You work hard to save on the amount of water you use each day. Recycling is a part of the normal activities you and your kids perform, and you even make sure to utilize reusable water bottles, baggies, and other containers. You’re obviously very aware of the environment and the impact you have on it. Getting rid of scrap metal items through recycling is just another way that you can help reduce the amount of metal that ends up in the landfill.
Did you know that metals can take anywhere from 50 to 500 years to decompose if it’s left in a landfill? That’s crazy! Recycling metals from the smallest aluminum can to larger unwanted scrap metal can be beneficial because so much of what we use each day is made from these kinds of materials. Metals are quickly melted down and then reused from raw material once again.
Let’s look at some of the best ways to get rid of scrap metal that you may have lying around your garage or shop. That way, you’ll know the answer to “how do you get rid of scrap metal?” when you are ready to do just that.
Find a Local Junk Yard
Scrap metal can be valuable and something that is easily recyclable, so don’t throw away those scraps that you find in your garage or when you’re completing a project. Keeping scrap metal out of the junkyard should be a goal for everyone to help the environment and keep it beautiful for all of us, including our posterity.
Knowing where your local junkyard is and what kinds of things they accept are good ideas. You can look online for junkyards near you and go to their websites to find out more about the things that they specialize in taking. For example, many specialize in accepting old cars or appliances that no longer work, and you want to get rid of them. Other people can come to their locations looking to repair their cars and buy specific parts they need. What a great recycling plan, right?
If you wonder “how do you get rid of scrap metal” at home, there are some easy tricks to know. The kinds of metal and size of the metal scraps that you have to get rid of will tell you whether you can recycle it in your recycle bin at home or if you need to take it to a junkyard. Small items like soda cans or soup cans can go into your home recycling bin. Larger scrap metal should be taken to the scrap yard or junkyard near you to be recycled.
Of course, not every kind of scrap metal can be recycled. Some of the types of scrap metals that you will not be able to recycle may include:
- Pots and pans
- Paint cans
- Some car parts
- Motor oil cans
- Mercury, sometimes found in fluorescent lights
- Radioactive metals
You might wonder why it even matters that we recycle scrap metal or why anyone should care to know “how do you get rid of scrap metal”? Does it really save the environment that much? The answer is yes! While scrap metal recycling is environmentally friendly, it also helps so that we don’t have to manufacture so much metal, saving money and energy.
The great news is that almost every type of metal you can think of is metal that can be taken to recycling facilities. Some of the most common recycled materials include:
- Aluminum
- Tin
- Lead
- Nickel
- Steel
- Copper
- Brass
- Zinc
- Cast iron and other ferrous metals
Rent a Dumpster
Renting a dumpster may seem like the easiest and best way to get rid of your metal junk, but is it really the best option for the environment and you? Instead, take the time to find a scrap metal recycling center or local scrap yard near you. You can earn some extra cash and help the environment at the time.
You might want to throw things in a dumpster due to your lack of knowledge about what to do with it. However, taking a second to call your local scrap metal buyer can help educate you on what you can recycle as well as how much money you can make recycling. Remember, this is all from something you were just going to throw away anyway.
Refraining from throwing out your scrap metal can boost the economy in the U.S. as well. Did you know that the United States recycling industry supports more than 506,000 jobs? That’s a lot of jobs!
It’s easy just to throw things out and not think about it again but remember that metal does not decompose for many years when it could be recycled and reused if extra time was taken. Plus, less energy is spent in the recycling process than making new material, decreasing the pollution produced and saving on energy resources. So spending the time and energy to do your part to recycle and not just toss your scrap metal can go a long way!
Call a Junk Removal Company
Calling Junk-A-Haulics, your fully insured junk hauling team, can help you know exactly how do you get rid of scrap metal. We would be happy to come to your home or place of work and help sort through your scrap metal so you know what can be recycled and then haul it off for you so that you’re left with a clean area.
Junk-A-Haulics doesn’t just do junk removal. We take care of your scrap metal pickup and work hard to recycle and save the environment in any way that we can. While safety can be a big concern when you’re handling metal, we have it covered.
Lifting the heavy metal and handling those pieces with sharp edges are a big part of handling scrap metal properly. We make sure to watch out for your property and those around us, too, so that we don’t damage or hurt those things or people. Rely on the professionals to help you with even your largest scrap metal recycling needs.