How Scrapping Metal Can Benefit Your Business

Contractors generate a lot of construction waste, and much of it is made up of metal materials. Everything from old plumbing fixtures to metallic construction debris can be recycled and turned into cash. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of scrapping your unwanted metal instead of throwing it away.

You Can Make Some Extra Money

While it may not seem like it, there’s actually quite a bit of money to be made in scrapping metal. In fact, depending on the type and quantity of metal you have, you could make several hundred dollars or more. And since most demolition projects generate at least a few hundred pounds of metal waste, that’s definitely something worth considering. 

Not only that, but scrap prices fluctuate based on the market—so if you wait to sell when prices are high, you could make even more money. Of course, you’ll need to do your research to ensure you’re getting the best price possible for your scrap, but overall, scrap metals can be quite valuable.

Metal like copper, for example, can be quite lucrative to sell. This is also why contractors tend to keep the construction zone locked down so they don’t have to worry about thieves coming onto the property and taking your precious wiring. Of course, use all the wiring you need or can to get the job done, but any wire you remove or have left over can typically be recycled. In most cases, you’d have to separate the wire from the insulation it’s in for the most money, otherwise, the recycling place may take some of your profit to do that work for you.

You’re Helping the Environment

In addition to being profitable, scrapping metal is also good for the environment. That’s because when metal is thrown away in a landfill, it doesn’t decompose like organic waste does. Instead, it takes up space and stays there for years—or even centuries. And as we all know, our landfills are quickly filling up. 

By scrapping your metal instead of throwing it away, you’re helping to reduce waste in landfills and keep them from reaching capacity too soon. Not to mention, some metals can actually leach toxins into the ground and water if they’re left in a landfill for too long—so by scrapping them, you’re actually helping to protect the environment as well. 

Many metal recycling locations have specific environmental impact pacts as well. This means that they are taking specific action to either decrease their impact or to have a net-positive impact on the environment. For example, most recycling centers that use steam will have a water recycling process to complete each task. This means that not only are you decreasing your own company’s impact on the environment, but you’re also supporting a company that is also working to help with the environment. To ensure this is the case, it may be ideal to research the company thoroughly before actually bringing your metal to that company. That way you are supporting the best company for the environment.

To take this concept to another level, recycled metal is then used to create new products. Companies that use recycled metal in their products are more likely to support and practice environmental awareness. Plus, those products usually advertise that they are made with recycled metal and thus help spread the message of environmental awareness and recycling to their target customers. This means that your act of recycling the leftover scrap metal from your construction jobs may set off ripples that end up making a bigger difference than you originally anticipated.

You’re Supporting Local Jobs

Scrap dealerships are typically small, local businesses. When you sell your scrap metal to one of these dealerships, you’re supporting your community and helping create jobs. The money that you put into these businesses is then helping go into the local economy with funds from business taxes, for example. By helping these local recycling centers, you’re helping build the local economy. This doesn’t just mean that the people you see are impacted. The entire community is uplifted by you scrapping your metal through a local shop.

More than just the people located at that scrap metal recycling shop is impacted as well. There’s a whole industry built around collecting, sorting, and selling scrap metal. Often, part of this process is done at the recycling location such as the sorting process but then two things tend to happen. Either the recycling company sends the sorted metal to another location to be melted down and reused or it is smashed or melted down on location. After the metal has been melted and purified, it can be sent to factories and manufacturing plants that use the recycled metal to create their projects. 

When you sell your scrap metal instead of throwing it away, you’re helping to support that industry. In addition, many recycling centers offer pick-up services for larger loads of scrap, which further supports local jobs. 

Scrapping your unwanted metal is a great way to benefit your business financially and environmentally. So next time you’re cleaning up a job site, don’t throw that metal away—recycle it!