If you’re like most people, you probably recycle as much as possible to help preserve the environment. You might not think about it, but there are some metals that your local scrap yards don’t recycle.
Metals are some of the most valuable recyclable materials that people can donate to their local scrap yards. However, not all metal scraps are accepted by these businesses. Here are some metals your local scrap yards do not recycle.
1. Cadmium
Although cadmium is a powerful and highly toxic metal, it has many applications in industry. For example, cadmium can be found as an alloy for steel to improve its corrosion resistance and as a pigment in paints. The U.S.’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that the metal is used in coatings, adhesives and plastics.
Cadmium is among the metals that do not get recycled by common recycling businesses. The NIOSH also notes that scrap yards may refuse to handle this metal as well as some other industrial materials, such as mercury.
There are some places that accept cadmium, such as in mining or pigment industries, but only if the donor has a permit.
2. Zinc
Zinc and cadmium share similar chemical properties and, according to NIOSH report on cadmium exposure, can be difficult to distinguish from each other. Zinc also lacks the toxicity of cadmium even though it is still considered hazardous. Unlike cadmium, zinc can be recycled at most metal recycling facilities.
3. Lead
Lead is the only toxic heavy metal that is more abundant in the Earth’s crust than zinc, but it can still cause great harm if exposure occurs. The U.S.’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) warns that exposure to lead can result in behavior and learning problems in children, reproductive problems and fertility issues in both men and women.
Lead is recyclable at most metal recycling facilities, but some scrap yards may turn away this toxic heavy metal because of the health risks involved with handling it.
4. Tin
Tin is a soft metal that is easily malleable. Like zinc, it has similar properties to many other metals, which makes recycling tin difficult without the proper facilities and equipment. The metal can be found in alloys used for other metals, such as steel or brass.
Most metal recycling businesses accept tin because of its widespread usefulness in industry. However, if you have items with a high concentration of tin that you want to recycle, check in advance with your local scrap yard to make sure they accept the material.
5. Magnesium
Magnesium is a lightweight metal that some recycling businesses do not accept because of its abundance and ease to process. Magnesium is one of the least recycled metals due to cost and difficulty in processing. Despite this, there are some industries that use magnesium in its pure form, such as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The metal can also be found alloyed with other metals that are more difficult to recycle. If you have any of these alloys or pure magnesium, check in advance with your local scrap yard before you drop off your load.
The Most Common Metals To Be Recycled
When you have old appliances lying around the house, you can turn them into scrap metal. Refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners contain copper, a valuable metal that can be recycled. While these items may appear to be inoperable, they often contain wiring and other materials that are worth money. It is best to separate these materials before handing them over to the collection yard. Many collection yards prefer to collect prepared scraps. They should be free of extra components or attachments.
The most common metal to be recycled is aluminum, and you may want to check to aluminum scrap price Sydney area or your city implements. Prices for aluminum vary daily, but on average, they are about $.30 per pound. This makes it an ideal commodity to sell at a scrap yard. The metal is found almost everywhere and is a popular choice because it can be recycled and reused indefinitely. Moreover, aluminum recycles 99% of the energy that is used in creating new aluminum.
Scrap metal pollution is a major concern around the world. Various metal elements from scrap can leak into the environment and cause damage to the ecosystem. Copper, lead, magnesium, zinc, and aluminum are some of the more dangerous metals to the environment. Hence, you should make sure that you send your scrap metal to a scrap yard that recycles these materials. They will provide you with more money than if you disposed them yourself.
