Results 1 to 11 of 11

How much can you make a week from dumpster diving alone?

| Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
  1. #1
    bjf552 started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    houston tx
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    How much can you make a week from dumpster diving alone?

    I'm new to the scrap business. Was going to go out this morning and hit up as many dumps i can find. I was just wondering how much you could make a week dumpster diving alone? I understand it depends, so let's just say I'm out everyday and doin it as smart as it gets, how much would i make? Also what's the best thing you've ever scored in a dumpster.



  2. #2
    PartTimeScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Morrison, Colorado
    Posts
    3,400
    Thanks
    1,004
    Thanked 3,256 Times in 1,335 Posts
    YOur right it does depend. If your looking for metal try looking in the business plaza dumpsters. Roll offs are good too for renovations of businesses. Best thing I got out of a dumpster so far is pete and I pulled out a 32 sony LCD tv from a store display. Then the next week got the remote

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to PartTimeScrapper for This Post:


  4. #3
    Kochy's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Sunbury, PA
    Posts
    532
    Thanks
    214
    Thanked 276 Times in 138 Posts
    You can make a lot if you find the right stuff. I pulled 900 dollars worth of Retail Printers still in the box out of a dumpster outside of Staples. They all worked. One is on Ebay right now and the current bid is at $165.The one is worth 450 by itself.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Kochy for This Post:


  6. #4
    scraprecycler's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    44
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 11 Times in 9 Posts

    biggest find

    I once found over 2500 lbs of computer wire and I also found a diamond ring one time as well

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to scraprecycler for This Post:


  8. #5
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    35
    Thanks
    53
    Thanked 50 Times in 11 Posts
    The best for me so far is out of one of them was about 15 lbs of wire, about 100 feet of 1/4 copper tube, and 100 feet of 3in copper pipe. Was a very good day for me I saw some of the pipe out of the top and went and asked the owner of the land and he told me what ever I wanted I could have BUT I have to be neat about it and make sure it is as clean or cleaner when I left.

  9. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by jrpbullrider:


  10. #6
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Aug 2012
    Location
    mileburg pa
    Posts
    255
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 103 Times in 64 Posts
    I have 5 dumpsters I check regualy .and I yeild about 700 per month from them .the one three times I have pulled out close to 600 worth or memory and hard drive boards.so yes its worth it .and its odd you found those at staples.considering staples has a e-waste program

  11. #7
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Chesaning
    Posts
    472
    Thanks
    24
    Thanked 355 Times in 171 Posts
    I don't understand why you would dumpster dive. Why not contact the manager and talk to them about recycling there Ewaste?

  12. #8
    travistemple202020's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    ames iowa
    Posts
    1,326
    Thanks
    267
    Thanked 883 Times in 495 Posts
    very simple answer the harder you want to work the more you will make

  13. #9
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2013
    Location
    MISSISSIPPI
    Posts
    172
    Thanks
    97
    Thanked 175 Times in 76 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ResourcefulRecycling View Post
    I don't understand why you would dumpster dive. Why not contact the manager and talk to them about recycling there Ewaste?
    In business knowledge is power. The minute you ask the manager your going to either
    1 - cause yourself to be prohibited
    2 - tip your hand that the manager is throwing away money

    Notice in neither response do you see me saying that the manager will let you. I have managed a business for almost 40 years. My job is to improve the bottom line.
    Part of that is offsetting loss.
    You can make money 2 ways.
    1 - Do what others won't.
    2 - Do what others can't.

  14. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by VERYOLDGUY:


  15. #10
    ScrapmanIndustries's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Easton, Pa
    Posts
    361
    Thanks
    99
    Thanked 303 Times in 132 Posts
    The answer to the Op's question here will vary based on how well you know your area, how hard you feel like working, and your ability to not care what others think of you. As well it also depends on how wasteful those around you are. In Ft. Hood I once pulled out a brand new gun safe that had been returned for something petty and useless. It was so heavy I had to pull it out with the truck, then take it by hand and load it from the top of a 40yd box down onto my already half filled pick up bed trailer. The best thing i found scrap wise was when my truck was brand new i saw a bunch of I beams a union jobsite dug out of the ground. The dumpster was filled with metal and concrete slabs. I was able to get out 2,000lbs of heavy steel beams. Sold for $5/100. There was still about 20,000 lbs more but i couldn't unbury it. After that container left the site switched carriers to one of those single stream recycling guys.

  16. #11
    sledge's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    2,717
    Thanks
    4,534
    Thanked 4,240 Times in 1,609 Posts
    Since this OP was in 2012.. He either had the hustle or he didn't!
    Fair to say.. one way or the other he has found out his answer!
    I'm so into scrapping.. When my Steel Toe Boots Wear out, I cut the Steel out of them and recycle the Toe!

  17. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by sledge:



  18. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. getting used to dumpster diving?
      By ParkerFlyer4 in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 42
      Last Post: 03-17-2014, 03:44 PM
    2. Dumpster diving
      By MightyMetalMovers in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 18
      Last Post: 06-30-2013, 02:44 PM
    3. No dumpster diving signs
      By scrapdad56 in forum Scrap Metal Spots
      Replies: 21
      Last Post: 05-01-2012, 03:04 AM
    4. Dumpster diving and a 6 pack
      By Copper Head in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 02-20-2012, 11:14 AM
    5. Dumpster Diving Lockdown
      By GarbageMan in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 19
      Last Post: 12-18-2011, 06:04 AM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook