Recycling scrap metal is nothing new, and you know that there is some money to be made when you take loads of metal to your local scrapyard. But how much? Can you turn a hobby of scrapping metal around your property into an actual career of sorts?

The answer is not definitive, but there is this: the more you put into your scrap metal efforts, the more money you can potentially make. There are a lot of factors that go into scrapping metal for serious cash, including knowing which metals make the most money, choosing a scrapyard that gives you a decent return on your hauls, and the amount of scrap metal you can collect within a certain time frame.

This guide will help you make sense of scrapping metal for cash so you can make the most of your time and investment. Can you make money at scrapping metal? Here are some answers to consider.

Yes, if you can get scrap metal for free

Anytime you can get scrap metal without spending money on it, you are open for profit. You have to be creative to get large amounts of metal at no cost to you, and a great tactic to use is this: offering your scrap metal removal service in exchange for the scrap materials only. There are likely people in your area who have old appliances, cars, housing materials, and other scrap they are no longer using and want gone.

You won't make a lot of money per piece, but if you're willing to pick up several loads of scrap metal for free in a day, you can make a nice part-time income while providing a needed service at the same time.

Yes, if you know what metal is most valuable

When you scrap metal, the what type of metal you scrap is just as important as how much metal you scrap. Copper, for example, is a highly valuable scrap metal and brings in the most profit. Aluminum, while being readily available for scrap, isn't worth as much per pound (although still profitable, so don't avoid aluminum recycling). Breaking down your appliances and other scrap metals into the various types of metals they're made of can help drive up your profit since you're not just getting paid by weight but also by metal value. Keep this in mind as you undergo your scrap metal recycling adventures.

For more information, contact a scrapyard like Gutterman Iron & Metal Corp.