When people think of recycling metal, they often imagine it on a small scale, like a few children gathering aluminium cans for pocket money. However, there is a significant market for recycling commercial scrap metal for businesses.
Not only is recycling scrap metal good for the environment, but you also stand to make a tidy profit simply by cleaning up scrap around your business. It is always a good time to do this, but the end of the year often inspires people to take stock of the clutter that is gathering dust (and rust) and clear away the excess materials.
Why Recycle Commercial Scrap Metal
- Environmental Impact – Reclaiming various metals helps reduce the energy necessary to make new metals, as well as prevent metals from ending up in landfills.
- Extra Money – You may not get rich by recycling scrap, but there is money to be made for those willing to put forth the effort.
- Safety Concerns – If you have random piles of commercial scrap in and around your business, you are at risk for one of several types of accidents. You improve the well-being of everyone on your property by removing and recycling the metal you find.
In What Other Ways Can Recycling Scrap Help Your Business?
In addition to the monetary, safety, and environmental benefits, your business will receive the direct benefit of an enhanced reputation in your community and industry. As people become more aware of the need for recycling, they appreciate companies that make an effort to reclaim scrap metal. You also set an excellent example amongst businesses in your industry when you recycle scrap metal.
How to Find Scrap Metal
If you do not have much recycling experience, you may wonder where to find scrap metal. Depending on your business, you could be sitting on a sizeable amount of commercial scrap. Several industries are the best places to find scrap metal. These include:
- The Appliance Industry – Whether you are involved in manufacturing, repairing, or refurbishing appliances, you have access to a large amount of commercial scrap metal. You will often find scrap in places where appliances are common, so be sure to keep an eye out.
- The Automotive Industry – There are many opportunities to find and recycle scrap if you work in the automotive industry in some capacity. Of course, pirating materials meant for building autos is not an acceptable way to find scrap, but defective parts or broken machinery that need to be disposed of are good sources of scrap metal.
- The Construction Industry – It is likely that you already know how easy it is to find scrap metal on the job site if you are involved in the construction industry. Demolition is a facet of the industry that has many opportunities to access a variety of scrap metals. The metal remnants left after tearing apart buildings require disposal. However, recycling them is an infinitely better option than letting the metals go to a landfill.
- The Heating and Air Conditioning Industry – Being involved in the heating and air conditioning industry puts you in contact with numerous units that are beyond repair and need disposal. It is one of the best places to find scrap metal. There is a considerably high amount of scrap metal in irreparable heating and cooling units. Rather than increase landfills, reclaiming commercial scrap metal is a far better option.
Other Ways to Find Scrap Metal
Finding commercial scrap metal is not confined to a few industries. Other sources of scrap metal are often overlooked. These include:
- Metal Pallet Strapping – If you receive goods via pallet, there is an excellent chance that you will find galvanised metal pallet strapping. The strapping is often discarded amongst other waste materials, but it is easily recycled.
- Refurbishing Your Office – You can find a surprising amount of recyclable scrap metal during an office overhaul. Often the leftovers after a redo are overlooked. However, metal on furnishings, computer towers, and discarded fixtures can all be reclaimed for cash.
- Steel Racking in Warehouses – Because of dents and dings from forklifts, warehouse racking often needs to be replaced. Failing to meet OHS standards may make the racking useless in a warehouse. However, the rolled hollow section steel is easily reclaimed and repurposed.
Everyday Items that Contain Scrap Metal
Even though your business may be an excellent place to find commercial scrap metal, there are other everyday things at home worth recycling.
- Old microwaves
- Refrigerators
- Motors from mowers or air conditioners
- Computer towers
- Electric motors
What are the Best Materials to Recycle?
While reclaiming all metals will help the environment, some metals will fetch a higher price than others. Prices fluctuate due to various market conditions, so a definitive price per pound is unpredictable. However, as a general guideline, the following are the most valuable metals to recycle.
- Copper – Generally, copper will net the highest price at scrap yards. You can find copper in household items, plumbing pipes, air conditioners, electrical wires, and plastic insulation.
- Brass – Because it is such a heavy metal, brass usually gets a reasonable price when being sold as scrap. You can find brass door handles, keys, and bathroom fixtures, amongst other things.
- Steel – While steel is not the most profitable metal to recycle, it is plentiful and is found in everyday household objects such as cabinets, chairs, small appliances, and shelving units.
- Aluminium – While it gets the lowest amount per kg, aluminium is one of the most recyclable metals on earth. Around 80 per cent can be reclaimed. It is also abundant and is found in soda cans, siding, gutters, and window frames.
There is no denying the fact that recycling scrap metal is a win-win for your wallet and the environment. Collecting commercial scrap metal is less challenging than many people believe. If you want to gather the metal but are not sure what you need to do, feel free to contact us at Collins Recycling. Our expert staff will give you the information you need so you can have a positive impact on the environment and make the most of your efforts.
