Hello from sunny Tampa, FL

I figured I would join the forum since I started getting back into scrapping. I used to be a field technician and would scrap wire & aluminum cans for some extra cash, nothing big. I no longer work in the field but since I moved into my house about 10 years ago, I have been saving whatever metals I would accumulate in my garage. Well it's time for spring cleaning so I am going thru a lot of my scrap. Another big motivator was my washer gave up the ghost and dryer was too old. So I started checking out YouTube vids on how to tear apart appliances. In the last month, I have torn apart the washer & dryer for motors, wire & aluminum. I also had an old fridge which I tore apart. Over the years I have, 2 pool pumps, 2 starters, car batteries, garbage disposal, radiator, TV, VCRs, computer tower, range hood, microwave, buckets of Al cans, box of wire, screen door, ballasts, pots & pans, boat prop, pressure washer, generator and other misc.

Today I learned how to discharge a TV and all went well. My question is I now have a bunch of circuit boards and the scrap yard I took my steel too says they just buy as shred. I only have 1 motherboard and rest is low qual from Electronics like VCRs, TV, DVD player, etc. Should I just dump it at $.08 per pound (going rate for shred) or is it worth finding another way to sell. I already plucked the Alum, wires & elec motors.

I have already sold most of the steel to make room in my garage. My next trip will be the big one where I sell the rest of everything I tore down. I would appreciate any advice since I am really a newbie. I find this to be a great forum to read about the stories of how scrappers can make extra ca$h. I am only doing this on the side. Now that I got bit by the scrap bug, I can see myself stopping and picking up metal and asking neighbors or friends if they want to get rid of any old appliance or electronics. My neighbor is giving me his giant stainless steel grill. He also gave me a broken generator and pressure washer. I can see how this can be addicting and fun too since I like breaking things apart. :cool:

Welcome to the party !
I would just dump it in your shred , if it's low grade and cleaned on what you want on it and you can't find a better price within a similar distance . I.e. Another yard or buyer . I collect my mid grade and better boards but my low grade stuff goes into shred after I have gotten the aluminum and copper breakage pieces. Not a rule of thumb just works best for me.
I primarily scrap TVs those boards pile up fast and I find it saves me time and space just tossing them in the shred.
Thanks for joining !

"Good luck and high scoring" ~ the bowling alley desk lady

Welcome aboard and thanks for the intro. Save any green on green boards till you learn what they are and how they are priced. Check out the electronics recycling section and study the stickies at the top of each section. As far as low grade or brown on brown or some brown on green boards most toss in with steel. Call around to a few yards and see if they pay better than shred price.
I just found a yard up here that pays .20# so I pull most of the goodies off of the low grade and then sell them. Low grade adds up fast so search out a buyer for it. Good luck and enjoy the forum.

As a general rule, most audio/video electronics as in older TVs, radios, VCR/DVD players will have low grade boards in them. The biggest thing for me is to weigh my options for example a 10 lb stereo at .10 shred price equals $1 or a dismantled one may have a 1 lb LG board at possibly .20/lb maybe 2 lbs electric motor at .25/lb, 1 lb insulated wire at roughly $1/lb (that's being generous, usually isnt enough to budge a scale and in my state any amount of copper has to be paid by check) 2 lbs plastic, which most yards don't accept, leaves you with 6 lbs shred or .60 coming to a grand total of $2.30 (paid by check by the way) then figure up your time, for numbers sake 10 minutes. That means your hourly pay would equate to $7.80/hr. Of course none of these numbers are exact. Another thing to think of is your volume. If you're only doing about 10 pieces a month you've made an extra $13 for the month. The choice is always yours, just giving you an example.

Welcome from Massachusetts.

Wait a nimute, hold on, not so fast!!! DO NOT put your low grade boards in with shred. My e-waste buyer is in Tampa,Fl and pays way better than shred price. Also if your in Tampa you should be getting more than .08 per lbs for shred. OH by the way welcome to the forum from spring hill. I'm about 30 miles north of Tampa. You might need a few more post but try to send me a privite mesage and I'll hook you up with the right people to sell to in order to get the most money. I'm always looking for buyers that pay more and I'll tell you witch ones I use. Again DO NOT put any boards in the shred pile.

Happy I wish it was profitable to ship my low grade to your guy. I'd be so happy, not to have to put them in with shred. Drives me nuts.

An to the OP, welcome the forums from a sandbar off the coast of NC.

Sirscrapalot - Keeper of the traveling cooler.

Sir I understand why some people have to sell their low grade boards that way. And yes I am blessed to have a good buyer with in driving distance from me. It is about a 60 mile round trip ride but I bring enough e-scrap to make it worth the drive. Sir get ready we'er going to be sending all the snow birds back up your way soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by happyscraper

Wait a nimute, hold on, not so fast!!! DO NOT put your low grade boards in with shred. My e-waste buyer is in Tampa,Fl and pays way better than shred price. Also if your in Tampa you should be getting more than .08 per lbs for shred. OH by the way welcome to the forum from spring hill. I'm about 30 miles north of Tampa. You might need a few more post but try to send me a privite mesage and I'll hook you up with the right people to sell to in order to get the most money. I'm always looking for buyers that pay more and I'll tell you witch ones I use. Again DO NOT put any boards in the shred pile.

---

I am located in Ft. Myers, about two hours south of Tampa. I would also appreciate knowing who buys electronic waste in Tampa as no one locally seems to be interested. I am also new and do not seem to have PM capability so would appreciate a posting, or perhaps direct email if you prefer.

Thanks,
Harold

Foul! Uncalled for hostility on the part of Floridians! I demand a recount on where to send the snowbirds!

My vote is for Ohio. I hear they are nice people out that way if you don't ask for a soda, an know what a package store is. ;)

Snowbirds...are...evil.

An OP...welcome again! Listen to Happy he won't steer you wrong, an quite kind of him to share his buyer info.

Sirscrapalot - So...where is my cookie people keep asking me if I want?

Welcome from Cincy! Where we will be turning all snowbird vee-heh-kules due east, when the hit the I75 bridge over the Ohio. Only those that don't look like q tips, and can see over the steering wheel, will be permitted entry!

Unless you need the few extra cents you will get turning boards in for shred, packum, stackum and storeum, until you can get with happy, or another forum member, who will help you get the best bang for the buck.

BroJer-Keeper of the traveling tip jar

First of all Saturn V please forgive me for hijacking your thread. Harsas- If I were you post a few more post so I can send you a PM. Out of respect I won't post my buyers info on the open forum nor will I post my personel e-mail on the open forum. I will be glad to work with you on getting good buyers for you. I don't know how many post you need but I think it's about 6 or 7.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by happyscraper

Wait a nimute, hold on, not so fast!!! DO NOT put your low grade boards in with shred. My e-waste buyer is in Tampa,Fl and pays way better than shred price. Also if your in Tampa you should be getting more than .08 per lbs for shred. OH by the way welcome to the forum from spring hill. I'm about 30 miles north of Tampa. You might need a few more post but try to send me a privite mesage and I'll hook you up with the right people to sell to in order to get the most money. I'm always looking for buyers that pay more and I'll tell you witch ones I use. Again DO NOT put any boards in the shred pile.

---

Thanks happyscrapper. I will try and get a few more posts so I can send PMs. I still have yet to go back to the scrap yard. So I still have all my good stuff left like copper and aluminum. I may hold out a bit since metals might be going up. I also have all the scrap boards too. I would appreciate the hook-ups in the Tampa area.

Welcome