AMS-Pro
Well-known member
You answered part of your question within your same post. With most of the weight in the case among other things, is what gets the $0.20/LB. valuation for scrap. Some may pay a little more, but not much, it really depends on who is buying, and how much they really want to deal with the weight of this equipment. If you were to just take it to a local yard, one that does copper/wire/motors etc. you're get $0.15/LB. roughly for it as copper bearing material. A lot of your usual yards of this nature are not going to buy it as anything more than that due to the licensing needed to handle Ewaste. Copper bearing is the grey area. Now if we're talking specifically in dealing with it as Ewaste, and having the licenses to do that, then the numbers go up, a little bit.
The main problem with this type of equipment (remote radio head) is that so much of that weight is in the case, and power supply. There's probably what 3-5 LBs. of board? That unit probably weighs 50 LBs. The case/hestsink is most likely aluminum...cast aluminum. Cast aluminum goes for $0.40/ LB., after its cleaned from potential other metals. The power supply $0.20/Lb. probably weighs as much as the boards. Other than that, a mix of brass/steel pins/screws/posts. $0.10/LB., and a couple LBs. of random wire most likely no. 2 at $1/LB.
To elaborate on disassembled value a little bit.
- The boards, let say a generous 5 lbs., at a generous $4/lb., $20.
- 2 LBs. mixed wire $1/LB., $2.
- Power Supply 5 LBs., $0.20/LB., $1.
- Probably 3 lbs of miscellaneous fasteners/plastic that cancels out.
- 35 LBs. Cast Aluminum, $0.40/LB., $14
$37 total give or take a couple dollars. X 200 units = $7,400
Now on the purchase/transport/labor/overhead side.
- Buying the 50 LB. unit at $0.20 LB. $10 × 200 units = 10,000 LBs. $2,000
- Transport $250/day x 2 days =$500
1 day for pickup load/unload from seller to processing facility
1 day for dropoff load/unload from processing facility to scrap yard, plastic recycler, refinery, etc.
This cost includes truck/equipment, insurance, gas, maintenance cost, labor for transport purposes.
- Overhead 1 hour/per unit, $20/HR., x 200 units = 200 hours $4,000
This cost includes Labor w/wo overtime to process/sort/inventory equipment, uitiltys like electric (lights, equipment, charging stations), tool wear and tear, insurance, licensing, property taxes, miscellaneous costs, etc..
Total of $6,500 + 1 week (6 working days, Monday-Saturday) of labor for 5 person crew to get material disassembled/processed/sorted/prepared for recovery/refining phase.
$7,500 - $6,500 = $1,000 profit for a whole lot of work over the span of 1 work week for a 5 person crew.
I hope this breakdown is a sufficient elaboration of $0.20/LB. valuation, and answers your question thoroughly.
