expanding my business

**gueroinchicago** · 04-08-2012, 07:52 PM

I have always scrapped aluminum cans because I live close to a forest preserve where there are a lot of company picnics. The area I live in has no city sponsored recycling program nor is there a deposit on aluminum cans like there are in some states. I also live within walking distance of 100's of condominiums and apartments. My idea is to offer people a kitchen size garbage bag with a business card in exchange for them separating their aluminum cans from their other garbage. They would call me when the bag is full and I would pick it up when I get home from my real job and give them a new empty bag. The idea would be that they would save a few pennies by not having to throw their cans away in bags bought by them, and I would make a few extra dollars every week. Any thoughts regarding potential issues would be greatly appreciated.

**happyscraper** · 04-08-2012, 08:12 PM

You might hand out fliers with this idea and see what kind of responce you get. Who knows it might just work. I would talk to the management first to see if they allow this sort of thing in there complex. Let us know what happens. Good luck

**Mick** · 04-08-2012, 08:18 PM

I would suggest setting up a route for regular pickup, rather than having the call you. Easier for both you and them. Save on gas and time. Maybe start out with weekly pickup and see if it needs adjusting as you go along. Be prepared for getting steel cans mixed with them.

**tackleberry** · 04-08-2012, 09:23 PM

With the lack of a municipal recycling program I think this could work fairly well. You can be also sure to let them know that when they have other items they need to get rid of (appliances, electronics etc) you're the man to call.

**Mechanic688** · 04-08-2012, 09:39 PM

I have always scrapped aluminum cans because I live close to a forest preserve where there are a lot of company picnics. The area I live in has no city sponsored recycling program nor is there a deposit on aluminum cans like there are in some states.

I was just wondering if you could work out a deal with some management of the preserve where you supply a couple of plastic trash barrels (55gal) with your name on them and marked "alum. cans only".

**gueroinchicago** · 04-08-2012, 10:40 PM

I had thought about working out a system such as you describe with the county forest preserve for the area I live in. I had also thought about doing something similar for the apartment complex I live in. I chose not to because if I make it easy for someone else to take my material they will. The reason I'm able to make money doing this is because people don't want to go through other people's garbage to get metal and truth be told neither do I, however I like the smell of money more than I dislike the smell of garbage. When I'm done I bathe in hand sanitizer. Hence I came up with this idea for giving people garbage bags and my picking them up when they're full. I had forgotten about talking with manangement first. I do like the idea of picking everything up on one single day, provided it could work that way, however as far as saving gas, my route from work to home is almost a straight 10 mile shot(no turns) and the whole 10 mile stretch is condos and apartment buildings right up to my complex, with a mobile home park across the street. The next thing I'm trying to resolve is what to call my company.

**Mechanic688** · 04-08-2012, 11:19 PM

I had thought about working out a system such as you describe with the county forest preserve for the area I live in. I had also thought about doing something similar for the apartment complex I live in. I chose not to because if I make it easy for someone else to take my material they will.

The plastic trash barrels I recently received still had the tops in them and what I would do in this case would be to cut a slot to drop the cans in, then when full add a grate of some sort that you scrapped off a refrig.(cut down to a smaller size) then open the hole for emptying and bolt the grate back down when empty.

**eesakiwi** · 04-11-2012, 01:38 AM

I did this idea with a shop that sold drink cans for their clients, I supplied the bags & they made a sign & spot for the bag.
They saved money because they didn't have to pay for the rubbish sacks to get rid of them.
Saved them, & made me, the same amount of $$.

When the bag was almost full, I'd take it around the back of the shop & go thru the sack & remove all of the glass bottles (recyclables..) paper & paper coffee cups.
Then I'd go thru & squash the cans in the middle & put them back in the bag & replace it where it was. That saved about 50% space.
I had to carry them home on my back, 30 odd city blocks... 'krinkle' 'krinkle' 'krinkle' each step....

Soda drink cans are great, no cigarette butts in the cans.
I got about $5 per sack, it'd be $7+ now.

The price of the xtra large plastic sacks bit into the $ return, at $1 each. I'd use 1/2 of them twice to save money.
Bags differ, some are much stronger than others & some have built in plastic ties to close the bags.
After a use, the bags have a layer of sugar water inside them, the sacks also leak this out the bottom, so you need a water tight tray under them.
(People don't always drink the whole drink to the bottom)
They also smell like the 'most fragrant' drink possible, sweet-sickly-sweet.

In the end, the drinks cans paid (generously) for the transport of all my metals to the yard.