Why is metal recycling important?

Recycling metal saves significant amounts of energy and resources, and are infinitely recyclable without any loss in quality or purity.

• Recycling steel uses 75% less energy than producing steel from raw materials. Every ton of steel recycled saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone. It also saves 642 kWh and 10.9 million BTUs of energy, 1.8 barrels of oil, and 4 cubic yards of landfill space. Steel is one of the most recycled materials in the world–most steel items today contain between 25-100% recycled content.
• Recycling aluminum cans use only 5% of the energy used to produce cans from virgin material. One ton of recycled aluminum saves 14,000 Kwh of energy, 40 barrels of oil, 130. 152.32 million BTU’s of energy, and 10 cubic yards of landfill space. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television or computer for three hours, or power a 100-watt lightbulb for up to four hours.

Despite being one of the easiest things to recycle, Americans threw away 2.7 million tons of aluminum in 2018, with a recycling rate of only 35%. This is enough to rebuild the entire U.S. commercial air fleet every 3 months. Most aluminum recovered from the waste stream is used to manufacture new cans. The lifespan of an aluminum can is about six weeks, meaning it only takes six weeks for it to be manufactured, filled, sold, used, recycled and remanufactured.

It is also important to buy recycled metals when you can. 100% recycled aluminum foil is one example, such as this one made by If You Care. Or consider recycled or reclaimed metal furniture as found on Etsy.

What types of metal are recyclable?

Any type of metal is recyclable, except radioactive materials–which you hopefully don’t have! However, not all metals can be added to your curbside bin,

How to Recycle Metal

Curbside Recycling

Tin and aluminum are the two metals that can go in your curbside bin. Just like any other item, they should be dry and relatively clean. These items include:

• Aluminum and tin cans
  • No need to crush–a recycling operator told me it’s actually better not to because when crushed together in a facility, the bale tends to hold better.
• Aluminum foil: wrap, yogurt tops, cigarette box liners, disposable bakeware/takeout tins (clean & dry)
  • Accumulate foil balls to about baseball size to prevent getting lost in machinery; or add small scraps (like Hershey’s kiss wrappers) inside an aluminum can.
• Empty aerosol cans
• Empty tins, such as mint or popcorn tins
• *Clean paint cans (some companies will accept cans with dried paint residue, but check first; otherwise deposit at a hazardous waste dropoff).

Not Acceptable

Scrap metal, auto parts, wire hangers, electronics, batteries

Scrap Metal Recycling

Any type of metal can be taken to a scrap metal recycler, and you will actually make a few dollars along the way. Things you might not previously thought to recycle may include:

• Cookware and small kitchen appliances, such as griddles
• Cords and wiring, such as power cables, extension cords, copper wires
• Brass fixtures, doorknobs, cabinet hardware
• Appliances, HVAC equipment
• Exercise equipment
• Bike frames
• Automobiles and car parts
• Shelving
• Bed frames
• Furniture and decor
• Plumbing supplies such as old faucets, stainless steel sinks, food disposals, pipes
• Light fixtures, lamps, Christmas lights
• Building materials: rebar, aluminum siding, gutters, downspouts, railings, chain link fences, hardware cloth

Scrap metal recyclers separate metals into two categories: Ferrous and Non-Ferrous.

Ferrous Metals

Ferrous metals contain iron, which makes them hard, strong, and magnetic. They are also susceptible to rust and corrosion.

Common Ferrous Metals	Examples
Steel	Cars, building materials, appliances, machinery, fencing, wire hangers
Stainless Steel	Appliances, pharmaceutical and medical equipment, food-grade equipment, and knives.
Cast Iron	Cookware, small components subject to wear such as gears, rods, and pins, and mining equipment.
Carbon Steel	Structures, Furniture, Auto Parts
Wrought Iron	Furniture, Fencing, Railings, Decor

Non-Ferrous Metals

Non-ferrous metals contain very little or no iron, and are therefore not magnetic. They are rarer, which makes them more valuable. Copper is one of the most valuable metals.

Common Non-Ferrous Metals	Examples
Copper	Wires & cables, Pipes & Fittings, Cookware, Coins, Motors, Roofing materials
Brass	Knickknacks, Plumbing fixtures, Vehicle radiators, Keys, Door handles, Light fixtures, Bathroom fixtures, Jewelry, Musical instruments
Bronze	Sculptures, Jewelry, Coins, Bearings, Tools
Silver	Jewelry, Coins, Dental Fillings, Decorative Items, Silver Nitrate films used in photography and radiography, Electrical Contacts, Batteries
Gold	Jewelry, Coins, Watches, Electrical Connectors, Artificial limb joints, Dentistry, Computers, Electronics.
Lead	Pipes, Flashing, Gutters, Downspouts, Conductor Heads, Ammunition, Cable sheathing, Weights for lifting, Radiation protection, Batteries
Tin	Solder, Roofing materials, Coins, Bearings, Organ pipes, Pewter
Nickel	Batteries, Coins, Jewelry, Plating, Electrical contacts, Medical equipment
Titanium	Golf clubs, Jewelry, Dental implants, Eyeglass frames, Cookware

Local scrap yards generally accept the same things, with some variations. Check recycler websites for accepted items.

An item covered with or attached to other materials, such as plastic, is acceptable as long as it’s composed of at least half metal. However, the more ‘contamination’ that is present, the less money you will receive.

For the best prices to sell your metal:

• Clean/separate from contaminants like paint, adhesives, wood, plastic, rubber, and other coatings
• Sort ferrous from non-ferrous metals with a magnet

Items most metal recyclers will NOT accept:

Barb Wire	Items containing < 20% metal	Radioactive material
Razor Wire	Propane Tanks (sealed cylinders)	Chemical/Hazardous waste
Alkaline Batteries	Units containing Oil	Rubber
Microwaves	Tires (except the rims)	Glass
Units containing Freon

Recycle Electronics

Don’t forget to recycle electronic devices, which contain many valuable metals such as gold, silver, and platinum. These resources are especially valuable for recycling and thereby decreasing the need for virgin materials. Another important reason to recycle these items is that electronic waste leaches harmful chemicals into the environment. Never throw them into the trash! Click here to learn more about recycling e-waste.

Final thoughts on metal recycling

Besides aluminum and tin cans, recycling metal is far from a widespread habit. Once you start paying attention, you’ll discover you’ve been tossing out more metal objects than you realized. When considering the small fraction of energy used to recycle metal compared to creating new materials, and the infinite nature of this process, it is well worth going out of your way to recycle any metal that is no longer useful. Keep a box in your closet, shed, or garage to collect items and drop them off at your nearest scrap metal recycler. It will earn you a few dollars, and sometimes you’ll be surprised at the cash you can walk away with. It’s a win-win situation for you and the environment!