It might be the end of January but that doesn’t mean we’re done thinking about the year ahead. One way we can all improve the world and feel better about the world in 2018 is by taking care of our planet. So in this week’s blog, we’re sharing three easy ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.  

1) Be proactive and commit to recycling 

While most of us know the difference recycling can make, there’s still a lot more we can be doing to reduce waste. To do this effectively, we need to be educated. Make sure to research the different types of recyclable items your local council accepts. Also, check in your local council by phone or on their website to see if you’re recycling the most you can each fortnight.  

2) Embrace the op shop 

What’s better than discovering a hidden gem for only $2? That’s what op shops offer. And this year, we’re urging everyone to get on board! Not only will your wallet thank you, but the environment will, too. So what are you waiting for? Come on – and get thrifting. 

3) Use sustainable shopping bags 

We’ve all been there. We get to the checkout at the grocery store and realise we’ve left our resuable bags at home. While there’s no use beating ourselves up in these situations, try to make a conscious effort this year to use sustainable shopping bags. Plastic bags are made from petrochemicals which pollute the environment. So say no to plastic bags and embrace the sustainable option in 2018. 

 

Another great way you can help our planet is by recycling scrap metal. At Metal Men Recycling, we collect scrap metal for cash. To learn more, please call us on 03 5941 667.  

We all know how important it is to look after our planet. And most of are making a conscious effort to do our best. But how do we master the art of recycling – so we can become recycling superstars? Well, in this week’s blog, we share five ways to be a better recycler. 

1) Find out the rules for your local area 

The first thing you can do in your journey to be a better recycler is to look up the specific recycling rules for your neighbourhood. Make sure to find out the recycling schedule and see if you are required to get a specific recycling bin or if you can use any receptacle.  

Councils implement recycling rules to prevent non-recyclable materials from getting into the recycling stream. The problem with these materials is that they exposure employees to unsafe working conditions and increase operation costs.  

2) Rinse and dry contains before putting them into the bin 

This is an easy one you can do that will make a world of difference. While you don’t need to run your jars through the dishwasher, it is important to rinse away all the food residue and make sure the containers are empty and dry.  

3) Re-purpose items 

Remember to re-purpose both recyclable and non-recyclable items before you get rid of them. This is an awesome and easy way to help the environment so don’t forget to reuse and repurpose where possible.  

4) Buy recycled 

The next step you can take to become a recycling superstar is to buy recycled products. Make sure to look for the recycling symbol, which is a circle of arrows.  

5) Accumulate less waste  

Ultimately, you want to strive for a lifestyle that accumulates less waste. This means buying more plastic-less products and reusing as much as possible. 

Another way to become a recycling superstar is to recycling your scrap metal. Recycling your scrap metal is a great way to help the planet – and pick up some extra cash! At Metal Men Recycling, we are a family owned company that recycles scrap metal for cash. To learn more, please call us on 03 5941 6677.  

This year, January 1st fell on a Monday- which is pretty perfect for anyone wanting a new start. With the new year comes renewed optimism about the future, and our place in it. That’s why it’s a tradition to set new goals for ourselves at this time. There are those that don’t believe in creating new year’s resolutions, but for those who do, we’ve decided to compile a list of three ways to be more sustainable in 2018.

Cut down on waste

One of the main reasons our rubbish containers struggle over time is the sheer amount of waste that we produce each year. To cut back, reduce your food waste through composting or food donation programs; divert liquids to a treatment system; and replace plastics with reusable glass. It may also be a good idea to cut down on using plastic bags for shopping- when there are so many reusable fabric bag options, why would anyone use plastic?

Give back to your community

Consider donating excess food to a local food bank if there’s one near you. So much food goes to waste each year, while many families suffer simply because living costs continue to skyrocket. You can also consider donating unwanted clothing or hygiene items to charities- they always need more of anything you’re able to give. Being sustainable is about protecting our environment, and that includes our fellow humans.

Reduce your environmental impact

The true reason behind the other four resolutions listed in this article boils down to this: the goal of any recycling effort is to reduce the economic, ecological and environmental impacts of our presence on Earth. So step up, and resolve to continue to reduce your carbon footprint, while embracing the beautiful world that we have.

At Metal Men Recycling, we provide cash for scrap metal. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to call us on 03 5941 6677.  

Christmas is right around the corner, and with that comes the joy of spending time with family and friends, and the time to rest, relax and indulge in delicious food. However, Christmas is also a time to give gifts to your loved ones. This can be stressful, especially as Christmas creeps nearer. That’s why we’ve put together a list of three gifts you can make from recycled items, so that you’re covered on December 25th.

1. Scrap metal wind chime

Art made from metal tableware is a simple, elegant gift you can put together for that special someone in your life. Recycling spoons and forks may seem strange, but these tableware items represent modern symbols and can be quite powerful in their abstract appeal. String together some scrap metal you have lying around with wire, and hang up your art outside the home. When the wind breezes past, the metal will chime together to create a beautiful melody.

2. Necklace made with ribbon and brooches

What do you do with old jewellery you don’t really wear anymore? More decorative pieces of jewellery such as intricate earrings and old-fashioned style brooches can make a beautiful necklace. If you’re after a uniform effect, give your jewellery items a quick spray paint using copper or rose gold tones for an elegant finish. To complete the look, connect the jewellery pieces using a coloured ribbon to match the metallic finish. This makes a great gift for friends or family who love a statement necklace.

3. Teacup candles

Antique teacups have timeless appeal in their beauty and elegance. For those teacups whose saucer has gone walkabouts, there always ways to reuse them. One of these ways is to create teacup candles. Simply melt down some candle wax, add essential oils such as lavender, vanilla and bergamot, and pour your intoxicating mixture into your leftover teacups. Once they’re cooled and set, these teacup candles make for sweet gifts for anyone to enjoy.

These are just three ideas, but the potential for recycled gifts is really endless! All it takes is a creative mind and a flexible approach to be on your way to creating gifts that will amaze your loved ones. Not only will it add a personalised touch to your gifts, using recycled materials is environmentally friendly and helps our planet.

At Metal Men Recycling, we provide cash for scrap metal. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to call us on 03 5941 6677.  

 

If you make a conscious help to our planet by recycling, you may be surprised to learn that some items – which we might expect to recycle – can’t actually be recycled. To properly assist our planet and the people who work at recycling centres and landfill sites, it’s essential that we remind ourselves of correct recycling etiquette. In this week’s blog, we share five surprising things you can’t recycle. 

 

1) Pizza Boxes 

The first item on our list is pizza boxes. Although it is tempting to want to recycle your cardboard pizza box, there is often food and grease stuck to it. This is problematic as many items are recycled using a heat and water process. If oil is present, this can create several issues such as ruining the quality of paper and contaminating it.  

2) Wet paper 

While dry paper is a definite go-ahead for the recycling bin, wet paper is shorter. This makes it less valuable to paper recyclers who won’t collect and mill them.  

3) Plastic bags 

We all know we should use recyclable bags when grocery shopping. However, sometimes you forget and have to resort to a plastic bag or two. Unfortunately, when recycling bins are sorted manually, workers can’t open plastic bags to see what’s inside them as it’s costly and potentially dangerous. Plastic bags therefore end up being thrown out. The best thing to do is use them to carry and store other items in your home and make a diligent effort to use recyclable bags whenever possible. 

4) Ceramics 

Ready to part ways with your old coffee mug? You’ll have to find another home for it because most recycling centres don’t accept ceramics. Try using it in your garden to hold a plant or give it to a local op-shop.  

5) Heavily-dyed paper 

The last item that can’t be recycled is heavily-dyed paper. When something is heavily dyed, it has the same outcome as a blue shirt or red sock with whites in your washing machine. Due to this, most paper mills won’t accept heavily-dyed paper. 

Luckily, there are lots of things you can recycle. This includes all kinds of metal. At Metal Men Recycling, we provide cash for scrap metal. To help the planet and your wallet, please contact us at 03 5941 6677.  

We all know the importance of recycling. But have you ever contemplated what would happen if we abandoned all of our recycling efforts? Well in this week’s blog, we explore that exact question as look at the consequences our planet would face from not recycling. 

1) Increase in pollution  

The first consequence from not recycling would be pollution. There are many different kinds of pollution. For example, the Styrofoam which carries water or coffee pollutes the ground by leaking nasty chemicals into the soil. If enough of these chemicals build-up, this can cause cancer. The air also gets polluted each time you drive your car. Plastic particles from water bottles and chemicals pollute our water – that’s why you should always recycle them. 

2) Overflow of landfills 

Landfills are designed to deal with waster. However, if we threw everything away when it could be recycled, the landfill would fill up and would be unable to cope with this large load. It would also create unpleasant smells and end up being toxic from all the harmful chemicals which arise from the Styrofoam, batteries, microwaves, cleaning supplies and other household products. Making little recycling efforts helps substantially in keeping landfill sites under control. 

3) Destruction of natural habitats 

When we don’t recycle, reuse and reduce, we destroy natural habitats. As it is, our earth cannot cope with the current rate of destruction. By failing to reuse what we already have, we’ll end up in a sticky situation of running out of resources.  

Luckily, recycling is easy. There are lots of things you can recycle, such as soft drink cans and scrap metal. At Metal Men Recycling, we provide cash for scrap metal. For more information or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us on 03 5941 6677.  

So we all know recycling is important, but do you know how to? Metals around the home can be recycled, from aluminium foil to clothes hangers. There are quite a few curbside collection programs for metal recycling, such as Metal Men Recycling. For others, there are also drop-off centres for metal to be recycled or disposed. In this week’s article, we’ll be returning to the basics so to help you understand exactly how to recycle metals.

How do I identify the metal?

If you’re about to recycle your metal, it’s important to be able to identify what kind you’re dealing with. One of the easiest ways to tell is by using a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the metal, you have a ferrous metal such as steel or iron. If it doesn’t stick, what you have is a non-ferrous metal; these include aluminium, copper, brass, bronze and stainless steel. Non-ferrous metals are particularly valuable, but all metals should be recycled appropriately. After the magnet test, you can use visual cues such as colour and texture to identify the exact metal.

Can my old metal clothes hangers be reused/recycled at the dry cleaner?

Many dry cleaners will happily take your metal clothes hangers for reuse, and this is a great way to limit your waste while helping the planet! Some dry cleaners even put out a designated bin for hangers to be reused. If not, your local recycling program may accept them.

What metals do scrap yards take for recycling?

Among the most common metals for recycling at scrap yards are steel, aluminium, brass, wires, iron and copper. They may also accept other metals as well, and some even often cash for scrap metal.

Recycling your scrap metals is an amazing way to help the planet, and reduce waste. Metal Men Recycling offer a 24-hour pickup service, as well as cash for scrap metal. Get in touch with our friendly team by calling 03 5941 6677 for more information today.

With Christmas approaching, most of us are looking for some easy ways to pick up some extra cash. From collecting scrap metal to harnessing your creative talents, there are a variety of different things you can do to reel in some extra money. In this week’s blog, we share three easy ways to pick up extra cash. 

1) Use your creative abilities 

The first way to pick up some extra money is to utilise your creative or artistic talents. Whether that’s in the form of freelance writing, graphic or web design work or photography, there are lots of different ways you can capitalise on your creativity. In today’s digital focused world, it’s even easier as you can find clients online and even establish an online business on the side of your day job.  

2) Babysit or nanny 

One rewarding way to earn some extra cash is to babysit or nanny. This can be a fun and fulfilling job with the potential for flexible hours. Try looking within your close circle of friends and family first for prospective clients and then if that fails, try the Internet. There are lots of great websites out there where you can register as a babysit and input your availability and work history. Make sure to check your area’s requirements, as a working with children check is generally required. 

3) Collect scrap metal 

The final way to pick up some extra cash is to recycle any scrap metal you have lying around your home. This includes brass, iron, steel, copper and aluminium. If you items such as magnets, old shelves, cars, soft drink cans, electrical wires, plumbing pipes, there is great potential to trade the old metals in for cash. At Metal Men Recycling, we provide cash for scrap metal. We are a family owned company that has been operating in the eastern suburbs of Pakenham for over 50 years. Come bring your scrap metal in today, to pick up some extra cash. Feel free to give us a ring on 03 5941 6677 if you have any questions.  

 

Many of us understand the importance of metal in our daily lives, but how much do you know about its history? In this week’s article, we’re going to be exploring the use of scrap metal in the Second World War, and how metal was used to bring communities together.

During the Second World War, civilians were asked to donate their unnecessary scrap metal to help with the war efforts. Manufacturing warplanes, army vessels and weapons asked for extremely large quantities of metal- the largest US navy ship was built from 900 tonnes of metal! Because of this, there was a great effort to encourage the populace to donate their scrap metal. On top of this, metal started being rationed at this time. This meant that there was a halt on manufacturing items that required metal, such as typewriters, refrigerators and radios. In 1942, dog food was no longer available in tins!

Citizens were asked to scour their homes and businesses for spare metal. From pots and pans, to metal toys, to car bumpers, to farm equipment- any metal was considered valuable. On the more extreme end, communities melted down wrought iron fences and historical cannons for their metal. In doing so, they sacrificed a piece of their history for the war efforts.

When people came together to find scrap metal, these drives became larger community events that included performers, speeches and games. One such game was an opportunity to throw scrap metal at a model of Hitler. Collecting scrap metal also became part of a larger effort across the country. To draw the country together, competitions were held to see which town, county or state could collect the most scrap. These metals found were mainly aluminium, steel, tin and copper.

However, when the war ended, scrap metal could be found just about anywhere. No longer necessary for the army’s manufacturing efforts, it was littered all over the country. Today, scrap metal is no longer as abundant. But it remains an important an incredibly valuable resource, including within the recycling industry. Metal Men Recycling offer cash for scrap metal, with a 24 hour pick up service. For more information, get in touch by calling 03 5941 6677 today.

When it comes to household recycling, scrap metal isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for many of us. To begin with, the production of metals has severe environmental impacts. However beyond this, scrap metal represents up to 17.5% of all litter found across Australia- which also isn’t great for our environment! In this week’s article, we’ll be running through the key reasons why recycling is always the best option for scrap metal, and how you can earn cash for scrap metal.

Why is scrap metal dumped in the first place?

When it comes to disposing of scrap metal, there are often costs associated with waste disposal. It can also be downright inconvenient- regardless of whether you’re organising for a waste facility to pick up your scrap metal or transporting it there yourself. But the environmental consequences of dumping scrap metal can be dire. When left in the wild, scrap metal may spontaneously combust which harms native wildlife. Cars, in particular, are dangerously toxic. They may leak toxic chemicals into surrounding areas, including waterways.

So why recycle scrap metal?

As mentioned, there are waste disposal facilities for scrap metal; however, these can be expensive and inconvenient. They also don’t address the other issues associated with the production and transportation of scrap metal. Recycling closes that gap. With their unlimited lifespan, metals are perfect for recycling. In finding use for recycled materials, we reduce pollution and save energy. When all materials are successfully reused or recycled, the result is zero waste- and who wouldn’t want that?

Recycling scrap metal may seem daunting, but Metal Men Recycling offer a 24-hour pickup service, and cash for scrap metal. When it’s this easy, there’s really no reason not to recycle! Get in touch with our friendly team by calling 03 5941 6677 for more information.

The term ‘stainless steel’ often brings the image of cutlery to mind. While kitchenware certainly is one major usage for this metal, there are actually many other places it can be found. In this article, we’ll be running through some quick facts about stainless steel, including how the metal is formed, places to find stainless steel and its recyclability.

What is stainless steel?

Adopted as a generic name for steels used in cutlery applications, stainless steel now refers to a wide range of types of steels. This metal is an irony alloy, with a minimum of 10.5% chromium, along with other elements such as nickel, titanium, copper and molybdenum. These other elements are added in order to boost the internal structure of the steel in terms of strength, cryogenic toughness and formability. To be classified as a stainless steel, the metal should be corrosion resistant in its specific environment or for its intended purpose. Further properties can be added to enhance the quality and strength.

Where can stainless steel be found?

Surprisingly, many famous buildings are made of stainless steel. These include the Chrysler Building in New York and as part of the structural support for the Statue of Liberty. Using this metal creates a reflective exterior appearance and prevent against corrosion. This metal is also used in many household applications, such as in the kitchen.

Stainless steel can be recycled!

As one of the most environmentally friendly metals to recycle, giving stainless steel a new life can be a great way to help out the planet. Up to 92% of this metal can be recycled at the end of its life, in new carbon or stainless steel. Metal Men Recycling are a local recycling hub, and they offer cash for scrap metal.

If you’re after cash for scrap metal, get in touch with the friendly team at Metal Men Recycling by calling  03 5941 6677 for more information today.

We all know the importance of helping our environment. But what are somethings you can do everyday? From paying attention to your water usage to riding your bike to work, there are lots of little daily things you can do to help our planet. In this week’s blog, we share five things you can do to help save the earth right now.  

1) Be mindful of your water usage 

The first thing you can do to help the planet is to pay attention to how you use water. Purchasing a shower timer is a great way to conserve water. Make sure to also check that your toilet is functioning properly as leaky toilets can waste up to 757 litres of water a day. Also, remember to try to drink tap water instead of bottled water to cut down on unnecessary packaging. Finally, wash your clothes in cold water when convenient. 

2) Cycle to work  

Leaving you car at home and bike riding to work can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You will also improve your health while you’re at it. If you can’t cycle to work, use public transport or get a carpooling system going in your local area. 

3) Recycle  

Recycling products is a fantastic way to help our planet. As land waste is a massive burden on the environment, recycling items helps reduce this visual pollution. When deciding between two products, make sure to pick the one with the least packaging. Always opt for products which use sustainable materials when possible. 

4) Compost  

Composting is another excellent method to decrease waste. So much that ends up in our bins and then, eventually, at our landfill sites could have been composted. Remember that food scraps are perfect for composting and also make a great natural fertiliser. 

5) Recycle scrap metal 

The last thing you can do to help save our planet is to recycle scrap metal. If you’ve got some scrap metal laying around your home that you don’t need, why not make some money by trading your scrap metal for cash? At Metal Men Recycling, we provide cash for scrap metal. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to call us on 03 5941 6677.