How Much Are My Old Appliances Worth?

Tis the season for garage sales! This could be a blessing or a curse for some, but for scrappers this is could very well be comparable to the Christmas season! Several garage sales offer old and even broken appliances that can be transformed into a scrappers goldmine!

If you’re lucky enough to live in a fairly close proximity to a scrapyard dropping off an appliance or four seems well worth the short drive. Many scrappers can offer at least ten cents per pound for your appliance or $10 per 100 pounds. If you’re lucky, sometimes you’ll be presented with the opportunity to collect a broken appliance from a garage sale free of charge just for removal. BONUS!

How much are your appliances and other metal items actually worth?

Washing machine $18-$22 average weight 200 lbs.

Dryer $8-$10 average weight 100 lbs.

Refrigerator with top freezer $16-18 average weight with the compressor taken out 175 lbs.

Side by side refrigerator $24-$28 average weight with the compressor removed 250 lbs.

Ovens and ranges $11-$18 average weight 125 lbs.

Full size Gas BBQ $16-20 average weight 180 lbs.

Cast iron bathtub $30-$40 average weight over 300 lbs.

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

We’ve recently come across an article that’s incredibly beneficial to those venturing into the art of scrap metal recycling. If you’re struggling to get started, there’s no better place than to start looking in your own home. This particular info-graphic from Sims Metal Management helps to single out five places in your home to search out scrap metal.

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

In Honor of Earth Day

As one of the biggest scrap recyclers in Fort Wayne, it’s only natural that we get overly excited in regards to the celebration of Earth Day!

Do you know how the recycling symbol was created?

The logo was created by Gary Anderson, a 23-year-old design student as part of a contest sponsored by Container Corporation of America in 1970. The CCA was the largest paper recycler at the time. In order for the Container Corporation to help spread the word of the use of paperboard, they decided to create a contest to see who could come up with the best recycling symbol.

Out of the 500 entries, Gary Anderson and his logo went on to become one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. At the time, Gary earned $2,500 for his work.  That may have seemed like a lot of money in 1970, but the symbol is considered public domain it can be used by anyone, royalty free.

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

Recycling a Microwave

It’s safe to say that owning a microwave is a staple for every American household. Even though we may not use the power of the heat waves everyday, we certainly use this device for convenience at least a few times a week. But what happens when your microwave heats its last meal?

…Easy, you’re left with a huge (and heavy) pile of junk.  HOLD THAT THOUGHT, FRIEND! You can easily scrap your microwave for a few bucks!

The guts inside your microwave consist of a magnetron, wire, a small motor, transformers, and a large capacitor. The magnetron is full of copper and is responsible for generating working energy from electricity.   Along with the transformer, this part can be sold at motor price. When it comes to the transformer, you can either sell this piece at motor price, or remove the copper wire (more time consuming).

Even though a microwave doesn’t withhold precious metals, it can still fetch you a little extra cash from a scrapyard…or even on eBay!

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

 

The Scrap Recycling Process

Many of you have dropped off your scrap metal at a scrap yard several times before, but have you ever stopped to question the recycling process?

…Sure your items are weighed and in exchange you get paid for your scrap. But of course, a much thorough process happens during scrap metal recycling.

• When you first arrive at your chosen scrap yard (Upstate Metal Recycling) the metal is sorted and weighed, and then you are given an on the spot payment.
• The sorted metal is brought to the smelter or furnace, where it is melted down at very high temperatures.   All of the different kinds of metal go through a different smelter.
• Once the metals are melted into liquid form, they are molded into ingots. Ingots are small solid metal bars that can later be remolded into reusable products.
• The ingots are sent out to other companies who re-melt them and make them into various products.

Isn’t the thought of your old scrap being melted into new products uncanny?!

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

Plastic Bags

I’m sure there’s been a grocery shopping trip that has caused you to bring home what seems like several hundred plastic bags. When you’re forced to deal with these bags, what do you do?

• Pitch them
• Save them
• Return them to the receptacles back at the grocery
• Plastic bags? I always use my own bags!

Something tells me that a great portion of you would answer-Pitch them. This is getting to be a problem due to the extreme plastic bag waste found in landfills. A plastic bag takes 500 years to decompose in a landfill…imagine how man years it would take to decompose them all?

The city of Los Angeles has officially put an end to the use of plastic bags.  As of January 1, 2014 those shopping at a grocery store must bring their own reusable bags or pay ten cents for each paper bag they use. Plastic bags are no longer even an option. The dailynews.com recently posted an article regarding this new bag ban. Read, Los Angeles Bag Ban Starts January 1.

What are your thoughts on this? 

Do you think this could ever be possible in your city? 

Do you already use reusable bags instead of plastic?

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

E-Waste on the Rise

With the world becoming more and more technology reliant savvy, it seems as though a new tech gadget comes out on the daily.  We all seem to want the best, the fastest and the easiest electronics on the market. If you think about it, even cell phone providers are creating plans that include switching out your cell phone on a six month basis in order to get the newest model…

This isn’t a bad thing, it’s important to be up with the times and technology literate…but there is one downside to the increasing need for new tech products.  What about the E*Waste?

Mashable.com recently wrote an article stating that the amount of E*Waste worldwide is going to increase by at least 33%  by 2017.  E*Waste like other types of hazardous waste is bad for our environment if disposed of improperly. It’s time to take initiative! The article states, “We are a little bit behind compared with countries in the European Union…European countries have had established e-waste recycling programs for more than 10 years, whereas only 25 U.S. states have started similar programs, Linnell said.”

Read the entire article here!

Although the amount of e-waste is on the rise, the amount of e-waste recycling is also on the rise. More and more recycling centers/scrapyards are becoming e-waste friendly to help decrease the amount of waste ending up in a landfill. Don’t forget that every little bit helps!

Do you recycle your E-Waste?

 Are you going to start recycling your E-Waste?

 At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

Recycled Orchestra

At Upstate Metal Recycling, it’s not secret how much we love anything and everything consisting of recycled materials!  Recently, we came across a segment on 60 Minutes that helped us view recycled products from a different standpoint.  “One man’s trash is another man’s instrument?”

This particular segment introduced us to a less fortunate community in Paraguay. The children in this community have been given the opportunity to play in an orchestra to help prevent them from running the streets, but there’s one catch.  Each instrument is made entirely out of trash found around the area.

Are you intrigued? Check out the video, you’ll be absolutely astonished!

Have you ever made something functional out of recycled materials?

 

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

 

Recycling a U.S. Navy Carrier

We’re sure you scrap enthusiast have seen your fair share of big time scrap items. Imagine taking on a job deconstructing a U.S. Navy supercarrier! Unfortunately, Upstate Metal Recycling wasn’t chosen for the job, but the article is sure intriguing anyway!

Read the entire article on the Business Insider website (www.businessinsider.com) here: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-navys-first-supercarrier-was-sold-for-one-cent-2013-10

How much do you think this Texas yard made for this carrier?  Probably not as much as you think!

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.

Recycling Your Pool Heater

Now that the fall weather is upon us your backyard pool is closed until the spring season.  If your pool is due for a new heater next spring, why not scrap your old one now?

Did you know:

If you take apart your pool heater you’ll find multiple pieces that are able to be scrapped.  The heater contains several copper pipes that can amount to more than 10lbs. Currently at Upstate, copper is going for up to $2.70 a pound.

At Upstate Metal Recycling we take great pride in taking your collected scrap metal to help avoid your recyclable waste ending up in a landfill. If you’re interested in recycling your own scrap, bring it to Upstate! We’ll recycle your scrap while giving you the best price in exchange! Upstate Metal Recycling will take your car batteries, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, electric wire, cars, shingles, etc. You can even ‘Like’ them on Facebook for a coupon on your next visit to the yard.