How To Scrap Metal In Your Local Area

Whether your scrap metal is created in a domestic, commercial or construction setting, there is always the question of how to dispose of it. We’ve outlined some different ways you can discard scrap metal in your local area, either by using what you have to upcycle, or recycling and selling the scrap.

Identify, Sort and Prepare Metals

Scrapping metal in your local area can be a way to earn some extra money while also contributing to recycling efforts. Firstly, separating the different types of metals you have found is important as they have varying values. Metal prices also fluctuate according to worldwide markets.
Metals have different classifications that make them a higher or lower grade, this will affect the price you receive for your scrap metal. Common scrap metals include aluminium, copper, brass, stainless steel, and iron. Non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminium generally have higher value than ferrous metals like iron.

Remove any non-metal parts and clean the metal to maximise its value. For example, strip wires of insulation and remove plastic or rubber components. Remember, safety is crucial when handling scrap metal. Be cautious of sharp edges, wear appropriate protective gear, and follow safety guidelines.

Selling 

One option is to then sell your scrap metal to a local metal recycling company. That way, you make money for your scrap metal, and the metal collected is often recycled and reused as metal in the future. The scrap metal can be collected from you and transported to the local company’s scrap yard, sorted and then recycled.

Your scrap metal will be weighed on an electronic weighbridge, and you will be paid based on the current market rates for each type of metal. Call ahead to enquire about the types of metal they accept, their current prices, and any specific requirements. Some yards may only accept certain types of metal or have restrictions on quantities.

Upcycling or Reusing

When the scrap metal you’ve created isn’t too large or cumbersome, there are things you can do to upcycle them aesthetically. There’s a fashionable demand at the moment for furniture and home furnishings made from scrap metal (either melted down and reformed or used in its original form) such as tables made from car bonnets or large clock faces, or chairs fabricated out of gears or chain links. The possibilities are greater than you may imagine!

If you’re not looking to upcycle or creatively interpret the scrap metal created from your work, one other option available to you is reusing it. Depending on the type of scrap metal created, it could be reincorporated into use – such as nuts and bolts – or metals can be melted down as secondary raw materials to make new quality materials without creating any negative effects on the planet and avoiding unnecessarily creating new metal compounds. The metal is melted down in a smelter or furnace and then moulded into ingots or bars for transportation. From there, the metal can be used to make any number of products.

How can H&S Metals help?

If you’re based on the South Coast, come to H&S Metals to make money for your scrap metal. We have yards in both Portsmouth and Bishops Waltham. We are registered waste carriers, and offer a scrap metal collection service to domestic, commercial and construction customers, offering free, same day payments to our customers. Find out more about how we recycle metal, and which metals we offer to buy here.