$ Ballasts

K2

I heard today we're getting 10 cents a pound for old ballast, non pcb of course. That's 35 cents each for the adverage 2 lamp magnetic.

Two years ago and earlier the recyclers around here wouldn't take ballasts because they said their shredders couldn't handle them so millions went to the landfills.

Metal prices keep up they will be starting minning operations at the landfills.

mdshunk

My local recyclers still don't take them, except as 1 cent per pound "mixed scrap" . I've built wooden sides on a pallet that we've been tossing ballasts in for "some day".

jbfan

Thats what we do, mix it with the other scrap metal.

__________________
We are the people (our parents warned us about) (Jimmy Buffett)

mickeyco

This reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Kramer and Newman were trying to take bottles and cans from New York where there is no deposit, to Michigan where there was one, to make some money.

Maybe mdshunk and jbfan can figure a way to get their ballasts out to Colorado Springs to make a few bucks.

K2

I didn't see that Seinfeld but often wondered how the retailers living near the state borders dealt with these issues. From what i understand it is/was a big pita for small store owners. Just the amount of sq footage to store essentially bug/rodent infested garbage could drive a small operation out of business.

I think if they want the ballasts in Colorado they want them everywhere, they just don't know it yet. I just got a breif message from the fellows but i suspect some negotiation went on. They probably cut one of these things open and showed the scrappers how much copper is in one,($2.50 a pound?). And then went and took some bids from the different scrappers in Denver. The boys do alot of ballasts.

K2

I checked with the boys today and they got the scrappers to put ballast under "copper bearing pricing". 10 cents a pound and maybe rising...

JasontheMason

I have bins that I made, and small metal things, like bent rebar, old water pies things like that I keep so when they get full, I get like $50. It does take up some room but it is worth it.

Sparky Joe

That was a funny episode Mic.
I lived in Oregon where you paid an extra 5 cents per can or bottle just to ensure you recycle it and get your money back.

faber307

.10 for carbonated beverages in MI Joe.
That adds up pretty quick

K2

We went to 12 cents a pound for ballast this week.

mickeyco

I go up to Midland/Mt. Pleasant area of Michigan (far enough enough up so they wouldn't think I was bringing in bottles from another state) every year, anyhow how do they check the bottles, or do they, do you have to have a receipt or something, the ones we get out here say " MI 10(cents)". Could I load my truck up and get 10 cents for each bottle. And can they be flattened? I doubt I would ever do it, just curious.

m3i6k0e

If anyone wants to sell their used ballasts for 12 to 15 cents a pound please contact me at 317 345 1369

K2

What are you getting? I think I have a school comming up.

Sparky Joe

Even the 5 cents adds up quick,

To the point that we used to steal peoples can stockpiles then spend the time putting them in the machines(they couldn't be crushed) to make a quick 40 bucks as kids.

There was even a store we would visit that had entire truck at the dock around back filled with 12 packs of every soda you could imagine. We would borrow a shopping cart from the store, fill it with their own soda. Take it to a creek behind the store, and spend 2 hours pouring out all the soda. Then take the empty cans back in the store to be recycled.

Money used to be easy when we were young and dumb

faber307

Sorry for the delay, Haven't been on CT in awhile.

The cans and bottles are bar coded. Many places going with automatic can counters.

It has to be clearly stamped or printed MI .10


nobody takes crushed cans