Ecology has been a recent trend based on universal environmental concerns. In an effort to control air pollution, water and land supplies, and to improve the overall health and sanitation of the world we live in, environmentalism and “ecology” have become popular and politically important. Along with a concern for the health of the environment is the fact of diminishing resources and the need to conserve and use existing resources more efficiently.

With these forces at play in the global economy, the value and success of recycling has become increasingly significant. Scrap metal recycling has become a growing industry, not only because of the growing need, but also because of its profitability. As technology continues to develop new and improved methods for recycling, the process becomes more efficient and profitable. No longer is just a buzzword for greening going green, it now heralds an era of profitable recycling and leads to jobs and economic development.

Many citizens feel good about their contributions to improve the environment through recycling. While this is certainly commendable, they do not realize that their efforts also promote employment and the economy. The fact is, your junk, like junk, is valuable and worth some money. Collecting scrap metal for recycling is not only profitable, but can also be fun.

So how do you get started and turn scrap recycling into a profitable activity? After finishing this article, you should be more aware of where to get junk and who will pay you for it. Although recycling efforts have generally improved, tons of Houston scrap metal and other valuable resources end up in landfills each year. This is where knowledge and economics come into play. An important link in the recycling industry is for knowledgeable individuals and companies to collect scrap material at the local community level and transport it to regional scrap dealers for recycling.

Scrap metal sellers are willing to pay competitive prices for the metal, which they in turn sell to major recycling companies for reuse in many new products. The most valuable metal wastes include aluminum and copper, found in a variety of appliances and products. Items like old washing machines and junk car parts are full of reusable material. Steel bars and other junk metals are easy to spot on the day of the trash pick up and most people are happy to get rid of it! These types of items are easy to collect.

Take a quick tour of the city on collection day and you will likely find some junk metal items. Some communities limit garbage collection to certain days during the year – this is your cash call to pick up valuable recyclables, before the community’s garbage collectors arrive. Learn about local ordinances and always ask the resident for permission first, before choosing. Another option is to talk to friends and family about your new company. Most of these people will be happy to help you with your mission to recycle waste material and keep it out of landfills.

Another great place to find junk treasures is at local auto repair shops and auto shops. They produce a large amount of junk and it is generally a nuisance for them to dispose of it. Other collection ideas include farms in rural areas, which generally have a lot of debris and junk implements that rust. Again, make sure you have permission to transport the recyclables first. All these types of companies produce tons of scrap metal and can be very interested and happy to use their services. Also, they can be very happy to direct you to other people who could serve you.

When you also benefit and help clean up the environment, how can it go wrong? Now there is a great opportunity to be the first link in the recycling chain, either to supplement your income or to build your own small business. Collecting community trash and reselling it to large scrap metal dealers for recycling is an important part of the process. Otherwise, valuable resources will continue to be useless at the landfill.