New E-Scrap Video: Recovering Gold & Precious Metal from Computer Components

Hi - I just uploaded my very first YouTube video. It's pretty good, but I do see some room for improvement. This one is about the basics of tearing down scrap computers for their gold and precious metal bearing components. Once I have torn down these 80 or so computers I'll then do some research about getting the most return for the effort. This will include a review of various e-scrap buyers, looking into possible values in hard drives, dvd/cd drives, selling cards with or without the gold fingers, etc. Also, I hope to find some good info on selling some components for reuse. All or most of this should be in the next video.

For now Check out the new e-waste video on youtube

Good Hunting,

Mike

Download How to Make Money in the Home Based Salvage and Recycling Business - Link Fixed

I spend so much time doing salvage and recycling that, at times, I don't pay enough attention to the Recycling Secrets website. I just discovered that the link to purchase the eBook How to Make Money in the Home Based Salvage and Recycling Business was missing! I'm not sure how long it has been missing, but if you have attempted to purchase the eBook and could not, my apologies.

The page is now working correctly. You may now download the eBook How to Make Money in the Home Based Salvage and Recycling Business without further problems.

Again, sorry for the inconvenience.

BTW, I'm breaking down 80+ computers over the next few days. I'll report back on what I've recovered and who I've decided to sell the material to.

Good Hunting,

Mike

Setup Your Own Free E-Waste Collection Events

Here's an idea that may work for you. Over the last months I've accumulated 100+ computers. I never pay for them so, if there's a monitor, I take it as well. I know that some folks actually scrap the monitors too, but for me, it's just too much work and too toxic to deal with so I save them up and take them in on a free e-waste day in a nearby town.

This time I took in 32 monitors. Turns out it was a big Southern California e-waste company and they were getting tons of computers and other e-waste for free. I'm in a small very rural Northern California county of only 20,000+ people and when I got there on the second day, they had filled enough pallets with giant cardboard boxes full of e-waste to fill a couple of 40 foot semi-truck flatbeds! That's a lot of e-waste.

Many of the people brought their computers, printers, laptops, etc. from neighboring towns anywhere from 20 to 35 miles away. It struck me that I could setup free e-waste days in my town and then at some point take what I didn't want to salvage (like the monitors) to the BIG free e-waste day like I did the other day with the monitors.

In my area there are plenty of businesses with a little yard or parking lot space that would allow me to have a periodic local free e-waste day. Another option would be to partner with a local community agency, church or thrift store and share the profits with them.

Up until now I've been advertising in the county saying that "I can save you the trip to the free e-waste collection or save you the dump fee - I'll take away your e-waste for free." Doing that I get several computers each week, but nothing compared to what I saw collected the other day. Looking at what was brought in for the free e-waste day and comparing it to what I've collected over the same period, I'd say I maybe had collected in 6 months about 2% of what they collected in 2 days.

I'm going to give it a try in my town and if it works out, I'll hold them in other towns in the county as well. Maybe something like this will work for you too.

Best of Luck

Mike

How To Make Extra Money When Salvaging

I've always found that it pays to keep several "irons in the fire." When I'm out doing salvage work I often run into things for sale that I'm not interested in purchasing. If the item is nice and the seller is honest and someone who I would feel good buying from, I offer to list it for them on Craigslist. I normally ask and get 10% of the selling price. Some big ticket items I've listed for less. It only takes a few minutes to take the photos, another few minutes to list the item and a few minutes renewing the listings if need be. Just one more way to make money and keep those referrals coming :)

Here are a few listings that I did recently.

C-Dory 16 Boat in Excellent Condition - 2 Motors and New Trailer, $8,750

Horse Corral Panels, Heavy Duty 16 Feet by 6 Feet, 6 Pieces, $1,000

Like New Stubben Parzival English Saddle, $1,000

Good way to make some extra cash. Good Hunting,

Mike