JUN 23, 2022
You have a considerable home remodeling or demolition project ahead of you, and you're wondering how to get the most value from your scrap metal. Or do you have some scrap metal recycling? In any case, it is essential to be prepared for the task and know what to do. Rather than throwing all demolished items into a dumpster, reach out to RCM Recycling, a scrap metal company, and earn some money.
If you've ever had to demolish a building, you know how much metal trash there is. If you're like most people, you probably throw it away. But your metal trash may be a treasure for someone else.
There's a lot of scrap metal around your house after demolition. You can recycle all kinds of scrap metal for money, but some metals are more valuable than others. How do you get started?
Many places will pay top dollar for the scrap metal; some will even come to your location and pick up the scrap metal if you don't have a trailer or truck available to transport it. The best rates for scrap metal come from a scrap metal company that knows the value of each type of metal and has significant industry experience. RCM Recycling is a leader in the industry and has many successful and happy customers.
Copper is the most valuable type of scrap metal because it has many uses in industry and home construction. Copper piping is frequently reused in new homes, so there's always a demand. If you have copper pipes or other copper parts left over from your project, they'll have value as scrap metal as long as they're free of corrosion or further damage.
Brass is made by mixing copper with zinc, so it's still worth something even if it doesn't look like copper anymore (as long as there aren't any holes or cracks). Brass has many industrial uses since it resists corrosion better than most metals, and brass also looks attractive when polished nicely. Brass fixtures are often reused in new homes, so they are great candidates for recycling into new fixtures or products later down the road.
The most valuable material in any demolition job is going to be aluminum. This is especially true if your home was built with aluminum siding or an aluminum roofing system. The problem with aluminum is that it's very light and can be challenging to separate from other metals in a large pile of debris. Aluminum has a low melting point and therefore takes up much less space than most other metals when being stored or transported from one place to another.
Steel is one of the most common scrap metals found on construction sites, but it also has some unique characteristics that make it worth recycling over other metals. Steel is incredibly durable and flexible, making it great for reuse in new construction projects and industrial manufacturing applications.
Steel is also easy enough to recycle that many communities offer curbside pickup services for residents who want their steel recycled instead of trashing it at the dump. Plus, steel has a high market value. It remains relatively stable even during economic downturns — making it an attractive investment for anyone looking to make some extra cash while they wait out an economic downturn!
The most important thing to do before beginning to sell or recycle your metals is to separate them. Most scrap metal companies will not accept all the different types of metal, and it is essential to keep them in separate piles so that you know where each piece should go. This will also make it easier for the buyer to sort through the materials and find what they need.
The most common types of metal in demolition include copper, lead, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. Lead was once commonly used in plumbing pipes but has been largely phased out due to health concerns related to water contamination.
Metal objects have different weights and compositions, so separating them is essential before selling or recycling them. A magnet will attract all ferrous metals like steel, iron, and copper, and these metals should be separated from non-ferrous metals like aluminum, brass, and bronze.
Another reason to separate all metals into piles is that each metal has a different value. Failure to separate them would result in the seller receiving the lowest value for recycling. You want to make it as easy as possible for RCM Recycling to value your metal.
Any debris on top of the metal should be removed with a broom or vacuum cleaner before wiping down the metal with a wet rag or paper towel. You don't have to clean it until it shines like new but make sure there are no dirt marks or rust stains left behind on the surface of your scrap metal pieces.
Scrap metal has excellent value to both the demolition company and RCM Recycling. Knowing how to collect scrap metal on a job site could mean the difference between breaking even on the project or making a profit through recycling.
