Metals are versatile materials because you can use them in several ways. Metals can be used to produce industrial products, packaging, and domestic items. One of the outstanding features of metals is their ability to remain the same despite undergoing several recycling processes.

Among the recyclable items, steel and aluminum are the most commonly recycled materials. Another good thing about recycling metals is that you can monetize them. You can collect and recycle metals around your home and sell them for cash. Then, you can bring them to companies recycling scrap metal in Kansas City, where you can get a fair price.

Recycling metal items in your home

Since metals are among the most recyclable items in the U.S. and the world, we’ll focus the discussion on them.

Common in almost all homes are goods in cans – from meats, sauces, preserved fruits, drinks, coffee, and other items. After consuming the contents, you are left with the cans. Cans are made from steel, tin, and aluminum. You can recycle all of these items. And the good news is, aside from getting cash for the metals, the metals you bring to recycling companies are reused several times. Compare that to the fact that the natural resources mined to produce new metals are not renewable.

But there are ways to ensure that you are recycling metals correctly. In addition, there are do’s and don’ts to follow to ensure that you get the most value from your metal recycling efforts. 

Types of metals you can recycle

When you decide to recycle, you will find several metal items that you can gather. You can collect beverage cans, including their tabs, canned goods, aerosol cans, and canned goods. Include old lawnmowers, circuit boards, electric motors, brass doorknobs, old steel and iron window and door frames, cast iron pans, and iron grills. Old televisions, stereo systems, radios, computers, and defective appliances also contain metal parts.

Do’s and don’ts

• Do not just put the used cans into the recycling bin. Instead, wash the cans to remove any liquid or bits of food left in the can. Tossing the cans without washing them can contaminate the rest of the items. While some recycling centers accept cans with paper labels, it is better to remove them.

• Detach the lids entirely from the cans. Wash the lids and put them back inside the can. Aerosol cans have plastic lids. Remove the caps and put them with the other plastic recyclables. Do not puncture the aerosol cans to remove the remaining liquid. The recycling center knows what to do with them.

• Rinse out or allow the leftover paint to dry before you recycle paint cans thoroughly. If you do not use the excess paint, bring the paint cans to a drop-off center because paints are hazardous. 

• Do not crush aluminum cans. Instead, leave them as is after rinsing and drying them. 

• If you are mechanically inclined, you can dismantle old appliances so you can separate the parts. Most appliances have plastic, metal, and electrical components. The parts are priced differently so that you might earn more.

Recycling is essential to people and the environment. You can quickly learn the basics so you can recycle things correctly. From being a weekend activity, recycling can become a hobby and turn into an income-generating endeavor. 

Tags: home, recycling