I’m the opposite of you I guess. I live out in the boonies, fly over country, red state. I collected “junk” water heaters and made one good one out of three “junk” ones.
FREE
You need land to collect large "junk" items. Or a massive house. I live in NJ and to get either I'd have to move to the hinterlands. Like, the pine barrens. If you've never been there, notice that they are called "barrens", not gardens or fields or groves. Barrens. In the populated areas if you have anything unsightly outside (and unsightly would include a bunch of old water heaters) the cops will politely tell you to take care of it. So we buy stuff when we need it and get rid of large stuff we don't need anymore.
I envy you your ability to do what you want on your own property.