Quebec moving day yields scrapyard gold
Thousands of people across the province move on July 1, because it is the official end date for rental leases.
The communal ordeal means piles of garbage, abandoned furniture and appliances litter sidewalks and back alleys for days. For metal peddlers, the ritual is a boon for business.
'It's hot, and it takes two guys to lift a fridge. If it weighs 200 or 300 pounds, that's worth $12 to $15.' —Richard Benzakein, owner, Métaux Dépot
"It's our busiest time of the year," said Richard Benzakein, owner of Métaux Dépot, a scrap metal yard in east-end Montreal, where old appliances are piled up the length of a football field.
Between the end of June and beginning of July, "we're looking at about 2,000 to 2,500 tonnes" of steel abandoned by people on the move, said Benzakein. "That's about four to five million pounds of steel that we've accumulated in the last two weeks."
At this time of year, as many as 25 scrap metal trucks will be lined up first thing in the morning to drop off their loads.
Scavengers have to work quickly before the good stuff is taken, Benzakein said. And it's not an easy hustle.
"It's hot, and it takes two guys to lift a fridge. If it weighs 200 or 300 pounds, that's worth $12 to $15," he said.
Some days are luckier than others, said Jean, a metal scavenger who didn't want his last name used.
Last week, he found a pile of abandoned radiators from air conditioning units stuffed in a dumpster.
"I found this all in the garbage!" he exclaimed, estimating the load will be worth between $700 and $800.
In general though, making $150 in a day is tough, Benzakein admitted.
"People aren't going to move that often," above and beyond the annual moving day. "We won't find that many appliances, and the snow will bury a lot of the scrap.
"This is their time of year."
Most of the metal will be shredded and sent to China.