Metals are important, and they can be used in a variety of applications. One of the biggest advantages of using metal for industrial or domestic purposes is that it can be recycled and used over and over without changing its properties. The most common recyclable metals are copper, aluminum, and steel. While most people collect steel for recycling or throw it away at a car scrap yard pick up, metals like copper are rarely thrown away because of how precious they are.
The first thing you need to do if you want to recycle metals is figure out what metal you have. If you have copper or aluminum, you can recycle these by selling them directly to companies or individuals who run a metal recycling business.
All you need to do if you have some is check the current value of scrap copper, and you can calculate how much you will likely get for your own. This is the same for other more precious metals as well. You can check the going rate for aluminum with your local metal recycling business or online. They will also be able to tell you the price of galvanized steel per pound. After that, you can get them to come and pick up your scrap metal for recycling.
If you are like many people, it may seem easier to leave your discarded metal on the curb with the rest of your trash, where your local waste management services can take care of it. However, like many other materials, metal should be recycled to help the environment and reduce the amount of space taken up in landfills. While bringing your metal to a recycling service may seem like a hassle, there are a number of easy steps you can use to make this process simple, and possibly even profitable. Forget about traditional waste management companies and follow the steps below!
Step One: Figure Out What Kind of Metal You Have
There are two basic types of metals you should be concerned with: ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The former includes steel and iron, making this type of substance magnetic. Meanwhile, the latter is non-magnetic and includes copper, aluminum, brass, stainless steel and bronze. Once you have established this important fact, you can use color, texture and other visual aids to further classify your metal. Scrap yards and recycle centers will often pay high recycling metal prices for non-ferrous metals, while ferrous metals aren’t worth much but can and should still be properly reused.
Step Two: Do Your Research
If you plan to make some money by recycling metal, you should first look into the different recycling services and scrap yards near you. Try to find out which metals each center accepts, how much they pay, if they require a certain amount and other important information. You might find that you need to stock up on certain metals for awhile to get a decent payment or meet minimum requirements.
Step Three: If Your Items Can’t Be Recycled in This Way, Get Creative
A lot of items can be recycled through a local curbside recycling program. However, you should always contact the recycling service managing this project to make sure before you put the items outside. Then again, there may be a better option that allows you to benefit your community. Take wire hangers, for example: while they usually aren’t a profitable scrap metal, many dry cleaners will gladly accept and reuse them. Contact businesses in your area to see if they are interested.
Recycling metal might take a little extra time and effort, but if you are willing to try it out, you can help your community, the environment and possibly even profit. Start stockpiling your scrap metal today, and remember: reduce, reuse and recycle!
