As we’re all becoming increasingly aware of how we manage our waste, it’s important that we understand what materials are most commonly recycled. If you’re clearing out a large domestic or commercial site, then some of your collected waste is bound to be recyclable – including your waste metals.
Recycling your metals means that these materials can be recast into something new, which uses less energy and finite resources than making metals from scratch. As one of the most recycled materials out there, metals of all kinds tend to be safe to reuse, with just a few notable exceptions.
Read on to find out more about metal recycling, with a look at what can and can’t be repurposed.
The Recycling Process
Metals are the perfect materials for recycling as they can be reprocessed without any damage to their original properties. This means that your waste metals can be sorted, crushed and melted down whilst retaining their strength and durability. These materials can then be recast as new products, which will be just as useful as the original item. This process can be repeated over and over without the metal declining in quality.
Not only is this process cheaper and easier than producing new metals from basic ores, but it also conserves energy, helping to safeguard our planet’s dwindling resources.
Recyclable Metals
Most common metals found around the house and in commercial buildings are recyclable. This includes aluminium, which is often used to make kitchen tools and drinks cans, as well as copper, which is used for plumbing works and wiring. Other metals such as brass, cast iron, steel and tin can all be recycled easily.
Non-Recyclable Metals
Some non-recyclable metal items to look out for include full or partially full aerosol cans, where these should only be recycled when empty. The cans should not be pierced or crushed at home, where any loose lids or parts can be recycled separately.
Other metals that should not be recycled include radioactive materials such as uranium and plutonium, as well as objects containing mercury. Lead-containing items like cathode ray tubes should also not be recycled, where these tend to be found inside TVs and computer monitors.
Batesy Skip Hire Ltd: Environmentally Conscious Waste Management
At Batesy Skip Hire, we’re here to help you to recycle as much of your waste as possible, where we can provide you with access to our waste transfer station and recycling centre. We can handle all kinds of recyclable metals as well as timber, plastics and green waste. In addition to this, we also offer a reliable skip hire service to both commercial and domestic clients – contact us directly today to find out more.
