Scrap Beginner Need Advice, thanks in advance

Ok, so I just started in the scrapping business. Today I collected about 2 24' bulk tvs, 4 window unit air conditioners and 2 broken laptops.
About how much pay per pound is the metal on these items and what to do to increase the value? Also what are the best metal items to pick up when scrapping metal?
Fridges, Air conditioners, Laptops, TVs, Fans, Wires? Thank you in advance, I highly appreciate any serious answer.

Originally Posted by ScrapRookie

Ok, so I just started in the scrapping business. Today I collected about 2 24' bulk tvs, 4 window unit air conditioners and 2 broken laptops.
About how much pay per pound is the metal on these items and what to do to increase the value? Also what are the best metal items to pick up when scrapping metal?
Fridges, Air conditioners, Laptops, TVs, Fans, Wires? Thank you in advance, I highly appreciate any serious answer.

Let me try to do this without offending anyone.



TVS are a very difficult item. The amount of recovered materials thru methods a scrapper can use are minimal. There is possibly a couple of pounds of #2 copper, some insulated wire and a low grade circuit board. Your left with a bunch of plastic and a crt tube that in most places costs money to get rid of.
Air conditioners contain refrigerant. The intentional release of refrigerant carries a potential fine of $37,500. Yes, you read that right. To handle air conditioners properly, you either need to find someone certified or get certified yourself. I spent about $200 on a class and exam and another $800 to $1000 on equipment.

The only way to find out the price per lbs is to identify what metals you have and call a local yard. Prices vary a lot from place to place. Locally I can get .0325 per lbs for steel at one place or .0525 for the same steel at another.

Hi ScrapRookie. Welcome to the forum from Las Vegas. But for the metal prices - which vary over time as well as from yard to yard - all your questions are answered many times over in the forum. The best advice I can give is to search and read the forum posts starting with the ones about getting started in scrapping. The time spent reading them will be invaluable and help you identify what to look for, what to take apart, potential pitfalls and so much more.

New here myself. My advice is when you have a question, search it before you post it. Rarely will it not immediately pop up and have multiple helpful answers already posted. That aside, learn what's tricky for you to get rid of. I won't touch anything with Freon for example due to it costing at least 20$ to dispose of. Then just start taking whatever you can, if you're new you can't afford to be picky imo.

Thank you all for your answers, highly appreciate it.

Send the E-waste to one of the sellers here. Personally Ewasted gets all my laptop and computer scrap. Being in Vegas I would hit any tech place and computer repair shop. When they say No they have people pick it up, I would wait for 6 months and check again. Keep checking. For Tvs check your dump, here in Cali they take our tvs free but only 5 at a time. Keep reading and reading and when your done read some more. Welcome and happy scrapping.