Garbage man scrapping for a year now

I have driven a garbage truck in the Des Moines metro area for 15 years .
The spring of 2014 my wife's co worker was telling me how her and her dad go out and clip cords and pick up t.v.s to recycle. She said the get a $1 a lb for clipped cords and (at the time ) 2.80 a lb if they strip the copper .
Then I noticed all the electrical cords I could be clipping while working so I got a pair of clippers.
Then I noticed all the things that the cords where attached to.
My current route is in the western suburbs where people throw away a lot of nice things . Thankfully the company I currently work for does not have a issue with drivers scavenging. Some days it seems I bring more stuff home than I take to the fill

Welcome from south of Chicago

The older microwave ovens have the best Copper (=$), spare parts, Iron, time involved, plastic-rubbish, ratio.

If you can keep the transformers Iron core in 1 or 2 peices after taking out the Copper wire coils, you can get 'Heavy metal insize' prices for it.

Use the switches to fix newer 'Invertor' micowaves if they are still in good condition and you are confident about it. (may need s rego'd electrician to test them before selling)
Or sell the switches here to someone who pays good money for them (25cents each)

Washing machine motors give up good Copper too.

Welcome from Maryland.

welcome from ames just down the road lol

welcome from Syracuse. The curb is your oyster!

Thank you all for the welcome.
I am kind of surprised this board exists and so helpful.
when I first thought about scrapping I posted on cl asking for advice and tips everyone that replied was rude . Basically told me to watch you tube .
Travis Temple I will meet you half way in Huxley . I will but you a slice if pizza at caseys probably the only fine dining Huxley has.
P.S. I can I p.m. about computer boards I have about 60 computers in my garage from work I would like to know how to grade them .

Thank you mech
for proving my point of how helpful this forum is
I am not driving half way to Indiana to buy you a slice of pizza

welcome from virginia

Welcome abroad, there are several guys on here doing your gig. I suspect you save the company some cash as long as you can do the route just as fast because they're not cutting the amount they bill the customer but they have to pay less in dump fees at the landfill. The only thing I wonder about is how many people in the burbs may look down on the company and you looking through their trash and putting some things aside. Maybe its not an issue and just in my head...

I'm a commercial driver picking up dumpsters I do apts but I do not residential houses .
I do have 1 resi guy and to other Comercial guys bringing me stuff off their routes .
I have several business that set stuff beside the can for me after I asked if was o.k. to take stuff .
I just made a new connection today .