Monthly Archives: February, 2023

  1. Aluminum cans at a scrap meta recycling facility

    Home Tips for Making the Most of Your Aluminum Cans

    Canned goods are a staple in nearly every household pantry. Yet, most people don’t realize that their used aluminum and tin containers can expand their income through a home-implemented recycling effort.

    Recycling metals at home is so much more than dropping off your cans In the recycling bin. If you’re ready to benefit from your canned goods directly, take a closer look at our tips for prepping your old cans for a top-dollar sale at a scrap metal recycling facility!

    Research Local Recycling Programs

    Recycling tin cans is a great way to make extra money while helping the environment. Before you can start cashing in on your used containers, however, it’s important to research local recycling programs. 

    Different areas have different rules and regulations for selling scrap metal, so it’s best to be informed before you get started. By researching local recycling programs, like public services offered from Action Metals Recyclers, you can learn which facilities accept what types of metals and how much they pay for them.

    With this information in hand, you’ll be able to maximize your earnings from recycled cans!

    Sort and Clean Your Cans

    Before you can start cashing in on your recycled cans, sorting and cleaning them is important. Sorting the different types of metals helps ensure that you get the most money for your scrap metal when you take it to a recycling facility. 

    Any residue like dirt or food scraps can impact the worth of your cans at a recycling facility. In order to prevent disappointment, it’s best practice to rinse out all containers before taking them in, as this will help maintain their value and ensure that they don’t contaminate other materials you’re recycling. 

    With proper sorting and cleaning, you’ll be able to maximize your earnings from recycled cans!

    Remove Any Labels or Tape from Your Cans

    Before recycling your tin cans, removing any labels or tape from them is important. This is because the presence of these materials can reduce the value of recycled cans at a scrap metal recycling facility. 

    Labels and tape contain adhesives that can contaminate other metals being recycled, which lowers their overall worth. 

    Additionally, some facilities won’t accept cans with labels on them as they may need proper sorting to identify what type of metal it is. By removing all labels and tape before taking your cans in for recycling, you’ll help ensure that you can make the most possible money from your recycled cans.

    Crush or Flatten Your Cans

    Crushing your cans before recycling is a great way to save space when transporting them. Not only does this make it easier to transport more materials in fewer trips, but it also increases their value at the scrap metal recycling facility. Crushing cans into smaller pieces reduces the volume of your scraps, making sorting metals much simpler for recyclers. 

    Make Your Aluminum Cans a Profit With Action Metals Recycling

    If you’re ready to make your piles of aluminum cans worth saving, the Action Metals Recycling team can help you profit from your scraps.

    Contact us today to schedule a drop-off and learn more about how we can help you make money from your leftover aluminum cans.

    We’re ready to make recycling worth your while.

  2. Female doing scrap metal recycling at a scrap metal yard in Dallas TX

    7 Ways to Make Sure You Get Top Dollar for Your Scrap Metals

    Metal scrapping is a fun hobby that can be quite lucrative when you put your energy and know-how into it. Collecting scrap metal and selling it to a local scrapyard is environmentally friendly, too. 

    Here are seven of the best ways to make sure you get the most money for scrap metal.

    1. Know Your Metals

    There are two types of metals you’ll be collecting: Ferrous and non-ferrous, a distinction simply about whether or not the metal in question contains iron. You can detect ferrous metals with a magnet or, unfortunately, by oxidation and rust that may occur in the wrong circumstances. But even rusted metal is often still worth something.

    2. Store Scrap Correctly

    Keeping ferrous materials away from moisture and water is a great first step to eliminating the threat of rust on your steel and other ferrous scrap. Keeping your scrap away from fire and chemicals can be difficult on a construction site, but it’s also worth keeping in mind if you’ll be scrapping any of your debris.

    Our suggestion is to create a separate, covered holding area for your scrap and schedule regular visits to your local scrap metal facility.

    3. Be Smart and Safe When Moving Your Metal

    Sharp edges are just one concern, but they can be damaging or even dangerous if you’re not careful. Some health risks associated with transporting scrap metal can include:

    • Cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and bruises
    • Tetanus
    • Blood poisoning
    • Animal inhabitants

    Be aware also that an open-bed truck is preferred for drop-offs since they can use magnetized cranes to collect the scrap from you. For a car or other closed vehicle, unloading becomes your responsibility. This is to protect your vehicle.

    4. Research Metal Prices

    Metal is a volatile market, and prices per ton change frequently. A more reputable scrapyard may publish its current price list, but be aware that prices are subject to change. For the most current prices, visit a site that publishes them regularly, like Price of Scrap Metals.

    If you are limited in your storage or transportation capabilities, it’s worth noting that non-ferrous materials are worth more by weight, which you can see at that link: Aluminum and copper, for example, should take precedence over steel, along with any alloys, like brass.

    5. Find a Licensed & Insured Scrapyard

    Look for a scrapyard with a good reputation, the best prices, and that’s environmentally responsible. Don’t be afraid to call around. Just remember that you’re looking for a long-term relationship, so you should put some thought into the scrapyard you choose. 

    Action Metals has the best prices in the area and we’re devoted to making sure everything we do is safe, smart, and environmentally relevant.

    6. Collect Your Documentation

    There are several requirements for getting paid.

    • Valid ID: A driver’s license, state ID, or military ID will work.
    • A valid license plate on the vehicle you use to bring the scrap to the yard
    • A real mailing and permanent address
    • Proof of ownership of the materials

    If the scrap you picked up was abandoned, you won’t exactly have a receipt. That’s fine, as the scrapyard will have you sign a document attesting to that fact instead.

    7. Clean & Sort Your Scrap

    Your secret sauce for getting the best prices and most solid hauls should be sorting and cleaning up your scrap before you drop it off or bring it to the yard. Plastic parts and garbage take up space that you could be filling with more lucrative metal. If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right!

    Likewise, sorting your metals is an essential activity for the professional scrapper. Say you bring a load that contains copper, but is mostly steel: you may get paid for that tonnage at the steel price, which is lower. It’s worth the time and effort it takes to sort and clean your metals, in the long run. 

    Action Metals Recycling Is Here to Help

    We’ll help you sell your scrap and make sure you get a great price. We’re licensed and insured to make certain we’re giving you the best service anyone can offer. Reach out today and we’ll help you plan your next visit.