Scrap metal recycling can be a great way to raise money for your cause as well as contribute to less being thrown in a landfill. However, it can involve quite a bit of a logistical challenge when coordinating across a large group. Here are some tips to make it easier. 

Communicate your fundraising plan

Once you've decided to start collecting scrap metal to raise funds, communicate your plans to local supporters. This can be a great way for people who have limited funds, but a lot of time, to contribute to your cause. Be clear on the type of metal you are collecting and give people a direct idea of how much money each kilogram of metal raises for your cause and how you will use these funds. This can help motivate people to look for items that they can contribute. 

Have some local collection points

It can be hard to get good rates for small amounts of metal, particularly when it is delivered in a piecemeal fashion. It can be a good idea to have some centralised collection points where people can drop off small amounts of scrap, such as bins in local businesses or schools that can collect the material. (It's often best to have these inside the business to prevent these becoming general rubbish bins and creating more work for your volunteers in sorting out the metal.)

This can also make it easier for other people (such as businesses' customers) to drop off small amounts of metal if the bins are in a convenient location. Without these drop off spots, people will need to make a specific trip to the recyclers or your office, and life can often get in the way of their good intentions to do so.  

Explain how to contribute from a distance

It's often not cost effective to have people send scrap metal a long distance, so it's a good idea to also have ways to contribute for supporters that are not close. This can include people taking their own scrap to a recycling centre and sending the collected funds to your cause. It can also be very useful to have people help to spread your cause, so ask people to share your fundraising campaign on social media and to family and friends. 

Collecting scrap metal can be an effective way to raise funds for your cause. Finding a way to simplify collections and transportation of the metal can help to ensure the campaigns success. 

Share