Water Meters Bring in Money in More Ways Than One

Water MeterWhen we think of our water meters, one thought usually comes to mind: water bill. Seldom do we look at our water meters without them representing the money we have to pay to our water company each month for the privilege of having water! However, to many others, water meters represent money in more ways than water bills. This money is coming in the way of recycling. Few things in the world cannot be recycled today.

We’re constantly hearing the words conservation and recycling as ways to save energy and money and help keep our environment green. Water meters do their part in conservation by helping us to determine how much water is being used. If there’s a problem somewhere, this will be indicated by the reading on the water meter. However, when they malfunction or are no longer serviceable, they can be refurbished or recycled.

Whether you’ve been selling your recyclables for a while now or are just getting into the hype of making money by recycling, water meters are something worth considering. They’re small; they consist of more than one recyclable material and they’re easy to dismantle, if desired and necessary.

There are many types of water meters including single & multi-jet meters, turbine meters, positive displacement meters, ultrasonic meters, compound meters, fire meters, fire hydrant meters and mag or electromagnetic meters.

The wonderful thing about all these different water meters is that they’re all recyclables. What does this mean to the Water Company and what does this mean to you?

What it means to the water company is that when their water meters are no longer functioning as they should, they can have them recycled, saving them money. What it means to you is that if you’re in the recycling business, you can purchase these small meters and make a nice profit on them at a recycling center.

How is Recycling Done?

We all know what recycling is and how it can help us with our environment but many don’t fully understand the entire process of recycling, particularly with large recycling centers, which you’ll probably be taking your water meters and other recyclables. While not all recycling centers work in exactly the same way, most of them are similar to the one in my town. They use a process of single-stream recycling to collect all the recyclables in the area, whether it’s picked up or brought in to them.

Single-stream recycling allows every type of recyclable to be dumped into one container or cart. This is more economical for them because they don’t have to have different trucks on the road for each different type of recyclable so it saves them time and fuel. It works for the customers because they don’t have to be quite so meticulous about keeping their recyclables (plastic, paper or metal) separate.

They take the entire collection of unsorted recyclables and dump them into a conveyor belt, which is made up of several sorting disc screens that do the sorting for them. The cardboard is pulled to one side; paper is separated from the metal and plastic and, lastly, magnets sort the metal and plastics. Once everything is sorted, they’re put into large bales weighing up to a ton and sent to recycling centers throughout the world.

Now that you fully understand the recycling process, I’m about to tell you how this can fit into your plans to make money by recycling water meters and ways to make the maximum profit doing it.

Making a Profit with Water Meters

Water MetersWater meters are commonly made of cast iron, bronze or ductile iron with many of the internal elements consisting of non-corrosive metal alloys and plastic. The upside of so many components going into the makeup of water meters is that you have many recyclable materials, making it more profitable.

If you’re just starting in your recycling venture, you may want to start small to see how it’s done. Trust me when I tell you that it won’t take long for you to discover recycling water meters is very easy and a great way to make some extra cash.

You may be able to purchase some used water meters from your utility company for a very low price. However, if you just buy them from the utility company, turn around, and sell them to a recycling center, you really won’t be making any money. The two things that will ensure you make a larger profit is quantity and disassembling them and selling them as individual recyclable parts rather than a bunch of complete water meters.

By doing just a little research online, you’ll find many places that sell used water meters. The more you buy, the less you’ll pay per water meter. You’ll find that taking them apart is much easier than you imagined. Have several different empty containers nearby so you can keep your individual parts separated. The few extra minutes it takes to put them in separate containers will make the difference in you making more profit when you take them to the recycling center.

Taking Extra Care Can Mean Larger Profit

When you’re finished taking apart the water meters, you may want to wipe them clean if necessary. While your recycling center will not require this, it will make your parts look better if they’re not covered with dirt and grease. However, if they look clean to you, they may not even require wiping. Once your parts are all neatly stored in their specific containers, you’re ready for a trip to the recycling center.

Hopefully, you’ve done your homework and know the most current prices offered from different recycling companies. Although they prices change almost hourly, at least you’ll have some idea of what to expect. Because your parts are neatly separated into their own containers, the recycling center will not have to take the time to do this. They’ll only have to weigh items and determine the amount they’re going to pay for your water meter parts.

If you have any questions or concerned, speak with the staff at the recycling center and see what kind of tips they can give you on your water meters and ways to get as much money as possible by recycling with them. This can be the start of a very happy and profitable business relationship for both of you!