Whether you’re tackling a small DIY project, a major home renovation, or a cleaning project, you’re bound to end up with piles of leftover materials or items to throw away - many of them containing metal. Instead of letting those discarded metal items go to waste or paying for a large item pickup, did you know you can turn them into cash? Scrap metal recycling offers a great way to earn money for things like old microwaves, washers, dryers, stoves, and cast iron bathtubs while contributing to sustainability by reducing waste. This guide will show you how to find high-value scrap metal around your home.
During any home improvement project or even while cleaning out your garage, you’ll likely come across various forms of scrap metal in everyday items worth money at a metal recycling center.
During a renovation, you may replace old plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, metal fixtures, hot water heaters, and appliances. And while cleaning out your garage or basement, you might have old rakes and shovels, a broken leaf blower, a wagon your child outgrew, old vehicle rims, or broken phones. These items may look like junk, but they’re often made from valuable metals such as steel, aluminum, copper, and brass, which can be turned into money for scrap metal. Landfills charge by weight or by load, and it can cost hundreds of dollars to drop off loads of large items. Instead, you can get paid for a scrap metal drop off.
Here are some common examples of everyday items that contain recyclable metal that you may not have known:
Once you know what to look for, you can sort your metals into different types, take them to a metal recycling drop off center, and get paid for your items. For more tips, read our guide on the metal identification process.
Not all metals are created equal, and some types bring in more cash than others. At our facility, we pay competitive prices for a wide range of metals, helping you get the most money for scrap metal during your renovation. Here are some of the most valuable types of scrap metal you might find during your renovation:
Steel is one of the most common materials you can find around your home, especially during a renovation project. Your home improvement project may produce waste items including metal roofing, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, window bars, fencing, stair railing, and even bed frames. You can recycle these large pieces of steel, as well as smaller items like doorknobs, nails and screws. Steel is a versatile metal to cash in on.
Aluminum is a lightweight but strong metal used in construction and household items. You might find aluminum in old window frames, screen doors, and some gutters. If you aren’t sure, try using a magnet. If it sticks, it’s not aluminum and is likely steel. Soda cans, disposable cooking trays or takeout trays, and many sports bottles are also made out of aluminum. Because aluminum is used in many applications, it can quickly add up, making it worth collecting and bringing to a metal scrap yard.
Copper is one of the highest-value scrap metals. Renovations of old homes typically reveal a lot of copper in the form of old wiring, plumbing pipes, and less commonly, some roofing materials. Stripping copper wires before recycling can further increase their value, except for insulated copper wire. You don’t need to strip insulation. The easiest and safest way to expose the copper in wires is to use wire strippers with notches that match the gauge of your wires.
Brass is commonly found in household fixtures and hardware. Keep an eye out for brass fittings in light fixtures and decorative hardware such as cabinet or drawer handles and hinges. Old faucets, especially in bathrooms or kitchens, can also contain brass components.
Brass used to be very popular for decorative accents, so you might also find it in lamps, chandeliers, curtain rods, and candlesticks. It's a great metal to recycle and can bring in a good return.
Heavy but valuable, cast iron is a key material in scrap metal recycling. If you are renovating your bathroom or heating system, look for cast iron by using a magnet. Often, old bathtubs thought to be porcelain are actually cast iron. If a magnet sticks, it’s cast iron. It is very common in older homes, often found in radiators, sinks, decorative grates for air vents, ornamental railings, and old hardware like door knobs, drawer pulls, and hinges. Even cast iron cookware can add to your haul.
Due to their rarity, specialty metals like titanium can also be highly valuable. Titanium is used in golf club heads, sometimes in high-performance bicycle frames, laptops, cell phones, and some specialty tools and drill bits that may incorporate titanium components.
By knowing what types of metal you have and where to find them, you can maximize the return on your renovation or clean-out project scrap instead of paying to drop it off or have it picked up.
The process of getting money for scrap metal is easier than you think. Here’s how it works:
With our 22-acre facility, multiple scales, and dedicated receiving docks, we’re ready to handle any load, large or small.
Want to get the most money for scrap metal? Follow these simple tips to ensure you maximize the scrap metal value of what you bring in:
Whether you’re working on a home improvement project or an industrial renovation, our facility has everything you need for a smooth, efficient recycling experience. On top of that, turning your scrap metal into cash is a great way to recover some of your renovation costs.
Call us today for an up-to-the-minute quote, or stop by with your scrap metal for fast, friendly service and a fair payout.
