A Beginner's Guide to Selling Scrap Metal
If you have a quantity of metal which you need to dispose of, you should hold your horses before you take you take it down to the local landfill site. Not only could burying pieces of the metal be damaging to the earth we rely on to sustain all of human and animal life, but you could also be literally throwing money away. Depending on the type and condition of the metal, you may be able to sell it to a metal recycler in return for cold hard cash. Below is an introduction to everything you need to know about selling scrap metal.
Metals which can be recycled
Metal recycling yards will buy a large section of different metal materials. You can recycle the following metals:
- Copper
- Brass
- Aluminium
- Lead
- Steel
- Iron
Each metal will have its own value, so if you are planning to take a mix of different metals to the recycling yard, you should ensure that they have been separated out. If you do not separate out the metals, you may receive less money for your haul of metal. This is because it will be hard for the contractor to judge how much of each type of metal you are selling. The contractor will also reduce their payment to cover the time they will need to spend separating out the metal themselves. If you are unsure what type of metal you have, the contractor will be able to help you
How the value of the metal is calculated
When you take your scrap metal to a metal recycler, they will weigh it using a set of industrial scales. Once the weight has been recorded, the metal contractor will check the latest price per kilo for that particular kind of metal. Metal is a commodity which is bought and sold on the international markets, and this can impact on its price on the street. The scrap metal contractor will all assess the condition of the metal and will check if it is pure or if it is mixed as part of an alloy. Once this has been completed, the contractor will make you an offer. You are under no obligation to take the price offered, and if you believe you can get a better price, you should try another metal recycling centre.
If you would like to get rid of some old metal and make some cash, you should contact a metal recycling yard.
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