Most of the cost in having something chrome plating is the cost of the disposal and reclamation of the heavy metals such as chromium, nickel and copper, when the bath is spent. It must be pumped into approved containers and trucked to a reclamation site and treated. The chrome shop is the one that pay's for that and is added to the cost. I know for a fact that the reputable shops also need to deal with the EPA and everything must be accounted for. If they find that they are dumping solutions in a drain or burying it they will get a huge fine and possibly closed down.