Tag: metal recycling

What is Copper and How Can You Sell Scrap Copper for Profit?

Posted on by Irena Kosturska

Copper (Symbol Cu) is a highly valuable metal, used for a wide range of purposes from electrical wiring to construction materials. It is also one of the most easily recycled metals in the world, due to its versatility. If you have scrap copper lying around your home or business, you could be sitting on a valuable source of income. Luckily, you can sell scrap copper to a metal recycling company such as Metal Men Recycling to give it a second life, whilst also getting paid cash for your contribution.

copper wire is a common way to sell scrap copper

What is Copper and What are its Material Qualities:

Copper is a naturally occurring, non-ferrous orange-brown metal found in the earth’s crust. Its varied physical and chemical characteristic properties give the metal versatility and value. Firstly, it is highly electrically and thermally conductive, – second highest only to silver among pure metals at room temperature. This characteristic makes it a popular choice for electrical wiring and a range of other industrial applications. Secondly, it is also ductile and malleable, meaning it can be easily shaped and formed into a wide range of products, from pipes to jewellery. Additionally, it has corrosion-resistant and antimicrobial properties that can help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as E.Coli (although the significance of this characteristic is still being researched), making it ideal for use in plumbing pipes and fittings, roofing, gutters, and flashing.

Where Copper Can Be Found in Your Household:

You may be surprised to learn that copper can be found in many household items, including old electrical wiring, plumbing fixtures such as pipes and fittings, and kitchen utensils such as copper-bottomed pots and pans. Electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and televisions also contain small amounts of copper in their wiring and circuit boards. Copper is also present in some types of batteries and in some medical devices. To identify copper in your household items, look for a reddish-brown colour or a greenish patina on the surface.

Why is Copper Valuable:

Copper is valuable for several reasons. Its unique combination of properties makes it highly desirable for a range of essential industrial and household applications as mentioned prior. Given its versatility, the demand for copper is high and remained relatively stable over time. Luckily, copper is easily recyclable and an abundant resource, making it one of the most profitable types of scrap metals. 75% of copper products use recycled copper, giving the metal a continuous shelf life.

Why Recycling Copper is Important:

Recycling copper is an essential way to reduce the environmental impact of copper mining. Mining copper can have negative environmental impacts such as deforestation, water pollution, and soil erosion. By recycling your copper items, you can help reduce the need for new copper mining and protect the environment. Metal Men Recycling is committed to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly metal production by encouraging the recycling of copper and other metals.

How Can You Sell Scrap Copper:

If you have scrap copper at your home, worksite, office or any other premises then get in contact with Metal Men Recycling today! Our dedicated metal processing facility and yard give us the capability to recycle a wide variety of metals and alloys, including copper! With metal men recycling, not only do you get the opportunity to reduce clutter and rubbish, but you can also sell scrap copper for a profit! First, gather all your scrap copper items, including old electrical wiring, plumbing fixtures, and other copper items. Next, contact us to arrange for the pickup or drop-off of your scrap copper. We will deliver metal collection bins to your premises free of charge and pick them up at an organised later date to collect all your metal waste. After you sell scrap copper to us, we can organise payment via cheque or EFT.

Are You Ready to Sell Scrap Copper?

Make the most of Metal Men Recycling’s dedicated metal and copper recycling capabilities today! We pride ourselves on being metal recycling experts and providing exceptional customer service from start to finish. Don’t let valuable scrap metal sit around to collect dust and take up space. Sell scrap copper today!

Call us at 03 5941 6677, or fill out our online contact form, and we will get back to you!

4 Industries that Rely on Metal

Posted on by Laura Jemetta

Metal: we all know it when we see it, feel it, and use it, but have you ever thought about the different industries that rely on metal to function? There are many industries that rely on and use metal in different ways as a core part of their business. These industries might have metal at the very centre of their practices, or they might rely on metal to function, but they all utilise metal in some way. Here at Metal Men Recycling, metal is our business, so we are keenly aware of the role that it has to play across businesses, trades, and industries. Whether an industry is metal-centred or metal-reliant, these businesses have metal at their heart, just like we do here at Metal Men Recycling. Keep reading to find out about just some of the industries that use and rely on metal, including where you can sell scrap metal for it to be recycled.

Scrap metal recycling

Metallurgy

Metallurgy is a scientific field that studies and works with metallic elements as well as alloys and intermetallic compounds.

What is an alloy?

An alloy is a metallic substance which is composed of two or more metallic elements. An alloy can be created by melting the two metallic elements together. An example of an alloy is brass, which is comprised of copper and zinc.

What is an intermetallic compound?

An intermetallic compound is a type of alloy which forms a solid-state compound between two or more metallic elements.

Metallurgy is split into two categories: chemical metallurgy and physical metallurgy. Chemical metallurgists study the chemical performance of metals, including the oxidisation of them. Some areas of study within chemical metallurgy are electrochemistry, the extraction of metals, and thermodynamics.

Meanwhile, physical metallurgy has a particular focus on the physicality of metals, including their mechanical properties and how they physically perform. Areas of study within this field include material characterisation and phase transformations.

If you want to know more about this broad field of engineering and science, make sure to check out this page all about metallurgy and discover how this unique industry uses metal.

Metalworking

Metalworking is the business of shaping and reshaping metal to create new things. This can include objects like utensils for instance, or they can be parts that are used in constructing new large-scale structures or in machinery.

This industry dates back to ancient times and can be divided into three broad categories: forming, cutting, and joining.

Forming: The process of forming metal means modifying a metal object by deforming the object. This means that a particular type of force is applied to the metal, which could be heat or a mechanical force.

Cutting: The process of cutting means to cut a metal workpiece into a specific shape. This is done by cutting away the excess metal around the intended geometrical shape. The process leaves two parts: the finished cut piece, and the excess metal or waste.

Joining: This process joins two pieces of metal together, as in brazing, soldering, or welding. Welding for example, is a type of joining process that applies a form of energy to the two pieces, be it laser, gas flame, friction, or ultrasound. The application of this energy creates the weld between the two.

Building and Construction

The building and construction industry utilise metal in their day-to-day activities, using many different kinds of metal for many different applications.

Steel is among the most commonly used metal in building and construction, as is aluminum, due to its durable and lightweight qualities. In addition, copper can be used in this industry for things like wiring, roofing, and heating systems, due to its benefits of conductivity, flexibility, and durability.

The building industry uses these types of metals in the construction of new structures including homes and workplaces. They can be used for framing these structures, as well as roofing, electrical wiring, cladding, and plumbing, to name just a few.

Scrap Metal Recycling

Here at Metal Men Recycling, metal is the heart and soul of our business. We are proud to offer a reliable place for our customers to sell scrap metal and recycle it safely and professionally. This means we are able to provide a valuable service to customers, as well as play a part in bringing about the benefits that recycling scrap metal produces for the environment. Make sure to check out our guide to the environmental benefits of scrap metal recycling to discover how this practice helps out the world around us.

Ready to Sell Scrap Metal?

Look no further than Metal Men Recycling! We are experts in scrap metal and metal recycling, backed by our 50 years of industry experience. Our motto says, if it’s metal, we want it! So, when you have excess scrap metal at home or in the workplace, make sure to recycle it with Metal Men Recycling.

Call us at 03 5941 6677, or fill out our online contact form, and we will be happy to get back to you!

3 Ways To Reuse Household Metals

Posted on by AWD Digital

Chucking out some coat hangers, copper wire or metal cans? Have you thought about giving them a second purpose instead? There is a surprising amount of ways to reuse metals that we’d normally throw away without a second thought. You can turn it into practical items like storage and holders, or let your creativity run wild and create art that will brighten up your home. In this blog, we are going through the creative and fun ways you can turn your metal trash into treasure.

 

Metal Cans

The possibilities for using metal cans around your home are practically endless. With a fresh coat of paint or punching a few holes, your metal cans could be the pride and joy of your home. Here are some things you can turn your cans into:

 

  • Lanterns: just carve out some holes and put in a candle
  • Pen holder: just clean out a can and paint it, then you have a cute new holder for your pens, paint brushes or anything else
  • Cookie cutters: if you have a soda can then you can bend into cute shapes for your baking
  • Metal flowers: you cut the top on the can then cut vertically to make petals
  • Jewellery: you can cut and bend cans into pendants and bracelets

 

There truly is so much you can do with cans; the only limit is your imagination.

 

With the right know how you can turn plain old cans into a brilliant work of art. In fact, metal can art can be incredibly stunning, just check out Noah Deledda’s work. Scrap metal art takes a bit of fiddling but it’s an art form for everybody. You can start by cutting the metal into animal and geometric shapes and go from here.

 

 

Copper wire

 

Copper wire is easily bent and shaped into beautiful art. Because it is sturdy, aesthetically pleasing and malleable it’s a sort after material for artists. It is good for making a strong base and framework for sculptures. Your new ground-breaking, soul-inspiring artwork will hold together with decent copper wire.

If you don’t mind a bit of arts and crafts copper wire can be used to upgrade your décor. For starters, you can use it to replace string for hanging up picture frames, artwork and mirrors. If you hang a metal peg off some copper wire you have a new way to put reminders around the home. You can even use it to hang pot plants! If you’re extra crafty you can turn copper wire into candle holders, napkin holders, baskets and Christmas decorations.

 

Also, with the right copper wire, you can set up some fascinating and cool science experiments for your kids. You can start with a simple copper wire and battery experiment and go from there. Copper wire is conductive and is a key element in a lot of electromagnetic experiments.

 

Coat hangers

 

If you’re about to replace or throw out your coat hangers hold your horses. You can use coat hangers in other ways around your home. All you need is a decent pair of pliers. There are plenty of life hacks with coat hangers that will make you want to hang onto them:

 

  • Towel holders
  • Pot lid holders
  • Magazine wrack
  • Tablet holder
  • Pot plant holder
  • Bowls
  • Wreaths and decorations
  • Frame for vines, tomatoes and other plants

 

Just like with copper wire, you can use metal coat hangers in your art. For example, they can be easily be bent into frames and stands for sculptures. Start playing around and see where your creativity takes you.

 

The right kind of scrap metal can be traded in for money, so don’t miss out on earning some extra cash for recycling. Metal Man Recycling buys scrap metal and can even pick it for you to save you the hassle. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 03 5941 6677 today.

 

 

 

3 Ways To Support Australian Recycling Industry

Posted on by AWD Digital

The future of the Australian recycling industry is a little shaky right now with local government and councils unsure how to handle the excess of waste and recycling. While they are figuring things out on the large scale, there are things you can do in your day-to-day life that can help our recycling industry. Not sure how you can help out? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we sharing tips on how to give recycling the boost it needs.

 

Why does the Australian recycling industry need support?

 

At the moment the Australian recycling industry has hit a hurdle after China stopped taking our recycling. Before the ban, we were sending 30% of our recycling to China and now we have to work out what to do with this excess. The concern is that companies don’t see the worth in recycling because they don’t believe it will be profitable. If nobody is processing our recycling then we risk sending it all to landfill and taking a colossal step backwards in caring for our environment. So supporting the recycling industry is another way of fighting for an environmentally sustainable Australia.

 

Buy recycling

 

Buying products made from recycled materials or using recycled materials for your business helps create a demand for recycled products. The recycling process can be complicated, so often recycled products cost a little more. For this reason, some companies choose not to use recycled materials. By buying recycled products you are sending a message that recycling is worth it. For now, the cost is a little higher but think of it as an investment in the environment.

Here is a list of Australian stores that sell recycled products:

 

  • Who Gives A Crap is an Australian company that uses 100% recycled material to take toilet paper, tissues and towels. Each roll has a cool, modern design and you can buy in bulk.
  • The Oxfam Shop has a range of recycled products from jewellery, bags, fashion, furniture and ornaments.
  • Greenline sells recycled paper as well as other office supplies.
  • Iameco makes computer accessories from recycled and eco-friendly materials.
  • Trex makes decking from 95% recycled wood and plastic film
  • Greentoys have 100% recycled toys for younger children

 

You can also keep an eye on your buying habits can make a difference. For example, instead of buying plastic bottles buy a sustainable water bottle. The same goes for coffee cups, you are doing the environment a favour by getting a keepcup.

 

Smart Recycling

A good way to support the Aussie recycling industry is to make sure you are recycling properly. Even if you think you know the best way to recycle it is worth testing your knowledge. You might learn something new. The basics of smart recycling are to search for the little recycling symbol before chucking it into your yellow bin.

To start you off here is a list of things you should recycle:

 

  • Basic containers and bottles
  • Glass bottles, containers
  • Metal cans and aluminium
  • Scrap paper, letters, newspapers and magazines
  • Cardboard

 

Things you shouldn’t be recycling:

 

  • Polystyrene
  • Take away containers
  • Shredded paper as it should go into your green bin
  • Styrofoam
  • Foil
  • Coffee cups
  • Glad wrap and plastic bags

 

 

Some things, like plastic bags, you’ll need to check in with your local services to see if they recycle it.

 

If you’re not sure how to throw something away properly then take a moment to look it up. Don’t take anything for granted, you’d be surprised. Did you know that massive amounts of clothing are dumped in landfills every ten minutes? If you have old clothes, no matter how ragged, you should drop them off into collection bins where they can find a new life with somebody in need. Before you throw unwanted clothes away think about how you can reuse them in the home. For example, you can turn an old t-shirt into a tote bag.

 

 

Raise Awareness

 

If you care about the environment and are concerned about what the lack of recycling will do to our beautiful earth then make some noise. Contact your local council and let them know. On a smaller scale, you can encourage your friends and family to speak out as well. Inspire them to support recycling and let them know if they are recycling the wrong way.

 

Are you looking to scrap some metal? You can earn some money by recycling your scrap metal. Metal Man Recycling picks up and buys scrap metal. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 03 5941 6677 today.

How Recycling Scrap Metal Helps The Environment

Posted on by AWD Digital

We all know recycling is important. But did you know the impact recycling scrap metal can have on our environment? In this blog, we break down the top four ways recycling scrap metal helps our planet. From reducing air pollution by 86% to decreasing consumer waste by 105%, there’s a lot to be gained from recycling scrap metal. 

 

Recycling metal helps reduce chemical pollution

Chemical pollution is a major problem for our planet today. Although there are many forms of chemical pollution, the term generally refers to the process by which chemicals are released into our environment, disrupting the balance of our ecosystems, polluting our air, threatening our health and contaminating our food. By recycling scrap metal, we reduce the need to ship metal from other countries, which decreases the fuel and emissions caused by long-distance transportation.

Decreased need for landfill sites

Landfill sites are one of the largest sources of chemical and visual pollution. In Australia, there is a heavy reliance on landfill as a form of waste management. In fact, between 2007 and 2007, the volume of waste deposited to landfill increased by 12%. But by recycling items such as scrap metals, we decrease the need for landfill sites, resulting in better air, water and land quality.

Recycling scrap metal helps prevent visual pollution

Metal is produced through mining metal ores. However, most metals are found in barren areas. By recycling scrap metal, we can reduce mining and the subsequent destruction of wildlife and formerly pristine landscapes. This will lessen the overall visual pollution involved in metal mining.

Less energy is used

Generating metal for raw materials is incredibly energy intensive. In fact, it takes approximately the same amount of energy to make 20 cans from recycled metal as it does to make one can from raw materials. By using recycled metal instead of natural resources, one can save more than 75% on energy bills for metals such as aluminium and copper.

While global warming hasn’t stopped, it’s on the decline. Due to efforts, such as recycling scrap metal, we can continue on this trajectory. 

At Metal Men Recycling, we’re passionate about creating a better planet for our future. As expert scrap metal buyers, we help our planet and you by providing cash for scrap metal. To be part of the change, contact us at 03 5941 6677.

What Happens to Your Recycled Metal

Posted on by AWD Digital

Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycled scrap metal? In this week’s blog, we examine a few of the common uses for commonly recycled scrap metals such as copper, aluminium and steel, so that you can be sure your scrap is being put to good use. Here are six different ways scrap metal is re-purposed.

Industrial use

Scrap metals like iron and steel have many varied industrial uses, from the construction of public infrastructure like roads and bridges to transportation (including in the manufacture of trains, ships, and aircrafts). Cast iron also has uses in construction as a decorative material, and is often used to make things like hardware, balustrades, eaves and plaques.

Furniture

Furnishings and home fittings like benches, tables, lamps, chairs, light fittings, bed frames and door handles are frequently made from recycled scrap metal. Metal furniture, when made well, is very sturdy and can last for many years.

Artistic use

Considering many artists are concerned with sustainability, it makes sense that they try to use recycled materials wherever possible. Scrap metal is often used in artistic works such as sculptures, decorative metalwork, installations and jewellery, which make their way into private collections to be treasured for many years, or instead are featured around cities as public art.

Residential

Many recycled metals are commonly used in residential construction, with copper often being used as a plumbing material, in electrical wiring, roofing sheets and heat exchanges. Steel is also a common construction material, used to make house frames and roofing structures.

Electronics and whitegoods

Metals are also commonly used in the manufacturing of electronics, including in wiring and in the overall structure of large items such as fridges and washing machines. By recycling your old whitegoods and electronics, you are contributing to the sustainable creation of new goods.

Metal recycling plays an important role in sustainability. If you have scrap metal goods you’d like to trade in, contact Metal Men Recycling. We accept all kinds of scrap metal and are committed to sustainable practices.

How to Choose the Right Scrap Metal Dealer

Posted on by AWD Digital

Choosing a metal recycling scrap yard is about more than just searching for the best prices in your area, you should also consider convenience, professionalism and loyalty programs. In this week’s blog, we give you a few things to look out for when choosing a metal recycler to ensure you have the best possible scrap yard experience.

Business environment

It’s a good idea to physically visit a few different scrap yards so that you can see what kind of technology each one uses and how they run their businesses. If the business has new, high-tech equipment, access to online metal markets and advanced administration protocols, they will probably be capable of handling large volumes of scrap metal, which is great for business to business scrap dealing. However, you shouldn’t rule out a scrap yard just because it has older equipment or a smaller team. Older, family owned businesses are also a great choice, especially for dropping off household items and because of their reduced running costs, they sometimes offer better exchange rates.

Location and hours

Obviously, you’ll need to choose a scrap yard in a convenient location with flexible operating hours so that you can actually trade in your metal goods. Better still, go a for a scrap dealer with its own (free) pick up service and leave collection duties to the scrap metal staff. If you’re working on a construction site and need to get rid of large amounts of scrap metal, your best bet is to find a scrap metal dealer that supplies its own collection bins that can be filled and picked up when the job is complete.

The variety of metal accepted

If most of your scrap metal comes from household items, it’s likely you’ll have a variety of different types of metal to trade in. Look for a scrap yard that accept all ferrous and non-ferrous metals to ensure you can sell your entire haul. If you choose a good scrap yard you should be able to sell:

  • Copper
  • Aluminium
  • Brass
  • Steel (including white goods like washing machines, dishwashers, ovens etc. as well as wrecked cars) and stainless steel
  • Cast iron
  • Bronze
  • Car batteries

Customer service

In any business transaction, good customer service always makes for a more positive experience. By taking the time to get to know your scrap metal dealer, you’ll get an idea of their work ethic and begin to build a rapport, which should result in positive business dealings. You’re better off going to a trustworthy metal scrapper with whom you can establish mutual loyalty over a scrapper who claims they will offer the best price but fails to deliver in terms of service. All good scrappers will reward you for repeat business, so once you find a good one, stick with them!

Special offers

Scrap dealers often offer monthly specials to boost their inventory of certain metals and to keep up with market prices, so if you have large amounts of a particular type of metal (for example aluminum cans or copper wiring), it’s worthwhile checking around for corresponding specials.

Environmental consciousness

By its very nature, metal recycling is an environmentally friendly industry as recycling metal uses far less energy than producing new metal and combats waste. However, some metal scrappers will go the extra mile, using energy efficient vehicles and machinery, reducing fuel consumption wherever possible and implementing environmentally conscious practices such as paperless admin. If minimal environmental impact is a concern of yours, look for metal dealers committed to sustainability.

General pricing

Of course, pricing is a major factor when choosing a scrap yard, as you want to be able to yield a decent profit from your metal recycling efforts. Do your research on market prices and check these against the prices offered by each scrap dealer to make sure you’re getting a fair deal. Remember, prices can vary greatly depending on supply and demand, so you can always ask a trustworthy metal dealer about their market predictions for the coming months so you can figure out when best to cash in your haul.

By keeping these factors in mind when deciding on which scrap yard to sell your scrap metal to, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices to dealers offering competitive prices and friendly, professional service. Metal Men Recycling are a family owned scrap metal company based in Pakenham. Our friendly staff have over 50 years of collective industry experience and we offer fantastic rates for all kinds of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Metal Men’s Guide to Household Recycling

Posted on by AWD Digital

Most Australian households have a designated recycling bin provided by their local council, which makes recycling easier than ever, however it’s important to know which items to put in this bin, which items need to be dropped off at/picked up by special collectors, and which belong with the rest of the rubbish. In this blog, we provide a few handy tips that will help you recycle more efficiently and effectively.

What can be recycled?

There are many different materials that can be recycled using your kerbside recycling bin, including glass (think wine and other drink bottles, jars, old pharmaceutical bottles etc.), hard plastic (takeaway food containers, empty toiletry bottles and jars, empty cleaning product bottles, milk bottles, yoghurt and ice cream tubs) and paper and cardboard (including cereal boxes, biscuit boxes, egg cartons, scrap office paper, old notebooks etc.). Metal items (such as aluminium cans, aerosols, baked bean and other food cans, pet food cans, alfoil etc.) can also be recycled, however you may want to collect these items separately so that they can be taken to your local scrap metal dealer, as this is a fantastic way to earn some extra cash while doing your bit for the environment.

What should be kept out?

Recyclables don’t have to be spotless before they’re put in the recycling bin, however it’s important to make an effort to remove the bulk of food scraps. Refrain from bagging your recyclables, as plastic bags cannot be recycled and could result in your recycling being lumped in with the rest of the landfill. There are also various recyclable items that have their own specific collection programs/centres. Green waste has its own kerbside collection dates, along with drop-off centres, depending on your council, as does eWaste (old electronics like phones, TVs and computers), old furniture and other household items, and waste construction materials like timber, bricks and rubble. For items that are still in good condition, consider donating to your local op-shop or holding a garage sale.

What about scrap metal?

As mentioned earlier, small household metal items can be exchanged for cash at your local scrap metal dealer. In addition to these items, other forms of scrap metal like old car parts (including batteries), copper wiring, copper and/or brass piping, door fittings and whitegoods can also be sold to reputable scrap metal dealers.

By implementing an organised recycling system at home, you’ll not only be doing your bit for the environment, but you’ll also create the opportunity to earn some extra pocket money. Metal Men Recycling accept all kinds of scrap metal and even offer a 24 hour pickup service for larger items.

How to Make Recycling Fun for Kids

Posted on by AWD Digital

In the interests of promoting sustainability and joining the war on waste, it’s a good idea to recycle wherever possible. When recycling at home, be sure to get your kids involved and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices. One of the best ways to get your kids to practice regular recycling is to make the process as fun as possible, so we’ve come up with a few tips to make recycling around the home an exciting and educational experience.

Start early and lead by example

One of the best ways to get kids into a recycling mindset is to lead by example and expose them to your own recycling habits. Set up recycling bins where your children can see them and talk to them about the process whenever they observe you recycling e.g. “plastics go in the blue bin, paper in the green bin and metals or e-waste in the red.” Soon, your children will want to join in themselves to see if they can correctly select the right bin!

Convenience is key

The key to getting your kids into recycling is to make it as convenient as possible for them, so it’s a good idea to have several different bins throughout the house. For example, you may have marked recycling bins in the kitchen, one in the bathroom or toilet for old toilet rolls, and one in their bedroom for waste paper.

Turn it into a game

Matching recyclables to different coloured bins is just one of the many ways you can turn recycling into a fun game for your children. You may even want to expand on your recycling efforts by taking them outside the home, encouraging picking up litter in public parks, collecting aluminium cans, and even hiring or buying a metal detector for trips to the beach. Make little games out of each task by offering rewards for whoever collects the most recyclables.

Explain and educate

Of course, there is little point in getting your kids to recycle if they don’t understand why they’re doing it. Educate your children about the importance of recycling, along with how to reduce consumption and practice sustainability. You may even want to take them on a day trip to a local recycling plant, or a metal recycling facility so they can observe the recycling process.

If you’ve got scrap metal lying around the home, exchange it for cash with Metal Men Recycling (and feel free to bring your kids along for the experience). Metal Men Recycling gladly accept all kinds of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including iron, steel, copper, aluminium, brass and more.

Metals Commonly Found on Construction Sites

Posted on by AWD Digital

Along with other common building materials like timber and concrete, a variety of metals can usually be found on construction sites. Whether you’re a construction company with left over building materials, or a home owner looking to get rid of site waste, metal recycling is a great way to dispose of excess construction metal. In this blog, we take you through some of the most common metals found on construction sites, why they make excellent building materials, and how to scrap them for cash.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is an alloy made from a mixture of carbon and iron, renowned for its strength and rigidity. Carbon steel is often used for the beams in structural framework, as well as having industrial uses in plates for highway construction and rectangular tubing for bridges. Because of its durability, it is often used as to make rebars and hollow structural sections.

Aluminium

Aluminium is favoured by the construction industry as it is corrosion resistant, ductile, and highly conductive. These properties also make it resistant to harsh weather conditions, which is why it’s perfect to use as a framework for windows and doors, as wiring, and for outdoor street lights and signage. Aluminium is often processed into sheet metal form, along with tubes and castings, giving it applications in roofing and walling, HVAC ducts, and handles.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has been used in construction for over a century, and is a feature material in some of the most famous architectural structures in the world, including the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in New York, and La Pyramid De Louvre in Paris. Stainless steel is an alloy made up of iron, at least 10.5% chromium (the higher the level of chromium, the more corrosion proof), and varying levels of carbon, silicon and manganese. Sometimes elements such as nickel and molybdenum are also added. Stainless steel is corrosion and stain resistant and is strong, durable, ductile, and easily welded, making it the perfect material for roofing, structural frames, handrails and balustrading, architectural cladding and drainage.

Copper

Copper is another common construction material, mostly used for piping/plumbing and electrical wiring. Copper is a ductile, malleable metal that is easily welded/soldered and is also corrosion resistant. Rigid copper tubing is ideal for piping, while soft copper is often used to make refrigerant lines in HVAC systems and heat pumps.

Carbon steel, aluminium, stainless steel and copper are incredibly valuable to the construction industry, and have been used in many iconic structures around the world. If you find yourself with an excess amount of any of these materials, take them to your local scrap metal buyer in Melbourne. Not only will you be helping the environment through recycling, you’ll also earn some cash for scrap.

Metal Recycling in the Office

Posted on by AWD Digital

Businesses generate a lot of waste, so it’s important to implement sustainability practices that allow you and your workers to reduce, reuse and recycle as much of this waste as possible. In addition to recycling common office wastes such as paper, cardboard, printer cartridges, and plastics, care should also be taken to ensure metal wastes are recycled, by trading them in as scrap. If you want to do your bit for the environment and earn some cash for scrap, find out where you can salvage scrap metal around the office.

Aluminium cans and food containers and foil

It’s likely that your workers order takeaway lunches at least a couple of times a week, so to prevent this recyclable waste from ending up with the rest of the rubbish, provide your office with a designated metal recycling bin. Instruct your employees to recycle all aluminium waste, along with any steel cans (from baked beans or canned tuna) they may bring into the office. Aluminium and steel are able to be recycled infinitely, and recycling just one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours, so it’s worth holding onto this waste until you can trade it in as scrap.

Old steel furniture

Before chucking out old office furniture, check whether it has any recyclable parts. Steel framed chairs and tables, as well as chrome plated pieces, are often favoured in office environments because of their professional look, so salvage the metal from these items before disposing of them. All of this metal can be added to the pile that you take to your local metal buyer.

Old technology

One of the biggest sources of scrap metal in the office is obsolete computing technology. Electronic waste (or e-waste) is full of valuable metals like copper, silver, gold and palladium (among others), and because the other components of e-waste can be hazardous to the environment, it’s important that as much as possible of it is recycled before being correctly disposed of.

Old piping

If your office is having the plumbing re-done, make sure you keep your old piping. Synthetic PVC piping is favoured over galvanised piping (steel or iron with a protective zinc coating) these days, however these outdated galvanised pipes are a great source of scrap metal.

Decorative features

When redecorating your office, look out for items like brass door handles or unwanted metal ornaments. These items can also be added to your scrap metal pile.

Collecting the scrap in your office for metal recycling is not only beneficial to the environment, but is also a good way to generate some extra cash for office lunches and the like. Metal Men Recycling will give you cash for scrap metal and even offer a 24-hour pickup service.

Reducing the Energy Consumption of Your Whitegoods

Posted on by AWD Digital

Whitegoods are some of the most important appliances in our homes; we use them daily for cooking, keeping food cool and fresh, washing our clothes, and cleaning, among other things. Because we use whitegoods so often, it’s important for us to know how they work, how we can reduce their overall energy consumption, and how to reduce environmental impacts by taking them to a scrap metal buyer.

Fridges and freezers

Almost every Australian household (estimated at 99.9%) has a refrigerator, and because fridges are usually kept running 24 hours a day, they are often the single biggest consumer of power within a household. Around 13% of Victorian household energy costs are spent on refrigeration, which is why it’s so important to purchase an energy efficient model and maintain proper use. A fridge works by removing heat from the inside (thereby keeping its contents cool) and transferring it outside through its radiator coils. Because of this, it’s important to ensure your fridge isn’t positioned too close to a wall so that heat can properly dissipate.

It’s also a good idea to avoid placing your fridge in enclosed spaces, in direct sunlight in summer, and to avoid putting hot food straight into the fridge, as all of these things will force your fridge to work harder and consume more energy. Radiator coils should be kept free of dust to prevent against incidental insulation, the amount of time your fridge door is left open should be minimised, and door seals should be kept clean and in working order. If you have an old fridge, it’s a good idea to upgrade to a newer model with a high energy star rating. Instead of having your old fridge sent to the tip, take it to a scrap metal buyer to further reduce your energy consumption through recycling.

Washers and dryers

Washing machines are another important household item, and because of how often they are used, and the fact that they can be expected to last for around 10 years or more, it’s important to invest in an energy efficient model. An efficient washing machine (at least 3.5 stars for energy and 4 stars for water) can save you up to 21,000 litres of water per year and up to 25% of normal running costs over a lifetime. It’s a good idea to look for a front loading washing machine with cold water cycle options in order save on water and energy. To further reduce your energy bills you should:

  • Wash using a cold cycle wherever possible
  • Ensure your washing machine contains a full load before use
  • Use the highest spin cycle to minimise the use of a clothes dryer

Clothes dryers are used in around 54% of Victorian households, however how often and how long they are used for varies a lot between households. It’s always best to let clothes dry naturally outside whenever possible, however if you must use a clothes dryer, look for an energy efficient model such as a heat pump or gas dryer. Electric dryers should have at least a 2-star energy rating. To minimise the energy consumption of your dryer it’s best to:

  • Clean the filter before use
  • Ensure proper airflow to the surrounding area to minimise humidity
  • Dry heavy and lightweight clothing separately
  • Make use of heat emitted by the machine by drying multiple loads consecutively

With both washing machines and dryers, you should always invest in the most energy efficient option in order to minimise your energy bills and your impact on the environment. Old washing machines and dryers can be taken to a metal recycling company in Melbourne in exchange for cash.

Dishwashers

Dishwashers are present in around 50% of Victorian households and are used between four and seven times per week. By looking for a water and energy efficient dishwasher, you can drastically reduce your bills: each extra energy star can save you up to 30% on running costs. To maximise the efficiency of your dishwasher you should:

  • Only use your dishwasher on full loads
  • Run the eco cycle wherever possible
  • Regularly clean the filter

Again, old dishwashers should not simply be dumped and sent to landfill, but sent to be recycled by a reputable metal recycler.

Remember that whitegoods are meant to have a long lifespan, and by selecting well rated models and repairing small problems, you will be able to reduce not only your energy consumption and bills, but also your overall consumption of materials. If any of your whitegoods are no longer functional, or if you’re updating to more efficient models, then you should take your old whitegoods to a scrap metal buyer. The metal from your whitegoods can be recycled again and again, so when you trade them in as cash for scrap, you are reducing the waste that goes to landfill, conserving resources, and reducing emissions created in the production of new materials. Metal Men Recycling can give you cash for scrap metal and even have a scrap metal pickup service for heavier items.