HOW SCRAP METAL RECYCLING WORKS
‌Scrap metal is sorted and processed at a scrap yard where machinery is used to prepare it for its next destination: the foundries, smelters and mills that will use it to make new metal products. The process starts when you bring your metal items to a recycling centre, where they will be graded for type and quality, weighed and priced.

COMMON VALUABLE SCRAP METALS
These metals are found in multiple products in varying quantities. Prices will change periodically, but these are five metals that are typically more valuable at the scrap yet.

COPPER
Copper is among the most valuable metals for most scrappers. Pound for pound, it is worth more than most other common metals and is the king of non-ferrous metals. Not all copper products are worth the same, though, and the price of copper can change dramatically over time compared to other metals. The price you are paid for your scrap copper will depend on the market value that day as well as the type and condition of the copper you’ve brought. Copper sheet, for example, is more valuable per pound than plastic-coated copper wire because there is a higher copper content. Brass and bronze are commonly found in plumbing; as alloys of copper, they still have some value but not as much as copper itself. If you have a large quantity of high value copper, you could make a decent amount of money from scrapping.

ALUMINIUM CANS
Aluminium cans are among the most commonly recycled items in Australia. They aren’t worth as much as other metals, but they are extremely easy to come by and to collect enough to make it worth it to recycle them. They’re also an example of closed-loop recycling: aluminium cans that are recycled are used to make more aluminium cans, not turned into other products. If you regularly drink sparkling water, soda, and other canned beverages, you can save the cans and exchange them for a small amount of cash.

ALUMINIUM
Aluminium is not just found in cans. It can also be found in other items, including siding, tire rims, car grills, cookware, wires and more. While you’re not likely coming across these items every day like cans, they can still make you some money when you recycle. Aluminium prices tend to move a little from month to month but are less likely to see dramatic changes than copper.

STEEL
With some exceptions, steel is a ferrous metal, an alloy of iron, and ferrous metals are priced per tonne. Cars, appliances, and carbon steel (used for construction) are among the most commonly recycled steel products seen at a scrap yard. Because items made with a lot of steel tend to weigh more than those made of copper or aluminium, a scrapper can make decent cash off a haul of ferrous.

CARS
When a car is scrapped, it is drained of fluids, crushed and shredded, and the metal contents are separated from the non-metals to be used for recycling. All cars, regardless of age or condition, are recycled as ferrous scrap. You can estimate the scrap value of your car by multiplying its weight in tonnes by the current price for scrap iron.
You will also need the car’s title and some other information in order to scrap your car. You can call Raw Metal Corp on the requirements for car recycling before you visit.

Call us: Like many recycling centres, Raw Metal Corp accepts certain items and doesn’t accept others. Most items you will be paid for, but some could incur a fee for special handling. When you’re sorting through your recyclables, make a list of everything you have to bring in. A good rule of thumb is that Raw Metal Corp will take it if it’s made of metal, if it runs on electricity or if it takes batteries. If there’s anything you have that you’re unsure of, give us a call and run through your list or check out the website to see what we can and cannot accept.

Why You Should Recycle Your Metals
Even if you don’t have a tonnes of copper wire and piping that can net you a large profit, recycling metal is still worth your time. Metal is a non-renewable resource, and there is only a finite amount of metal on the planet. Recycling makes it possible to make more without having to extract it‌.

Recycling also helps the environment. Creating products with recycled metals saves energy and reduces a company’s carbon footprint. Additionally, metals like steel are infinitely recyclable. Melting existing items down and creating new forms from that metal doesn’t impact the metal’s structure and durability. While some recyclable items like plastic and paper eventually break down and become unusable, metal can be used forever.

How Raw Metal Corp recycling can help you
Chances are high that we can recycle what you have. We have facilities located in Brisbane and Mackay. The sectors we serve are construction sites, demolition sites, mining sites, landfills and more, for those producing scrap at a large scale. We are one of the leading recyclers of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals in Queensland. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your scrapping needs.