Scrap metal in the ship breaking industry

Around half the world’s obsolete ships are sent to be scrapped on the beaches of Alang, a town in the Indian state of Gujarat famous for its ship breaking industry. Huge vessels, ranging from bulk carriers and supertankers to old passenger liners, are transported to Alang to be torn apart piece by piece and recycled for profit.

This kind of metal recycling is no mean feat and requires thousands of workers, however scrap metal recycling does not always take place on such a large scale.

Change your perspective on scrap metal

When people think of scrap metal recycling, their thoughts often turn to big industries, like the shipyards of Alang or the commercial tips filled with piled up cars and steel girders.

But there’s more to the scrap metal industry than just shipyards and large-scale auto wreckers – scrap metal can be retrieved from your very own backyard! Recycling your scrap metal is a quick and easy way to make some extra cash whilst clearing unwanted items from your home or workplace, you just need to know what to look for.

Scrap metal around the home can be anything, from an old, un-roadworthy car sitting idly in the driveway, to broken appliances such as fridges and washing machines. Even smaller items can be traded for cash including old bathroom fixtures, doorknobs and copper wiring.

Sorting through your scrap metal can seem like a daunting task, especially when you don’t know which kinds of metal you are dealing with. Do some simple research on different metal types to help you identify and separate your scrap metal before selling it on to a collection company. Alternatively, look for companies that accept a wide variety of scrap metals and do not require sorting.

Metal Men Recycling offer cash for scrap metal in Melbourne. We take all types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including aluminium, copper, brass and steel, and we will even supply the skip bin!

You might not think it, but scrap metal can be found all throughout your home, whether in the kitchen, garden, garage or attic. And with Metal Men Recycling providing cash for scrap and a 24-hour pick up service, knowing where to find it might (quite literally) pay off! Here we look at some places to hunt for scrap metal in your home.

The kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most obvious places to source scrap metal, simply because it’s almost bursting at the seams with recyclable materials. Most appliances, from fridges to microwaves, contain their fair share of copper, something to consider before sending your outdated technology to the tip. Even silverware – if it’s made of stainless steel – can contribute to your scrap-heap.

Bathroom and laundry room

A slightly less obvious place to search for scrap metal is your bathroom or laundry room, which will be home to a number of bathroom fixtures and pipes. Often made with copper, these can be a great source of scrap metal.

The garage

Is your car on its last legs? Is it not even worth trying to resell? You could try to recoup your losses by taking it apart for scrap metal. Batteries, bolts, the radiator, rims – these are all valuable commodities at Metal Men Recycling! A place where most families hoard forgotten things, the garage might also come with a few surprising sources of scrap metal, such as old bikes, instruments or even old pieces of play equipment (such as that rusty old swing-set).

The attic

Like the garage, the attic is a fantastic source of forgotten-items that can be repackaged for scrap metal. Whether it’s an old lamp, a worn-out appliance or all those metal picture frames inherited from your great aunt, these long-lost bits and pieces could start paying dividends when you use them for scrap metal.

So now you know where to start looking – get hunting! Once you’ve gathered a scrap metal stash, give our professional team at Metal Men Recycling a call; we offer 24-hour pick up services and a great return on all the bits and pieces you no longer have use for.