Not only is scrap metal recycling a responsible thing to do as natural resources become depleted, it can also be a profitable endeavor for scrap metal recyclers. Businesses often find it more profitable to create products from recycled materials, and a scrap metal recycler forms a valuable link in the supply chain to divert these materials from landfills back into the manufacturing cycle.
First, find your scrap metal:
In most cases, you’ll be looking for metal—anything from aluminum cans to old pipes to electrical wiring. But Encore Recyclers also takes e-waste, such as cell phones, computer circuit boards, and other electronic materials. We also accept neoprene, a rubbery product manufactured by Dupont to make scuba suits, cases for electronics, and medical braces.
If you’re a business, think about collecting unwanted objects from your offices or clients to recycle. Plumbers, general contractors, and carpenters will often find used appliances, metal pipes, discarded siding, and other pieces of metal that are suitable for recycling. As an individual, think about recycling broken bicycles, metal tools, and old appliances. In Dallas, it’s popular for people to pick up scrap materials on bulky trash pickup day. You can find the bulk trash pickup day for any given neighborhood here: http://dallascityhall.com/departments/sanitation/Pages/brush_and_bulky.aspx
Encore Recyclers will accept almost any metal object, as long as it does not contain dangerous chemicals or is radioactive.
How to make a profit as a scrap metal recycler
Scrap metal recycling centers are often found in industrial parts of an urban area. Some will only accept particular types of metal. Most recycling facilities will accept aluminum and copper, but won’t accept chromium or tungsten. You can shop around for the best prices for your scrap metal, but Encore Recyclers takes pride in offering the best price for your scrap and in accepting ALL types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Feel free to call one of our buyers directly at972-272-5845 to get a quote or to make an inquiry.
Storing your scrap metal
Whether you are a business or an individual, you may find yourself needing a dedicated area to store your scrap metal. Most recycling facilities do not require you to separate your scrap metal by category, but you can generally get a better price by doing so. By storing your scrap in between trips, you can designate certain areas for different categories of scrap metal until you accumulate a quantity worth bringing to the recycling facility.
You may choose to make use unused garage or storage shed space, or (if you’re a business) finding unused warehouse space for your scrap metal. You may even find it cost-effective to rent a self storage unit for your scrap metal. It’s a good idea to make a schedule for both collecting your scrap metal and for bringing it to the recycling facility. Many people fall into the trap of collecting more and more scrap metal, but never bringing it in to be recycled—which defeats the purpose of making a profit from your scrap!
Don’t forget to be safe
It probably goes without saying, but collecting scrap metal can be dangerous. To minimize your risk, watch out for sharp points, jagged edges, leaking chemicals, and broken glass when you’re collecting scrap metal. If you’re collecting rusty metal, remember that puncture wounds or cuts from rusty objects can cause infection and even tetanus. Wear appropriate protective clothing, eye goggles, and thick gloves to keep yourself safe, and do seek medical treatment if you are cut. After contact with scrap metal, wash with soap and water to remove any chemical residue you may have come into contact with.
When in doubt, skip it! Like most other scrap metal recyclers, Encore Recyclers does NOT accept dangerous materials, whether they are toxic chemicals or radioactive materials. It’s not worth your safety to try to recycle materials you suspect of falling into these categories, so leave them be.
