Metal recycling plays a huge role in both the environmental and manufacturing industries in the US. There are endless reasons to recycle and it’s a lot easier (and more worth your while) than you might think.
As well as benefits for you, the environment and various industries throughout the US, recycling holds a huge workforce which promotes employment and eco-friendliness throughout the whole country.
Recycling plays a huge role in all our lives (even if you don’t realize it), and that’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand metal recycling a bit more, and to give you the knowledge needed to recycle more of your scrap metal.
Why recycle metal?
More or less all metal can be recycled without losing its properties. This is so important because it means that manufacturers aren’t sacrificing product quality in order to help the environment.
There are lots of different reasons to recycle your scrap metal, let’s take a look at a few of them.
It benefits the planet
Most metals (for example, aluminum) are mined from the earth – depleting our planet’s finite natural resources. Those that aren’t mined (for example, bronze, which is an alloy and is made by heating tin and copper) will still require significant natural resources in order to create it.
Not only are the earth’s natural resources significantly reduced in these processes, but the process of mining/creating new metal also has a huge impact on the environment in terms of emissions. These processes release harmful gases into the air which plays a huge part in global warming.
Recycling metal, however, is a perfect alternative to creating new metal. Metal recycling allows for cost-effective production of metals without great cost or significant impact to the planet. In fact, in some cases (for example, aluminum), 95% less energy is used to recycle metal when compared to mining it.
It preserves the earth’s natural resources
As mentioned above, mining for new materials not only contributes to global warming, but it also depletes the planet of its natural resources. Metal is extracted from the earth and when one area has been mined, teams move on to extract from other areas. However, there is only a limited amount of those natural resources left, and this also leaves large excavation holes.
Recycling metal completely eradicates the need for mining, whilst also reducing emissions by up to 95%, by re-using the metal that’s already in circulation.
It benefits the economy
In 2020, the global metal recycling market was valued at $562.87 billion – expected to rise to $806.61 billion over the following seven years. It was also recently found that over 91 million tons of metal was recycled in the US over one year. So, it’s fair to say that the metal recycling industry is booming, and that the US has a large role to play moving forward.
The market for metals manufacturing is only growing, allowing the metal recycling industry to contribute to the overall economy value. This means supporting recruitment, the environment, various industries and, also, allowing businesses to fairly price their products for consumers (due to cheaper costs thanks to recycling).
It benefits you
Metal recycling brings a handful of benefits directly to you, such as:
- Getting rid of unwanted items
We’ve all been stuck with unwanted items that we aren’t sure how to properly get rid of. Microwave broken? Unwanted car parts? Leftover metal piping? Metal recycling helps you get rid of these items in a way which is responsible.
- Keep your carbon footprint low
As well as getting rid of the items you no longer need or want, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your decision to recycle instead of contributing to landfill is benefiting the economy and the environment. When you take metal items to landfill, over time, their chemicals will leak into the soil, polluting the ground, plus nearby air- and waterways –releasing harmful gases into the environment. Recycling your metals avoids this process and lowers your carbon footprint.
- Make yourself some cash
Perhaps one of the best incentives for recycling your metal – it’ll earn you some cash. Metal recycling facilities, like ourselves at Langley Recycling (based in Kansas City) will give you cash for your scrap. Simply bring us your items, we’ll pay you and you’re good to go.
To summarize, metal recycling protects the plant, lowers your household’s carbon footprint, makes you some cash, lessens energy waste and supports a huge part of the US workforce.
How to recycle metal
Many people may have good intentions to recycle their scrap metal, but they aren’t sure where to take it. The first thing you’ll need to do is find a reputable, responsible metal recycling facility near you. Some things to check when looking for a facility include their website, their social media channels, their reviews and how they comply with government laws and regulations. There are strict rules in place as to the types of materials you can and can’t recycle, so this last point is important.
Once you’ve found somewhere that can recycle your metal, the next steps will likely be a little different depending on the facility you’re using. However, as an example, the process at Langley Recycling is:
- Bring in your scrap
Bring your metal to our clean, easily accessible facility. You can even get in touch beforehand so we can help you identify your metal and to find out current scrap prices.
- Get weighed
Our friendly, knowledgeable team will review and weigh your scrap metal to make sure you’re getting a fair service.
- Get paid
We’ll pay you right away in your choice of payment method (cash, bitcoin and Venmo to name a few).
How are metals recycled?
When you take scrap metal to be recycled, it’ll go through a robust checking process by the facility you’re taking it to. This is to make sure that they’re using the right recycling process for the right type of metal. Some items (such as kitchen appliances) will need a more rigorous check, where harmful elements are removed prior to starting the recycling process.
Metals are carefully separated, and each type of metal will go through a specific recycling process unique to itself. This can include using electrolysis or magnetic arrays to melt waste metals down, then removing any impurities. Later, metals will be solidified and extruded or shaped for further treatment to adjust its properties depending on its intended use. After that, the metal will be sent to where it’s needed.
How to figure out what scrap metal you have
Metal will be recycled differently depending on which type of metal it is and whether it’s ferrous or nonferrous. We can help you establish which type you’re dealing with, but as an overview, let’s take a look at some of the metals we most commonly deal with:
Metal: Aluminum
Color: Silvery white to dull grey (depending on the surface roughness)
Properties: Lightweight, resistant to corrosion, ductile, reflective, non-magnetic.
Commonly found in: Refrigerators, cans, clothes dryers, CDs, window frames, wires, pots and more.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Nonferrous
Metal: Steel
Color: Steel can vary in color depending on its temperature. High temperatures can include reds and yellows, low temperatures can include browns, purples, blues and greys.
Properties: Durable, formable, strong, conductive, resistant to corrosion.
Commonly found in: Padlocks, car parts, roof cladding, sinks, garden equipment and more.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Ferrous
Metal: Copper
Color: Reddish brown
Properties: Non-magnetic, heat and electrical conductive, malleable, ductile.
Commonly found in: Cooking pots, piping, car radiators, electrical wire and more.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Nonferrous
Metal: Cast iron
Color: Black/dark grey
Properties: Hard, tough, ductile, malleable, elasticity.
Commonly found in: Cutlery, barbeques, car parts, magnets, kitchen appliances and more.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Ferrous
Metal: Nickel
Color: Silvery-white with a warm, golden tinge and polish.
Properties: Hard, malleable, ductile, strong, fair electrical and thermal conductivity.
Commonly found in: Jewelry, cell phones, guitar strings, glasses frames and more.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Non-ferrous
Metal: Titanium
Color: Metallic white/silver
Properties: Strong, resistant to corrosion, lustrous, ductile.
Commonly found in: Bike frames, tennis rackets, cell phones, scissors and more.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Nonferrous
Metal: Tantalum
Color: Blue/grey
Properties: Strong, ductile, resistant to corrosion, hard, heat and electrical conductive.
Commonly found in: Cell phones, laptops, hard drives, implants and more.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Nonferrous
Metal: Bronze
Color: Metallic brown
Properties: Hard, brittle, highly resistant to corrosion, ductile.
Commonly found in: Musical instruments, bikes, medals, sculptures.
Ferrous or nonferrous?: Nonferrous
How much money can I earn from recycling scrap metal?
Because of how valuable scrap metal is to both metal recycling facilities and manufacturers, you can expect to get good value for money for your scrap. Although how much you get will depend on a few things.
The type of metal
All metals are different and naturally, some are worth more than others. For example, you may get more cash for your copper than your steel. Plus, nonferrous metals such as aluminum and brass tend to be more valuable than ferrous metals such as steel and iron. That being said, most reputable recycling facilities will usually be happy to take any recyclable metal off your hands to assist with safe disposal.
If you have some ferrous materials to recycle, it may be worth letting them build up, taking them to be recycled all at once to get a larger chunk of cash.
The international market
Metal recycling facilities are led by the international market when it comes to pricing scrap metal. This means the price changes all the time – even daily. The reason for this is based on the ‘supply and demand’ theory. When construction is at a high, copper demand will be high – increasing its price. Equally, if the metal demand is low, prices will be too.
You’ll be able to call your local metal recycling unit (or check their website) before you visit to find out what the prices are that day.
The recycling facility
It’s always a good idea to shop around – even when it comes to recycling your scrap metal. As well as the international market, prices may also vary depending on the recycling unit themselves. You may even end up travelling a bit further out to make sure you get ultimate value for money.
At Langley Recycling, we make it our mission to set our prices as fairly as possible so that our customers get the best deal for them. Get in touch to find out today’s prices.
Are there any metal recycling regulations to be aware of?
When it comes to regulations, that’s something you can happily leave down to recycling facilities. Each metal recycling facility will have an obligation to abide by the complex laws and regulations that come with metal recycling. Processes and procedures will vary depending on metal type and whether it’s ferrous or nonferrous.
At Langley Recycling, you can be assured that as part of our ongoing and passionate commitment to protect the planet, we continuously stay on top of these different laws and regulations. So much, that we have ongoing programs where we are able to identify materials we can and cannot safely recycle.
All materials handled by us will be done so safely and responsibly.
Scrap metal recycling near me
If you’re new to metal recycling, you might not have paid attention to local scrap yards or metal recycling facilities in your area before now. It’s easy enough to find a place to take your scrap metal simply by using Google.
It’s good to make a list of a few nearby facilities so you can phone around and compare prices. Sometimes it may be worth traveling a little further to get a better deal for your scrap.
If you’re based in or around Kansas City, why not bring your scrap metal to Langley Recycling? We’re a fourth-generation scrap yard and metal recycling facility dedicated to our customers and the environment. We aim to treat our customers as fairly as possible, getting them the best deal, whilst also abiding by all laws and regulations to make sure your metals are recycled safely and responsibly.
Get in touch with any questions you may have today.
