We all know by now that we should be recycling as much as possible--but are we using that principle to its full potential? As a lifelong green campaigner and environmental activist I'm passionate about recycling, and I've started this blog to talk a little more about all the little extras you can do. I'll be covering craft projects you can do with the kids, tips for starting and maintaining your own compost pile, ways to help your local recycling plant out with the way you put your rubbish in the recycling bin and tips for "upcycling" some of the things you throw away the most.
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What is the Process of Metal Recycling? 13 October 2021
Are YOU recycling well enough?
4 Steps to Help You Make Money Out of Your Scrap Copper
Katie Welch
Whether they are copper wires, copper tubing or insulated copper cable left behind after a construction project, these scrap metals can be worth some bucks. Collecting and turning scrap copper is an excellent way to start a profitable venture. Read on to learn various steps you can take to make money out of scrap copper.
Prepare Your Set-Up
The first step to take when you want to make money out of scrap copper is setting up different containers for your scrap metal. That's necessary since some buyers might have different pricing for different types of copper metal. For this reason, consider learning how to identify various types of copper metals, how to sort them and their market value.
Other handy things you should have at your disposal are stripping tools and one or two pairs of gloves. They are helpful when stripping off other unwanted materials from your scrap copper.
Look for Reliable Sources
Most construction workers, electricians and roofing contractors will collect scrap copper for recycling or future use. However, some don't want the hassle of collecting scrap copper from their work sites. These are the people you should approach and offer to collect the scrap copper from their sites. Additionally, liaise with homeowners who might have leftover scrap metals after home improvement projects and need assistance cleaning up the waste.
Scrap copper might be found in old water tanks, dryers and other home appliances commissioned for disposal. You can haul these items away from these sites to your scrapyard and extract copper from them.
Prepare Your Scrap Copper
After collecting your scrap materials, you should start sorting out copper from the non-copper materials. Copper is non-magnetic, but iron and steel are magnetic, meaning you can separate them using a magnet. Remove any plastics, rubber, or other non-copper elements by stripping your scrap copper.
After that, separate your scrap copper according to type. For instance, keep bright copper wiring in one container and copper pipes in a different container. Do the same for other types of copper, such as flashing and copper tubing, to help you determine how much copper of a particular type you've collected.
Look for a Reliable Market
Finally, commercial scrapyards or copper recycling companies are great options when looking for a good market for your scrap copper. Research more about local yards and their purchase terms before selling your scrap copper. Inquire about their buying prices and find one that offers the highest price per pound. Also, determine the types of scrap copper each scrapyard deals with. Ideally, work with one that can purchase all types of copper you've collected.
Contact a company that offers cash for copper to learn more.
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