boss involved. somewhat smaller shredder guys can actually negotiate. Plus the big guys generally only want to deal with you if you got a semi or two coming in daily.

After rereading your post if the local guy you deal with is saying theres wooden floors thats probably where the 30% weight comes from. I know I did a small office trailer one time and did recovery on it, most of the weight came from the flooring. Metal$ vs. Garbage$ I was breaking even. So I charged the guy to do that. but that was only a trailer. not a engine drive full framed bus.

2007 and newer Diesel engines will likely have a valuable dpf catalytic converter system. I highly doubt that an auction of a bus 2007 and newer will 1. Be auctioned off in the first place and 2. If it was 2007 or newer, it would go for way more than scrap.

Originally Posted by armygreywolf

i wouldnt call it worthless, depends on what engine it had. MANY buses especially city buses were repowered after the emissions laws went into effect (2007). A city bus turning up at the scrap yard today would almost certainly have precat and dpf. This allowed the cities to receive green grants from the obama administration without buying new 350k buses.