The Do’s and Don’ts of Scrap Metal Recycling

Recycling scrap metal is a great way to help the environment while making cash. If you are a first-time scrap recycler, congratulations! However, recycling is not as clean-cut as collecting and dropping metals off at the recycling center.

Before you drop off metals for recycling, adhere to some dos and don'ts if you want to make the most of your scrap load. Learn some of the dos and don'ts of scrap metal recycling below.

Do Contact Your Local Recycling Center to Check Their Requirements 

Recycling centers take a wide range of metals. However, they may have restrictions on what is acceptable for scrap. Some centers may not take precious metals. Others may lack the tools necessary to remove metals from electronics. Therefore, checking before you take your scrap to a recycling center is always best.

Do Separate Your Scrap 

If you mix a load, the scrap metal dealer may value the load based on the least valuable metal. That means you could earn the least possible amount from your load. Therefore, before you head to the scrap metal yard, separate the different scrap metals according to type and store them in different containers.

When you separate your scrap metal, determining the value of your scrap load is easier. Therefore, you stand a chance of earning more money from your load.

Do Wear Protective Gear 

You always have a risk of injury when you handle scrap metal, especially when it is rusty and has sharp edges. Therefore, as you collect or clean scrap metal, take safety precautions. Wear a good set of gloves, work boots, goggles, and clothes that cover your skin.

Do Use a Magnet 

A magnet is the best tool to use to identify whether the metals you want to scrap are ferrous or non-ferrous. Any metal that sticks to the magnet is ferrous. Ferrous metals contain iron. As a result, these metals are magnetic. Any non-magnetic metal is non-ferrous.

Ferrous metals also contain carbon, which makes them vulnerable to rust. Therefore, ferrous metals often fetch lower prices than non-ferrous metals in recycling centers.

Do Not Collect Scrap That Isn’t Yours

Scrap fetches good money in a recycling center. But that does not mean you should take metal scraps from others’ properties and construction sites. Before you pick scrap metal outside your property, ensure your local laws accept the practice to avoid non-compliance.

Do Not Label Your Scrap Incorrectly 

While you need to sort your scrap metal, be careful to attach the correct description to the scrap you sort. Otherwise, you may get a lower cost for your scrap than anticipated. For instance, if you label non-ferrous metal as ferrous, you might get fewer earnings.

Use the magnet test to sort out ferrous and non-ferrous metals. If you are unsure which types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals you have, your recycler at the collection center can help you further categorize the metals.

Do Not Ignore Metal Pricing Trends 

Scrap metal prices fluctuate due to changes in supply and demand. Thus, before you bring your scrap load to the recycling center, research to know how much money you can fetch from your load. If the supply of scrap metal exceeds demand, prices decline. When demand is higher than supply, prices increase.

If the present demand for scrap metal is low, you are better off holding onto it until prices improve. However, if you hold onto ferrous metal for too long, you have a risk that rust will corrode the metal. 

The final thing in metal recycling that people sometimes fail to consider is the importance of working with a trustworthy scrap metal buyer. Your scrap metal buyer should be someone you trust when you drop off your metal and be honest about price changes.

Big Daddy Scrap is your trusted junk dealer in Chicago Heights. Contact us today for more information about our services.