It’s summertime! What does it mean? You get to enjoy beaches like Scarborough Beach, eat some gelato, stroll around Northbridge, watch a movie in the great outdoors, and do some seasonal clean-up. You may not look forward to the last option, but there are good reasons to do so, including its benefits for the environment. You also get a tidier home and even have the opportunity to earn some cash if you have scrap metals around.
Summer is a great time to look for recyclable scrap metal since inclement weather during the winter months can damage certain materials. The good news is that can, lawnmower, and air conditioning recycling is so much easier than you think.
Scrap Metal Recycling Guide
You can find recyclable scrap around your house. Here are our suggestions for items that you can search for and clean out this summer:
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Old Air Conditioning Units
We all know how air conditioners are invaluable in summer, especially in Perth. They are a true luxury that many homes cannot be without. But because they are used regularly, they can get worn out every few years.
Do you have aircon units that you no longer use? Air conditioning recycling is a much better option than keeping the device in your shed. Many people store their old window units even when they no longer work. Perhaps your aircon is no longer efficient, or you have decided to update it in the early summer months.
You can recycle your aircon by sending the unit to a Perth recycling facility to gain useful space in your storage. This way, you do not need to open and pick apart the materials from your air conditioner that can be recycled. However, if you want to take the DIY route, you can strip out all the metal parts and collect them with other scrap metals as you go.
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BBQ Grills
As you clean your house, you may find that it is time to discard some cooking items. BBQs are a favourite way to entertain during summer, which is why almost every Aussie household owns a barbeque. But you cannot have tasty grilled food if your BBQ no longer functions properly. It’s probably time to replace and recycle your BBQ grill. This piece of equipment has some parts that are recyclable and can give you some good money.
Most BBQs use stainless steel or aluminium, commonly found at the top and bottom of the equipment. The easiest way for you to figure out which parts are recyclable is to check with a magnet. If it sticks, it is most likely recyclable. These parts can be transformed into a variety of items so that there is less need to mine for raw materials. That’s because metals do not lose their defining characteristics, allowing them to be recycled infinitely.
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Aluminium or Beer Cans
Barbeque and beer go well together. And whilst you are cleaning your grill and thinking about recycling your BBQ grill, you may also want to consider recycling your beer cans.
Can recycling has been growing in popularity over the past several years. The craft beer industry pushes the use of aluminium cans for packaging products – and good reason. Aluminium is lighter than glass and does not use a lot of energy. This valuable element is recycled in many parts of the world, including Australia. It has been found that recycling aluminium and beer cans can aid in lowering carbon footprint than cans sourced from mined bauxite.
Before sending your scrap cans to recycling facilities, make sure that they are emptied and rinsed thoroughly. Doing so prevents cross-contamination, especially if you put the cans together with other recyclable items. Remember that you should only send aluminium cans to a facility, not those made of plastic.
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Old Outdoor Furniture
Are you planning to dispose of your old outdoor furniture? Summer offers an excellent opportunity for you to get rid of tired, shabby items. Perhaps they are outdated, and you want to toss them out. But before you do, think about recycling furniture first.
If your furniture is beyond saving because it has cracks or is broken or warped, you can visit a recycling facility with the item in tow. Sure, there are ways to fix some furniture pieces, but replacing them with a new one may be the better choice.
Metal furniture is the easiest to recycle. Plus, it’s easy to recognise which furniture and parts can be sent to a local facility. Scrap metal from patio furniture is typically durable, and that’s why it can be reused repeatedly. Some of the metals accepted are aluminium, iron, and steel. Remember that ferrous metals attract magnets, so test your furniture to determine if it has ferrous or non-ferrous metals.
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Lawn Mowers
If you have broken or unwanted lawn mowers, you do not need to toss them into your bin. You can take them directly to a recycling facility near you to recycle the reusable materials. Petrol lawnmowers can be placed with items that contain scrap metals. Make sure that you empty the petrol tank before sending it to a facility. You can use a siphon hose and an oil catch pan for this task.
Meanwhile, if you have push lawn mowers, you will be glad to know that they are made from metal. Once again, you can take the equipment to a scrap metal recycling facility for recycling. Check that the grass collection bin is not made from plastic; otherwise, you may want to remove it first before sending it to a recycling business.
For electric lawnmowers, you may want to contact the facility first. Some recyclers do not accept electric and electronic waste items.
Where to Take Your Scrap Metal This Summer
Are you ready for summer? How about a thorough summer clean-up? If you have any of the items mentioned above, whether it is a lawnmower, a BBQ grill, TV, air conditioner, or any other appliance, chances are it has scrap metal that can be recycled. Take the equipment to Collins Recycle. It’s a good opportunity for extra cash this summer.
Scrap metal at Collins Recycling will be sorted and processed at our scrap yard. We have the suitable machinery that will prep the metals for their next destination, from foundries to smelters to mills. These metals will then be made into new metal products. Help us begin the process by bringing your scrap metals to our recycling centre today.
