Ways To Make Money With Scrap Metal

Scrap metal dealerships offer money in exchange for metal parts. With a little ingenuity and drive, you too can make a hefty profit from collecting and selling scrap metal. 

What to use

The only tools you need for successfully collecting and selling scrap metal are as follows:

1. – A magnet
2. – A container for holding the collected items
3. – Basic knowledge of the scrap metal industry and the value of different types of metal.

Where can you find metal?

If you want to make a decent bit of cash, you can’t expect metal to simply fall into your lap. There are many legal ways to seek out valuable scrap metal:

• Visit neighbours or send out flyers asking for unwanted items. Many people will be happy for you to remove burdensome items for free. 
• Check on gumtree or similar websites to find local items that are free to collect.
• Keep an eye out for items that have been disposed of by the side of the road.
• With permission, you could visit demolition sites to salvage metal.

Ensure all your metal-collecting activities are legal. Always obtain permission before collecting scrap from private properties.

Collecting and sorting scrap metal

• Clean your scrap. This doesn’t entail scrubbing it with a brush, but rather removing all attachments. Iron items, for example, should be as close to 100% iron as you can get them when you take them to a scrapyard. Items with amalgamated metal contents can muddy the weighing and selling process.
• Put each type of item into its own container as you collect it. You will need to present your scrap to the dealer by metal type.
• Keep your scrap safe. Scrap metal theft has been rampant in the past decade. Store your scrap metal in a safe, secure location away from the public eye.

What to look for

Not all metals have the same value, and identifying valuable and non-valuable metals is key to maximising your returns.

Ferrous and non-ferrous metals are defined by their iron content. Ferrous metals contain iron, whereas non-ferrous metals don’t. Non-ferrous metals are typically more sought after by scrap metal dealerships and will yield a bigger return. These are the types of metal you want to keep an eye out for.

How do you know whether a metal is ferrous or non-ferrous? Here’s where the magnet comes in. Ferrous metals are usually magnetic. If your magnet fails to pick up a piece of metal, it will likely be worth more.

Common non-ferrous metals include:

1. – Aluminium
2. – Brass
3. – Copper
4. – Lead
5. – Stainless Steel

To find out how much each of these is worth, visit our scrap metal prices article.

Where to sell scrap metal?

To get the best bang for your buck, ensure you are selling your scrap metal to a reputable scrap metal dealer. Hill Metal Recycling have over 25 years of experience providing scrap metal recycling services to customers across Harlow, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas. We offer a 24-hour scrap collection and easy, convenient payment which can be done by BACS transfer. To enquire about our services, get in touch with our team today.