Scrapping printers - worth it?

[Chris]

Hey guys,
This has probably been discussed numerous times, but I thought I'd ask again..

As I'm now advertising as an ewaste drop-off point, I can't be picky or choosy on what I take like you lucky street scrappers can!

So, I have to have a strategy to deal with whatever comes along!
As far as printers go, is there any quick value stuff I should grab? For example - is it really worth taking gold contacts from cartridges? Is it worth dismantling heaps of plastic for a small board?

I will probably be doing a regular run to the local transfer station where they now have a free ewaste disposal bin - so I'm thinking I'll just take the cords and drop printers off with scrapped out TVs and other items I don't want to waste time on..
(The guy at the transfer station actually said I can grab any PCs from the ewaste bin if I like - so a 10 minute trip out there probably should be a regular event! )

[WEEE Ben]

Sounds like your talking about inkjet printers so no, it's not worth even thinking about them, transfer station is your best bet.
no it's not worth removing gold contacts from cartridges or the 10c worth of board.

Laser printers can be worthwhile though, removing the side cover to get the main board and the rest goes as scrap steel.

[Chris]

Thanks Ben,
I'm imagining that I'm going to get ALL types! So it's good to know which go straight to the transfer station pile without a glance (except for the cords!).
Toasters, kettles & vacuums will be in the same pile!

[Inner City Recycler]

Thanks Ben,

Toasters, kettles & vacuums will be in the same pile!

Can't you get light iron price for toasters? (and possibly kettles.... maybe vacuums)

Most toasters are mainly metal except the side panel.

kettles are metal inside, sometimes on the outside.

Vacuums have a decent electric motor but yes, 90% plastic and full of horrible stuff. The wands are either Stainless, aluminium or chromed ferrous

[Chris]

Since I have the convenient option of dropping any ewaste to the local depot that's either not really worth the effort to scrap out, or simply is not fun to do - that's where they'll be going (minus cords.. and yes, stainless or aluminum vacuum tubes). The other thing is that if I'm doing a large load of light gauge steel down the freeway to Melbourne, I'll be after the best value I can get. So it will be clean steel, and not half full of plastic/other contaminates! It amazes me what Ben throws into his loads of steel.. but he did explain in his last video that he gets a 'dirty price', and I guess it's convenient to dump everything sometimes.
Some kettles aren't too bad as they are mostly stainless.
Some vacuums, I may rip the motor out and screw the case back together! Depends on the day really

[Inner City Recycler]

I've dismantled a few vacuums.
The little residential type take forever (you can't even smash them with a sledge) and are a health hazard (dust, unknown particles, etc) for a motor worth maybe 30c as-is or $1 micro-scrapped.
The wet/dry industrial vacuums aren't much better if they are all plastic.
I won't do them anymore unless they are old school all metal..

[Chris]

Ok - just a follow up this thread..

I took a ute load of scrapped out TVs, printers and a couple of plastic kettles to the transfer station yesterday and the guy happily helped me unload, while commenting "Gee these TV's are light!"!
I told him I have taken a few things out.. and he was fine with that! I think he just enjoyed them not being heavy!!
And I enjoyed ditching this stuff for free and hopefully the system will see them recycled properly and not end up in landfill.

Next, I ask if he's had much ewaste dropped off since the ban on it going into general waste - and he took me to another shed full of washing machines, fridges and various appliances. Among the pile, I found a few old PCs and satellite boxes. Not only was he happy for me to grab them - he helped me carry them back to the ute!

Happy days. Think I'll buy the bloke a coffee next time!

[WEEE Ben]

I like the little NEC down there, be interesting to see what comes out of it

[Inner City Recycler]

Ok - just a follow up this thread.

Next, I ask if he's had much ewaste dropped off since the ban on it going into general waste - and he took me to another shed full of washing machines, fridges and various appliances. Among the pile, I found a few old PCs and satellite boxes. Not only was he happy for me to grab them - he helped me carry them back to the ute!

Happy days. Think I'll buy the bloke a coffee next time!

That's really cool of the guy as any waste place i know doesn't allow "scavengers". That and so many building skips that I see that are behind a locked gate and you know they are full of copper from the temporary wiring. I got 8kg of bare bright (after stripping!) out of a building skip last month.

I've started taking the dudes at my yard sparkling water and soft drink. I get it for nothing and don't drink it very often so it's good to give it away to some good guys.

[scrapperDan]

That's really cool of the guy as any waste place i know doesn't allow "scavengers".

At my yard it all depends on who is working the scales. There is one jerk that either goes by every rule or makes them up. All the others a friendly. On my first trip to the transfer station I had 10 CRT/flatscreens. A friendly guy asked how many and I told. He said I am only allowed four at a time but go ahead and do all this run. Then I asked about the "free" shed. No problem, found a heavy stereo receiver. Just last week the a$$ was working the scales and I only had three CRTs and I asked to go to the free shed. He said no because I was not paying any trash drop off money. I said everyone else gives an OK. He said then they are not doing their job. Today the cute girl said no problem. I dropped off 3 sets. Two of them had an image burned into the screen. They had been in electronic slot machines. As I was unloading a truck pulled up and started unloading a some CRTs. Once they are on the ground I can not take them. I asked in the past and there are cameras. Anyway as a guy was pulling off a monitor I asked for it and he put in the back of my SUV. I then went to the free shed and grabbed a VCR and vacuum.