How to start a new scrap yard.

I am looking for help opening a new scrap yard… I need help top to bottom…


1. What are the best industrial shredders to buy?
2. What permits and licenses do I need to acquirer? (Jacksonville Florida)
3. How do I get connections to large buyers?
I am sure there is a thousand more questions I need to know , but that seems like a good place to start.

the best shredders are not called shredders

There's a show that's shown on the science and/or travel chanell sometimes called Mega Shredders. Those are probably the ones you should be using. I would think you'd need an occupatiental license to show you're a business and some certificates showing you'll be responsible should anything be leaked into the groundwater. A couple of yards around Sioux City bury a tarp a foot down to prevent any kind of leakage and if there is, it'll collect in the tarp and not get into ground water. Other then that, pick your location and get workin. Contacts come by word of mouth alot - I don't think there's any sure-fine way of attracting large clientel(I mean, if i'm xyz corp and send my stuff to yard ab, why should I send my stuff to you instead of my regular yard).

Just start buying (If you can buy in any kind of volume).
Store it in a yard until you have enough to load on a rented trailer or a box truck you own or sell to someone who will pick up.
Collect items stored in yard and place on trailer.
Drive to larger scrap buyer.
Sell accumulated scrap for more than you paid.
Buy equipment.

Rinse.

Repeat.

Don't mean to be harsh, but it would seem to me if you have to ask those questions, the first thing you need to do is learn more about the scrapping business... Or... You could toss a boatload of cash at a business you seem to know very little about.

"the first thing you need to do is learn more about the scrapping business"

Yes sir.. I am sure this is not where I will end up, but from a basic yahoo search this seemed like a good place to start... I am about 24 months from my launch... And I didn't mean to come off harsh as well.

Can I please ask what kind of what ever you call a shredder I should start reading upon?

What do you plan on using the shredder for?

I know I need a D6 and a couple small forklifts to get started, but I know nothing of the real shredding machine.

"What do you plan on using the shredder for?" just steel... but from what I have read so far I think buyer buy it at dif cuts and sizes.. I have no plans for breaking down "precious" at this point.

I can help, if you are interested. When you have enough posts, you can P.M. me.

How much steel do you do at this point? My yard does a huge steel business and does not have a steel shredder.... As a matter of fact, I don't believe they shred anything that I know of. They bale some aluminum crap.

ty sir... I have know idea what that point is, but I guess I can find it in the FAQ section or something..

mechanic688 you are the person I need to speak with... can I give / get an email... My grandfather just passed away he owned a large tractor company... Instead of selling some of this equipment I think it is a much better plan to put it to work for the remaining family. I think I can do this... I know I am a noob in your relm but I do know the basics and I am not going to start something tomorrow...

Take some time and visit local yards. They may not want to answer your question if your going to be competition for them,but you can look at their operation. Read old threads here on the forum. There is a wealth of knowledge here. Research before you invest! Take it slow.

Originally Posted by nebrs13

the best shredders are not called shredders

But you just called them that.

For the last seven yrs I have been scrapping I am sure I have been to every yard within a 50 mile radius 10 times.. the 3 I go to daily I have been hundreds of times( One for convenience, one for steel, and one for precious)

can anyone tell me the F'ing machine I need to look into for shredding?

owe I miss read.. I thought that was your yard

and i spell great... grrr


ty for the help so far i got to cook dinner for the fam... maybe i can check in later....