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

Originally Posted by nebrs13

the best shredders are not called shredders

But you just called them that.

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).

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

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.

i agree..start with a small nonferrous yard first..plenty off profit to be made off copper brass and aluminum....as time goes on you can decide if you want to go to the ferrous side..more space and bigger equipment....one nonferrous yard i used to go got out of that and now does construction and demolition recycling

i agree..start with a nonferous yard first to learn the business...you will need less space and smaller equipment...then sell to a big yard...they will help you out..like Northeast metal traders...google them

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....

Ok well just let me say that i admire your spunk and guts to even think about opening a yard, Jacksonville is a old city i am not familiar with but i am sure there are a few well established yards there, also many yards do not have a shredder they sell there goods to a shredder yard, the reason most don't have a shredder is the investment, any kind of industrial type shredder new is in the millions and i don't mean 1-2 million more than 6-9 million. Its very costly to operate a shredder and you need to have thousands of tons a week to make it feasible. My old yard is seven acres and we did not and they still do not have a shredder on the property. My advise to you is go to work for a yard if you can, find out how a yard works i could go on for hours telling / suggesting to you what you should do. opening a yard today is a huge under taking, 15-20 million dollars is not to far of the start up costs buying the property and all scales, machines and equipment. You might think that i am over estimating but i am not, the way the market is going and will continue for a couple of more years the margins are not looking so good for the scrap yards and dealers. i hope i did not spoil your dream but i think it is a dream, Good luck to you 1956

sir that might be what I needed to read... ALL and ALL we are talking 8 mil.. there is only my mother, me, and my sis... I want to keep all the prop in the fam.. I am not sure what direction to go... All I really know is IT and scrap... And I know IT is dead here in the US... I live outside Jax (I dont want to say where cus there Is no yards here) and when I drive around I still see tons of stuff... You still think it's not a good investment? BE HONEST please..