What Kind of Metal Is Good Scrap Metal?
The success of a scrap metal business depends on the continual flow of various metals. From industrial scrap, such as metal shavings, to scrap commonly thrown out by consumers, such as old lawn furniture and appliances, scrap metal dealers can make a profit and help reduce the accumulation of recyclable materials in landfills by identifying the various types of recyclable scrap metal. Does this Spark an idea?
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Steel and Iron
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According to an Internal Revenue Service report on the scrap metal industry, steel and iron represent the largest volume of recycled scrap metal, with approximately 56 million tons processed by scrap metal processors annually. Iron and steel are considered ferrous metal, and scrap pieces can come from industrial or private sources. Some examples of recyclable items commonly supplied by private sources include appliances, such as refrigerators and stoves, fencing and old automobiles. Industrial sources, such as the automobile industry, contribute scrap that often comes from cut pieces and metal shavings that go unused during production.
Aluminum
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Aluminum represents another type of scrap metal. Aluminum garners more money per pound than steel and iron, but it is recycled in smaller quantities. This type of metal tends to weigh less than steel and iron products. Items commonly manufactured from aluminum and good options for scrap metal include aluminum sliding doors, window frames and siding. The aluminum beverage can is perhaps one of the most common types of recycled aluminum items.
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Copper
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Scrap metal recyclers also accept copper for recycling purposes. Common recyclable items that are made of copper include electrical cables, telephone wires and pipes. In addition, air conditioners and auto radiators contain copper parts that can be removed from the remainder of the unit, usually made of another metal, and recycled separately. Doing this helps keep all recyclables out of the landfill and takes advantage of the various metals that go into the manufacturing of specific products.
Other Metals
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The scrap metal industry also accepts other types of metals for recycling. This includes metals such as lead, titanium and precious metals. Recycling precious metals such as silver and gold offers consumers a way to get involved in the recycling business and make some extra cash. Various companies, predominantly jewelers, pay individuals for gold and silver scrap. This can include broken jewelry pieces and valuable coins.
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References
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