Learn the Type of Metals You Cannot Recycle
Recently more and more people are buying into the concept of recycling and appreciating its impact on sustaining a green environment. Scrap metal recycling offers you a chance not only to better the environment but also to make some money on the side too. While paper, plastic and glass recycling are pretty straightforward, there's usually confusion regarding metals recycling, especially for new scrappers. When it comes to metal recycling, information is power; luckily enough almost all metals can be recycled. However, being aware of what metals can be redeemed for money will make it easier for you if you choose to clear up your garage. To understand what is acceptable it's important to know the following.
1. What Metals Can Be Recycled
The types of metal in car parts and other metallic construction beams are easily discernible but that is not true for scrap around your house. You may need the scrap yard manager to identify the metals. Most scrap yards, however, will accept fridges and dishwashers because they contain the core metals iron, aluminium, lead, zinc, steel or copper. The economic viability for metal recycling is grounded on the premise that more energy is needed to produce new metals than to recycle used ones.
For instance, aluminium requires less than 5 per cent of the energy used in refining raw aluminium in recycling. Tin also requires less energy recycling than producing it from scratch. Around your home, tin can be found in old kitchen equipment such as ladles and bowls.
Aside from tin and aluminium, most recyclers also accept brass, which is commonly found on your doorknobs, and zinc, which is abundant in car parts. It's also important to note that not all metals exist in their pure form; scrapyard managers can help you identify individual metals so that you get a fair price for your scrap metal.
2. And What Metals Cannot
While most metals are recyclable, there are a few metallic items around your house that won't be accepted at your local scrap yard because they are either dangerous or are illegal to recycle. These include the following:
Radioactive metals: There are a couple of devices with uranium embedded in them including clocks and fluorescent lamps.
Mercury: Exposure to mercury compromises the health of an individual and therefore it makes no sense to recycle a very toxic element.
Asbestos: Scrap yards are not legally approved to recycle asbestos due to the health hazard caused by the element.
Lead: Just like asbestos, lead is an extremely dangerous heavy metal commonly found in electronic devices. Scrap yards will isolate lead from electronics before recycling other metals.
For more information, contact a scrap metal recycling service in your area.
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