Passive income: NO

Earning passive income from a scrap hauling side hustle is challenging and rare. Most people in this field earn actively by physically collecting and selling scrap. To make it passive, one would need to establish a system involving automation and outsourcing, such as hiring employees to handle operations and using technology for logistics and customer management. However, this requires significant upfront investment and management skills. Few people reach this level, as it often involves scaling into a full business rather than a side hustle. Most stories on forums like Reddit and YouTube highlight active involvement, with passive income being more of an exception than the norm. Misleading expectations often involve underestimating the effort and capital needed to automate and scale the business. Realistically, it becomes passive for those with business acumen and resources to invest in infrastructure, while it remains active for most individuals.