Wooden spools in Bensalem

Bucks County's busiest border

Bensalem Township borders Northeast Philadelphia along Poquessing Creek and runs east to the Delaware River. It is one of the most populous and most built-up townships in Bucks County: apartment complexes and housing developments, shopping centres, a casino and racetrack, hotels along US 1, and a large amount of industrial and warehouse land along State Road by the river and in parks near Street Road and the Turnpike. Bensalem has every major road in Lower Bucks running through it, which makes it a natural hub for contractors and distributors.

Who leaves reels in Bensalem

• Contractors' shops. Many electrical, HVAC, plumbing and utility contractors are based in Bensalem's industrial parks because of the road access. Their yards collect reels from jobs all over the region.
• Warehouses and distribution. Buildings along State Road and near the Turnpike change tenants regularly, with new lighting, power and docks each time.
• Apartments and housing. New and renovated apartments leave plywood spools and small reels.
• Retail and hospitality. Shopping centres, restaurants, hotels and the casino have ongoing fit-out and maintenance work.

Reaching Bensalem

I-95 runs along the river side of the township, with an exit at Street Road. The Pennsylvania Turnpike's Bensalem interchange connects with US 1, which runs northeast toward Langhorne and Trenton and southwest along Roosevelt Boulevard into Philadelphia. US 13 (Bristol Pike) runs parallel to the river. Street Road (PA 132) crosses the township east to west. The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, just over the city line, is the closest crossing to New Jersey.

Contractor yards

A contractor's yard in Bensalem may hold dozens of reels of mixed sizes from many jobs, some returnable and some not, some in good condition and some broken. When you ask for a pickup, it helps to sort them roughly:

1. Reels with stencils, serial numbers or deposit tags, which may need to go back to their owner.
2. Sound one-way reels, ready to go back into use.
3. Damaged reels, which go to recycling.

A photo of the whole stack from two sides is often enough for us to plan the truck and give you an idea of what the reels are worth. The sell page explains what sets the price.

Close to the city

Because Bensalem borders Northeast Philadelphia, pickups here often join pickups in Somerton, Bustleton, Torresdale and the Far Northeast on the same run. That makes it easier to collect smaller amounts, such as a few spools from an apartment refit, without waiting long.

Industrial parks by the river

The land along State Road between the river and the railroad has heavy industry and warehousing, some of it decades old. Reels found in older yards there can be weathered, and the occasional reel turns out to be a returnable that has been forgotten for years. Check markings before calling a reel yours.

Buying reels in Bensalem

Contractors in Bensalem buy as well as sell: a business that needs reels to re-spool cut cable, rope or hose can buy sound empties of the right size. See re-spooling reels.

Racetrack and casino

The casino and horse racetrack in Bensalem have been expanded and renovated repeatedly, with new gaming floors, restaurants, lighting, video displays and security systems. Large hospitality projects use many kinds of cable: power, data, audiovisual, security and fire alarm, and they generate reels steadily during construction and refurbishment. Contractors there usually keep a tidy laydown area and are glad to see empties go.

Hotels and restaurants on US 1

Lincoln Highway through Bensalem is lined with hotels, diners and chain restaurants. Kitchen equipment, signage, lighting and refrigeration upgrades leave spools and small reels at the back door.

Neshaminy Creek and the riverfront

Neshaminy Creek forms Bensalem's northeast boundary before meeting the Delaware at Neshaminy State Park. Marinas and boat clubs along the creek and river need shore power and lighting. Old reels near the water are often waterlogged.

Apartment complexes and property managers

Bensalem has many large garden-apartment and townhouse complexes, some dating from the 1960s and 1970s. Property managers modernise units as tenants move out: new panels, smoke detectors, kitchen circuits and lighting. A maintenance team turning over several units a month can gather a shed full of spools. We can visit every quarter, or whenever the shed is full.

Trucking terminals and bus depots

Freight terminals, bus garages and fleet yards near the Turnpike are installing chargers for electric trucks, vans and buses. Charging hubs need heavy feeders and switchgear, which means large drums. Fleet managers planning electrification will see reels arrive in bursts: first for the utility service, then for the chargers themselves.

Cornwells Heights station

SEPTA's Cornwells Heights park-and-ride station, beside I-95, is a busy commuter hub. Station lighting, ticketing and parking upgrades occasionally produce reels too.

Questions

Do you cover Cornwells Heights, Trevose and Feasterville?

Yes, along with the rest of Bensalem and the neighbouring townships.

Can you collect from a yard every month?

Yes. Busy yards are good candidates for a recurring pickup.