Oh Scrap! Three Tips To Help You Avoid Problems When Recycling Your Old Scrap Metal

If you are looking to make some extra money, you may be looking to take your old scrap metal to a scrap metal buyer. A scrap metal buyer will buy items such as aluminum cans, steel metal sheets and copper wires. However, if you have never recycled old scrap metal before, or it has been awhile, you may make mistakes that can end up costing you time and money. Here are three tips to help you make the most of your time and maximize the amount you get when you go to scrap metal buyers.

Find Out How Much Area Recyclers Are Offering for the Types of Metal You Are Selling

The amount of money that each scrap metal buyer is offering varies from day to day and from facility to facility. As such, it is important to take your time and call a few local facilities and find out how much they are offering per pound of the type of metal you have to sell. Many people make the mistake of assuming every facility offers the same amount. Assuming this can cost you money if you select a facility that isn't offering top dollar for the types of metal you have.

Sort Your Metals Before You Arrive at the Scrap Metal Buying Facility

Another common mistake people who don't sell scrap metal may make is not sorting their metals. It is important to have your metals sorted based on the type of metal before you arrive to a facility. Scrap metal recycling facilities pay different amounts based on the type of metal you are selling. If the metal is not sorted, one of two things may happen. One, the buyers may flat out turn you away until it is sorted. Then you have to drive home and come back another day. The other thing they may do is offer you a low price for your materials. This is because they will have to do the work of sorting it, and they truthfully don't know what materials are in there. Sorting yourself ensures you are getting the right amount for each material type.

Strip Your Wire

The last mistake you may make when recycling metals is failing to strip your wires. Metal and copper wires can be coated with a plastic material. Many recyclers will attempt the metal wire with the coating still on. However, they will offer you less per pound because they have to estimate the weight of the metal versus the plastic and they have to strip the plastic themselves. Taking the time to strip the plastic from the wire with a wire stripping tool can help ensure you are getting the most for your metal wires.

Selling your old scrap metal is a great way to bring in some extra money. However, some people make mistakes when selling that can cost them time and money. If you are going to sell your old scrap metal, take the time to call around and find out the price per pound that different recycling facilities are offering for different types of metal, sort your metal types and strip any plastic from your metal wires. This will help you avoid these mistakes.


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