Mini-Guide To Successful Fundraising With Scrap Metal Recycling
Posted on: 13 May 2015
According to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, 150 million metric tons of scrap metal are recycled annually. Since 1999, prices for scrap metal have more than quadrupled, which makes scrap metal recycling ideal for fundraising. Best of all, there are little-to-no costs involved for fundraising organizers who hold scrap metal recycling drives. Here are a few important steps and tips to help you get the most out of fundraising with scrap metal recycling.
Get registered
The first thing to do is to check with your local and state laws to see what you need to do to keep things legal. You may need to register your organization to fundraise. You may need to get a certificate, license or solicitation permit, depending on your state laws. This is important for when you file taxes if you are a nonprofit organization.
Pick & prep a staging area
Pick a staging area that is large enough for several trucks to easily access at the same time. Your donators can drop off items at this location on a prescheduled day and time. In your staging area, you'll want to section off different areas for the different types of metal that you may be given, including aluminum, brass, copper, and steel.
Since different types of metal are sold at different prices, it's important to keep them separated to get the most money possible for your fundraiser. Copper is more valuable than aluminum, so you'll want to be able to identify the metals and keep the metals separate. Recycling facilities may charge you an additional fee to sort the metals for you.
Prepare vehicles to haul
Whether you are using pickup trucks or towing trailers to haul the scrap metal, it's a good idea to protect the vehicles from scratches and other damage. Line the truck and trailer beds with old comforters and heavy-duty tarps to keep the metal from scratching into the paint.
The tarps you use should be waterproof in case any of the items you receive has corrosive or damaging chemicals in them, such as old lawn mowers or old refrigerators.
Offer incentives
To get more people interested, you can offer incentives. One of the best incentives is to offer to pick up scrap metal from the donators so they don't have to try to transport them to you. Depending on the size of the donations, you can take the materials directly to the recycling facility or to the staging area for sorting.
You can offer a prize for the largest donation, such as a gift certificate for a dinner for two at a local eatery or a round of mini-golf for a family of four. Think about who your donators are and what they may be interested in winning.
Get the word out
You'll need to get the word out so more people know about your fundraising efforts. If you are fundraising for an organization, such as for a youth recreational sport team, design a flyer they can distribute among their friends, neighbors, and family members. Include all the pertinent information and several ways you can be reached for assistance.
Use social media to spread the word of your fundraiser. Ask members of your organization to share the posts. Place an advertisement in your local newspaper. Put signs up around town and leave flyers in local establishments, but check with your local laws first to see if these types of marketing efforts are allowed.
Scrap metal recycling as a way to fundraise can be profitable for organizations and individuals. But before you start accepting donations, develop a game plan and make sure all the legal aspects are taken care of. Check with your local scrap metal recycling center, like Get Green Recycling Co., to see if they have more ideas on how to have a successful fundraiser.
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