How Can You Get the Most Value Out of Recyclable Scrap Metal Around the House?

After spending time on home construction, demolition, and renovation, you’ll have a lot of waste you need to get rid of. It can be frustrating to put more money into cleanup. You will most likely have a lot of scrap metal lying around the house, and you may be wondering what you can do with it. You might be able to recycle all that scrap metal for cash, because much of it can be reused. But, why should you spend so much extra time sorting out all that metal? While it may be easier to throw it all in a dumpster, you could save money by recycling it. If you take the time to separate and trade the scrap metal that’s left after a big demolition job, you can get some of that money back (which will lead to savings in the long run).

Types of Recyclable Metals and Their Value

Some of the more valuable metals that can be recycled include:

• Scrap Copper — Compared to other metals, scrap copper will give you the most money. The first place where you can look for copper is in your kitchen and bathroom. You can also find it in your water pipes, which are located both in your home and under the ground. Another place where you can find copper is in your wiring. While it may seem obvious, the first thing you need to do is turn off the electricity. After that, you can either rip it through the walls or cut it into pieces.
• Scrap Brass — Because it can be hard to find and is in such high demand, brass is another high-value metal. One of the best ways to find it for scrap metal recycling is in your doorknobs. You can also find brass in your kitchen and bathroom pipes because if it isn’t copper, most likely it’s brass. You can tell the difference between the two by looking at the pipes themselves. Copper has a reddish-brown color, while brass will have a muted yellow. Copper materials will also have an engraved “C” on them.
• Scrap Aluminum — While it may not give you as much money as copper and brass, aluminum is a lot easier to find. You can find it in window frames, siding, doors, gutters, and lightning rods. A lot of household items (especially in your kitchen) are made of aluminum. This can include pots, pans, and cans. Many types of home electronics are made out of aluminum, but it would be better to recycle these items through a company that specializes in recycling electronic waste.
• Scrap Steel — This is one of the cheapest metals used in home construction. In fact, any items for scrap metal recycling that aren’t made of the above will most likely be made of steel. But, if you can’t find out which one it is, you can run a magnet over it to make sure. You can find steel in shelves, heaters, metal chairs, and lamps. You can also find it in kitchen appliances (such as refrigerators, ovens, and microwaves).

Before you take these items to a scrap metal recycling center, you want to separate them based on the type of metal in which it is made by putting them in different bins. You then want to separate them based on the metal’s purity. In fact, any alloy metals should be on their own. If you’re looking for one of the best places for metal recycling in Corpus Christi, be sure to reach out to Dawson Recycling and Disposal.