Released: August 11, 2008

People, businesses seek to recycle for cash

Source: Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press [Baltimore Sun] (Free Registration)

Forklifts rumble around the scrapyard, grabbing pieces of metal and plunking them on scales: Will the junk be worth a tank of gas or a cart of groceries?

Nationwide, recycling facilities are doing brisk business. Weekends are the busiest, when people have time to bring in scraps like copper wire, brass bits, aluminum window frames and rotted pipes and cans, hoping to make some extra money.

“I drive about 35 miles round trip to work every day, so this recycle made a good deal on my gas tank,” said David Trombley, 51, a shower door installer and glazer. He walked away with $133.40 at Fitzsimmons Metal Company in suburban Pittsburgh after turning in scraps left over from remodeling his basement bathroom.

“I put most of it in my tank, over half of it in my gas tank and that’ll last me two weeks worth of going to work and back,” he said.

Read Full Article: People, businesses seek to recycle for cash