Recycling Your Scrap Metal: 3 Tips To Help You Get Top Dollar

Recycling scrap metal is not only good for the environment, but it can also be a great way of earning a few extra dollars each time you take a trip to the scrapyard. However, if you want to make sure you are getting top dollar for all of your scrap metal, you will need to take a bit of initiative. The three tips below can help to ensure that you walk away from the scrapyard with as much extra cash as possible in your pocket. 

Tip #1: Always Sort Your Metal Before Recycling

Scrapyards pay varying rates for the scrap metal that they take in for recycling. This is because the value of any specific type of metal is based on the current supply and demand for that metal. If you bring in a load of mixed metals, you will be paid the lowest rate for your entire load since the scrapyard will need to sort through this load themselves before any of the material can be recycled. However, if you take the time to sort your metal yourself, you will be paid the current rate for each type of metal in your load. This is especially beneficial if you are planning to recycle any metals that are in high demand such as copper or aluminum since these metals will offer a much higher selling price. 

Tip #2: Always Make Sure That Your Scrap Metal Is Free From Significant Debris

There is no expectation that your scrap metal is clean and shiny when you bring it down to the scrapyard for recycling. However, if there are significant amounts of debris on or in your scrap metal, you could find that the price you pay for this metal is reduced from what you expected. This is because scrapyards pay for scrap metal by the pound. Significant amounts of debris can impact the weight of your load and must therefore be considered when paying you for these materials. If you want to avoid having your payment offset after they remove the debris, you will want to take a few moments to remove any significant debris before taking your scrap metal in for recycling. 

Tip #3: Always Disassemble Large Items

You may be surprised to learn just how many different types of metal can be hiding inside a large item such as a washer or lawn mower. If you are planning to recycle large items, you will want to take the time to disassemble these items before taking them down to the scrapyard. This will allow you to remove things such as copper wire or aluminum coils so that you can be paid separately for these premium metals. The best part is, since these items are being recycled anyway, you never have to worry about damaging them if they are disassembled incorrectly.

To learn more about scrap metal recycling, contact a recycling service in your area.