Recycling Scrap Metal Leads to Happy Returns

Submitted by Michael Cipielewski Jr.

I walk into the scrap metal center with a box of copper I collected all over Detroit during the summer—parts parts from the water-heater that broke in July, old computer wire, parts from televisions I’ve found, and a million other bits from who knows what. The guy operating the scale jokes about the rain that’s so hard we can’t even see my car yards away. I look like I showered with my clothes on, but it’s worth it. I grab the sheet of paper that spits out of the scale, trying not to drip all over it, and head to the cashier. The box of copper put $90 in my pocket. Fred Sanford ain’t got a thing on me.

I know that curbside junk metals will most likely end up in landfills. Luckily, scrap metals can be recycled. There’s a great infrastructure of companies that will take dozens of different kinds of metals. Not only does scrap metal put money directly into our pockets, but it also does so indirectly by keeping the cost of raw materials cheaper. Scrap metal is beneficial not only because it helps keep our cities clean, our landfills not quite as “filled,” but also because that recycled metal often takes the place of virgin metal. Think of how difficult it is to get copper or other metals from a mine; scrap metal can relieve pressure on mining, which will in turn will save natural habitats and create less pollution, all while keeping costs of these materials down.

It’s very easy to do. If you’re short of spare space, pair up with a friend or family member who has space. After pairing up with my father, we’ve collected as much scrap metal as I collected on my own in three months in only one month! And even more importantly, the more people there are collecting scrap legitimately, the fewer the people collecting illegally there will be.

It doesn’t take long to get a collection going. Copper is probably the best thing to collect because it is common. Aluminum is even more common. Store each metal you collect in different boxes for the summer. In August, take them in to be recycled, and use the money you earn to have a nice dinner, watch a movie, or buy new shoes. Do whatever you like, but remember it’s a no-guilt treat because all of those materials you traded in aren’t in a landfill. Maybe your scraps are now part of a wheelchair, or an engine, or an airplane. What it becomes doesn’t matter. What does matter is that it’s a renewable source of cash that also helps keep our planet green.

Photo Caption: Michael Cipielewski Jr. peers through a coil of copper he plans to recycle for money. (Photo courtesy of Michael Cipielewski Jr.)