Scrap metal is one of the most valuable products you can recycle, and it encompasses so many consumer products as well as almost all industries. From appliances to batteries to cans to clothes hangers, metal is everywhere even in our home and workplace. Recycling metal is important not only in keeping a limited supply material out of landfills but also because it can make you money while staying environmentally conscious.
Metal Recycling Preparation
When it comes to scrap metal, the general rule is that a product needs to be at least 50 percent metal so you can be sure that it is safe to be used again and again. Even if that metal is surrounded by other materials like plastic, it’s worth recycling if it’s made mostly out of metal mainly because it is in demand almost everywhere.
If you have products with only a small amount of metal but it’s easy to remove, make sure that you could easily separate the metal without getting it contaminated. For example, a plastic three-ring binder is not scrapped metal, but remove the metal rings because it could be used again.
Scrap metal is classified as either ferrous which contains iron, such as steel and nonferrous. So, you will want to identify whether your metal is ferrous or nonferrous. The way to do this is to carefully organize and categorize using a magnet. Ferrous metals stick to a magnet while nonferrous metals don’t.
You may also use WM’s recycling directory, which is one of the most reliable in the industry, to find a scrap metal recycler, and contact the company or visit its website to find out how much they are willing to pay for it and if there’s a minimum amount of material you need to bring.
Keep in mind that most scrap metal recyclers will require you to bring identification when you ask for a recycle in order to prevent people from stealing scrap metal (e.g., road signs, metal barriers) and selling it for scrap.
Find scrap metal drop-off locations near you using an app which enables recycling locator.
Why Recycle Metal
Metal is also one of the few items that you can regularly recycle for money. However, the catch is you will usually get paid by the pound. This makes it a great fundraising opportunity as well as a perfect project for charities and advocacies.
Nonferrous scrap makes up only 10 percent of the total material recycled in the U.S.; however, it earns more than half of scrap recycling revenue.
Metal is in limited supply, and while we can manufacture more glass and plastic from natural resources, we can’t make more aluminum, copper, and steel.
WM Metals and Alloys processed waste materials on an industrial scale with years of experience and expertise, selling the recovered metals and other raw materials worldwide. The use of recycled materials is environmentally friendly, which significantly reduces mining, environmental pollution, and energy consumption. Depending on the metal in question, the use of recycled metals as raw materials reduces energy consumption up to 60‒95%.
So if you are interested in buying alloy scrap or selling a quantity of alloy scrap, please do not hesitate to contact us at +65 86182069 or business@wmmetalsandalloys.com.