What to Do with Scrap Metal Around the House After Renovations
Scrap metal can be a great way to make some extra cash. It’s also an eco-friendly way to reuse your old materials rather than throw them away. Here are some ideas for how you can recycle scrap metal around the house and get paid for it:
Old electrical wiring
If you have old electrical wiring in your home, it is worth recycling. Electrical wiring has a lot of copper in it, which is a valuable metal that can be sold or recycled for money. Because of this, many scrap yards will take old electrical wiring from homeowners for free. If you prefer not to drive to the scrap yard yourself, simply call them up and ask if they will come to pick up your old electrical wiring for you. If not, there are several ways that you can recycle electrical wiring on your own without leaving the house:
- Cut off any potentially dangerous parts (like frayed wires) with wire cutters
- Separate any plastic insulation from around the wires
- Bundle all the bare copper wires together with rubber bands or tape
Worn out metal roofing or siding.
If you’re renovating a home, it’s likely that at some point in the process you’ll have to remove and replace old siding or roofing. You can take that scrap metal to a recycling center. Or, if you want to make money from it, you can sell it to a scrap yard.
There are five things that are good for sale: aluminum cans; copper tubes; steel pipes; lead batteries; and brass fittings. But even if your item isn’t on this list, don’t give up hope! If it’s made of metal and has value as scrap metal (meaning someone else wants it), scrap metal collection in Auckland will buy it from you!
Broken window frames
Broken window frames are an excellent way to get rid of unwanted glass. Glass is a valuable commodity and can be sold, donated, or recycled for your projects. Here are some ideas on what to do with it:
- Sell the glass. If you have any local recycling centers that accept scrap metal like auto parts, they may buy your broken window frames as well. Depending on the size of your window frame and where you live, it may also be possible to sell them on Amazon or Etsy; if you’re able to find someone willing to buy them as art items, this could be an especially valuable source of income.
- Donate the glass! Some charities accept donations in exchange for tax deductions; some schools even use recycled materials when building new houses (if yours doesn’t take used windows yet). This is also a great opportunity to help out a good cause while cleaning up after yourself—win-win!
Old guttering
Old guttering is often made from metal, which means that it’s worth money. If you’re not in the market for a new guttering system and have enough scrap metal to sell, consider selling your old one.
A professional will be able to provide an accurate estimate of how much your old guttering is worth at a recycling center or scrap yard. It may take some time before they contact you with an offer, but once they do there are only three steps left:
- Inspect the condition of your old guttering to make sure it has no rust or other damage that would decrease its value significantly;
- Accept or reject their offer (you can also negotiate); and
- Pick up the cash!
Metal roofing
Metal roofing is another good source of scrap metal. You can sell it to a scrap metal dealer or the public for reuse. Metal roofing can be recycled, but not all metal roofing companies will do this. If you have an older piece of metal roofing, consider selling it back to the company that installed it for use on future jobs—a win-win!
Old garage doors
If you’re looking to make a bit of extra cash, there are several ways you can repurpose your old garage door.
- The first option is selling the door as-is. This is the most straightforward approach—you’ll simply need to find a scrap metal buyer and call them up with your location, so they can come out and buy it from you. You’ll be able to sell your old door for anywhere between $20-$50 depending on its size and condition.
- Another option is sending the door directly from home (or transporting it yourself) to a scrap yard or recycling center near where you live. This might take more time than selling it online, but it still won’t cost much in terms of time or money spent getting rid of it—all told, it could be worth over $100 if done correctly!
Old appliances.
If your home has an old refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher that can’t be repaired and you don’t need it anymore (or if it’s been replaced by a newer model), there are several ways to get rid of it. You might consider donating the appliances to charity or selling them to scrap metal dealers who will recycle them for you. However, if disposal at a local recycling facility isn’t convenient for you or if there aren’t any nearby facilities that accept electric appliances with Freon in their systems—a common problem given how refrigerators contain large amounts of this gas—you can also dispose of these items safely by recycling them at home using environmentally friendly methods like disassembling them and bringing them outside before smashing them with a sledgehammer (be sure not to hit any glass!).
You can earn money from your scrap metal
- Scrap metal can be sold to a scrap metal dealer. Some of these businesses buy scrap metal on the spot, while others will come and pick it up for you. You may also have to take your scrap metal to them, but there are several options for paying cash for your old appliances and other household items that have been replaced.
- Offer it on a classified ad or social media group. If you don’t want to pay money for transportation, consider putting up an ad in your local newspaper or posting about it on Facebook and other sites where people are looking for things like this!
- Donate it to charity. Many charities rely on donations from individuals such as yourself who have unwanted items lying around their houses—especially during renovations! Giving back is always rewarding (for both parties), so why not offer something that could benefit someone else?
Conclusion
Scrap metal is a valuable resource that can be recycled into new products. If you’re remodeling your home, consider what you can do with any scrap metal that might be left over from the project—you may find yourself with some extra money in your pocket!