Sell Your Scraps: How to Recycle Metal

Although metal recycling is necessary for the health of our planet, many people are still resistant to the idea. Perhaps it is the inconvenience or the thought that their efforts won’t make that much of a difference.

But the fact is, every small action does add up. In addition, there are businesses that will pay for your items, making to recycle metal an easy way to generate extra income.

Aluminum cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but they aren’t the only source of metal. Look at items such as old window frames or screens, lawn furniture or other used household items.

Rather than adding them to the landfill, recycle them, do something good for the planet and add a little cash to your pocket in the process.

What Can Be Recycled at a Metal Recycling Center?

Aluminum

This could mean soda cans, bakeware, wheels, doors, siding, wire, radiators. Aluminum is an important item to recycle because it can be turned back into another aluminum product quickly and efficiently.

Copper

This includes copper pipes, wire, electric motors, and roofing. Copper is another one of those great metals that is completely recyclable and can be used over and over again.

Steel

Many things are made of steel. Think of steel doors, appliances (like an old washer and dryer), engines, drums, rotors, sinks, cast iron, food cans, paint cans, and aerosol cans. Do you have any of those at home?

Brass

Door hinges, door handles, radiators, plumbing fixtures, lamps, light fittings, hose fittings, hooks, ornaments, and screws are among the many brass items that you can recycle at a recycling center.

Computers

That’s right! You can recycle old computers. Take in your hard drives, printers, copying machines and fax machines.

Batteries

Car batteries and marine batteries can be recycled too.

Junk Cars

Have an old beater that doesn’t run anymore? Don’t let it rust to pieces in your yard.

Artificial Christmas Trees

Do you have a fake metal tree you want to get rid of? You can recycle it, along with any lights or ornaments still on the tree.

Why Recycle Metal?

The benefits of metal recycling are numerous. Consider that the soup can you recycle today can be re-purposed into a soda can in as little as 6 weeks.

Plus, that recycled can has saved the energy that it takes to power three hours of usage.

If you add in the fact that metal is recycled an infinite number of times, it is easy to see how small efforts can easily add up to major benefits for everyone.

Additionally, you can also earn an extra income. By reviewing scrap metal prices per pound, you can easily determine how much your trash metal is worth.

Start Recycling Metal

Simply set aside a container to recycle metal and deposit your discarded items. Before long it will become a habit. Once the container is full, or once a month, whichever works best for you, bring the container to your local scrap metal dealer.

You end up with more money to pay an unexpected bill or save for that dream vacation, plus you will feel good knowing that you have done your part to save our planet.