Learning About Metal Recycling
4 Things You Shouldn't Do When Recycling Copper
Barry Mills
You can recycle all different types of metal, and copper is one of the popular metal types that people recycle. You might have some copper that you're ready to recycle yourself since you might know that it can pay well, and since you might want to be sure that the copper is disposed of responsibly. Recycling copper can be a great idea, but you will want to make sure that you don't do these things when doing so.
Recycle Copper Without Permission
Believe it or not, because copper is so valuable, copper theft is very common. Because of this, there are rather strict laws in place in many places about scrapping copper that does not belong to you. If you are scrapping your copper, you should not have anything to worry about. If you have found copper that you think is abandoned and that you want to recycle, you should get in contact with the owner to get permission before scrapping it. Then, when ownership is verified at the metal recycling center, you won't have any issues, and you shouldn't have to worry about any legal problems.
Mix Your Copper With Other Metals
One big no-no that you should avoid when recycling copper is mixing it in with other types of metal that you want to recycle. It might not seem like a big deal to toss in some aluminum cans or some scrap steel along with the load of copper that you're going to sell to the metal recycling center, but doing so will often lead to you being paid less for the entire load. Always make sure that you separate your copper and scrap it on its own.
Leave On Other Components
Not only should you make sure that you separate your copper from other metals before recycling, but you should also be sure that you remove components made from other materials, too. For example, if there is any rubber or other similar materials mixed in with your copper, you will be paid a lower price. The cost difference is significant enough in many cases that it's worth it for you to take the time to remove these materials before scrapping your copper.
Sell it to the Wrong Metal Recycling Center
First of all, because there are metal recycling centers that will pay good money for copper, you shouldn't take your copper to a place where you will not be paid. You should also consider comparing prices between different metal recycling centers before you go since this will help you net the highest payout.
To learn more about the do's and don'ts, contact a local copper recycling center.
Share
Hello everyone, my name is Suzi Lanson. Welcome to my site. I want to talk about the different tools and techniques used for metal recycling. The backyard in my first home was a graveyard of broken appliances, tools and tin cans of all sizes. I looked at the collection sitting there in horror at first. A friend pointed out that the piles of garbage were actually a recycling goldmine. We transported the materials to a metal recycling facility and split the cash. I was pleasantly surprised to hear nearly all of the items could be broken down and processed to create new products. I will talk about the metal recycling process in more detail on this site.