Questions You Might Have About Recycling Metal and Other Materials

Recycling metal and other materials is becoming a very popular option in many areas of the world, as people are looking to make more eco-conscious decisions for their business; this often means using recycled material rather than supporting the harvesting of virgin materials. Recycling metals and other materials also allows individuals to keep materials out of scrap yards and landfills, and recycling helps to support a local industry that typically creates job in a person's area. Whatever your reasons for recycling metal and other materials, note a few questions you might have about the process.

1. What is E-scrap?

The term E-scrap refers to electronic scrap, meaning laptops, computer towers, phones, printers, and anything that is related to a computer. It can also mean DVD players, video tape players, and the like. If it's electronic and not a household appliance, it's probably considered E-scrap. This is important to realize as not all scrap yards will accept E-scrap, but some even specialize in these parts. The materials inside computers and other such pieces can be valuable but only to a scrap yard that knows how to break them down, can remove hazardous pieces and chemicals, and which can find buyers for those recycled parts.

2. What is prepared steel?

Prepared steel usually refers to steel that doesn't have any non-steel attachments. If you're bringing in scrap steel pieces from the frame of a house, these probably won't have attached pieces. However, steel used for the frame of a car will usually have glass, the rubber used to frame the windshield, and other such pieces still attached. Understand this difference, as some scrap yards will only accept prepared steel or will give you a lower price for steel pieces that are not considered prepared steel.

3. Why don't all scrap yards accept entire cars or car parts?

Some scrap yards will accept entire junked cars because they will strip them down and resell or recycle the parts, but this can be very labor intensive. Additionally, there is often no good way to note the value of those parts; a junked car could have many working parts under the hood, whereas a car that's been in an accident may have many of its main parts completely wrecked. A car owner may have also had many of the original parts replaced with low-quality parts that don't have much value for resale or recycling. Don't assume that all scrap yards will take junked cars just for the scrap metal or other pieces, but always do some research before you decide to have a car recycled or get into the wrecking business.

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