How Do You Actually "E-Waste" ?

I have been dealing with dead electronics for quite some time now, but have running into the same problem - how do you actually sell off all the "parts" ?
It seems like you have to live in a special area to make any kind of money doing this type of recycling.

Back a few years ago I lived in densely populated area, and use to drag home electronics from the dumpsters all the time.
Here is the process of what I did:
* The first thing I would do would be attempt to fix it and resell it.
* If I could not do that, I would strip all the working parts and see if I could sell those.
* If I could not do that, they sat around the apartment as "spare parts".

I found that no one in my area would buy anything I had.
Closest recycler I found was 4.5 hours away, and would not pay enough to profitable ship the circuit boards, Hard Drives, or anything else.

Eventually I was forced to just throw everything away as I could not do anything else. ;(

Of all the stuff that was pitched:
180+ desktop computers
20+ servers
60+ laptops
70+ VCRs
30+ DVD players
40+ assorted game systems
(A lot ) cell phones
and much more


My questions are
1: Is "ecycling" profitable in all areas, or just certain places ?
2: If it is profitable in all areas, please explain HOW (( I read the forum section - it was not helpful ))

Thank you for your time.

One of the buyers on here helps with shipping,

RLS, I`m a NEWbie myself.....I "guess" you didn`t read that BEST proto-call is....First post should be on the introduction page! Just thot I`d let`ya know!!!.....GAS

Just to add to...info....my oldest daughter, 15, & has been scrap`n for over a year....she`s "membered" BUT I ....let her know Proto-calls(once again, first post is INtro). I would advice the same for you!....reSPECT the Rules you agreed to....I`m NOT trying to act like a GRF mod....lol ....you`ll do fine here!!! GOOD folks here......Keep on keep`n on!

If I can mange to do ewaste on a sandbar 2 miles out in the ocean...surely anyone on the mainland can do it to.

Shame you didn't find us before you tossed everything. To answer your question, a lot of us use the buyers here, or local. Some sell on eBay, some on CL, some on <insert random place here>

So next time you get stuff, you come here, research what you have, and then pick a buyer. They are all good buyers for the most part. As a bad one won't last long here. We're a good bunch of folks, till ya start trying to screw us over.(not you op, but bad buyers) Word would be out all over the forums if a buyer here tried to get over on a member. It's one of the perks of being here. We don't take kindly to folks messing with our profit margins. ;)

Good luck!

Sirscrapalot - Wasted away in margaritaville.

Your gonna have a nasty case of throwers remorse when you find the buyers section!

:-o

Ohhhh the technology!!!!

Anyway welcome from Somerset PA

Just consider it a tax for not doing your homework.

Where I live is about as remote as you're going to get. I deal mostly in electronic scrap for the past year or so.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RLS0812

Of all the stuff that was pitched:
180+ desktop computers
20+ servers
60+ laptops
70+ VCRs
30+ DVD players
40+ assorted game systems
(A lot ) cell phones
and much more

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I estimate .50 per lb shipping the way I do it. this includes boxes, tape, etc. shipping can be much cheaper if you have enough for a pallet
here is a rough idea of what I get payed

Motherboards are currently worth $1.35-1.90 after shipping

server motherboards $2.15-3.40 lb after shipping

then there is ram, processors, etc that are more. even laptops come out at more than shred price with shipping.

Hard drives, take the board off and the rest is dirty aluminum or you can take them apart. no really worth shipping whole.

cellphones 4.50 no battery. cell battery 1.00

the list goes on.

look in the buyer/seller section. when you have made enough posts to do private messages, I am more than happy to tell you who I sell to, however reviews of buyers/sellers are not allowed outside of that area so I cannot post it here.

What do printed circuit boards ( non computer ) go for ?
What is the most economical shipping service ? UPS wants $6 a pound

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RLS0812

What do printed circuit boards ( non computer ) go for ?
What is the most economical shipping service ? UPS wants $6 a pound

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For the first, look over the Buyers & Sellers forum. For the second, you'll need to go to each shipping service site and get an idea of each for the load you've got. Too many variables for a straight answer. Also check each buyer as some offer shipping.

You realy need to go to the buyer/seller section. Many buyers list the prices that they pay. One buyer that I've delt with will send you a shipping lable through FedEx and shipping cost will be .50-.60 per lbs. After you get 5 or 6 post you can use the privet mesage. Send me a mesage and I'll help you get started. Yes, we like introductions and it would add to your post count. There also is a section that will show you the diffrant boards and how to grade them. This forum is like going to collage and yes you will have to do some home work.

It hurts to read about all those tossed goodies.