What Is Scrap Metal Recycling?

Recycling is a key part of taking care of the planet, and that goes beyond separating plastic and cardboard from regular trash. According to United Tires, vehicles are recycled more than anything else in America. Here’s what you need to know about scrap metal recycling and why it’s so essential.

What Is Scrap Metal?

Scrap metal refers to objects made out of metal but no longer usable for their original purpose. Vehicles are one of the most common sources of scrap metal because it takes a lot of metal to produce a car or truck that weighs thousands of pounds. By tearing apart vehicles and other sources of scrap metal, recycling centers can source enough scrap metal to build new things out of recycled materials.

How Is Metal Recycled?

Recycling a car might sound like a big job, but it’s simpler than you might imagine. All the fluids inside the vehicle are drained and the vehicle is crushed. Next, a scrapyard melts down the metal so it can be used to create new parts and other metal products. Scrap metal recycling produces materials that can be used to build roads, cars, and just about anything else that’s made of metal.

Is Recycling Metal Worth It?

Some types of recycling offer lower returns, but metal is one of the best things to recycle. If you have an old vehicle or scrap metal you don’t want anymore, you can recycle it to reduce metal waste. Scrapping is always the right choice when you’re deciding between throwing something away or recycling it.

Is There a Reward?

One of the best parts about recycling scrap metal is the reward. Scrap dealers will pay a certain amount of money per pound of scrap metal, and that price varies based on the type of metal you’re recycling. Scrapping cars or large amounts of copper can offer you significant returns, so scrapping benefits everyone involved.

Getting rid of large quantities of metal can be tough, which is why many people choose to recycle scrap metal. Whether you have junk cars, heavy-duty trucks, small metal scraps, or any amount of construction materials to unload, we can help. Contact River Valley Recycling today to learn more about our recycling services!

4 Signs It’s Time to Recycle Your Junk Car

Cars, like almost everything else, don’t last forever. People sometimes have difficulty knowing when to call it quits with their car, though. According to United Tires, roughly 95% of those vehicles that are at the end of their life are recycled each year. If you want to be part of that 95%, you should look out for these four signs that you should recycle your junk car.

1. It’s More Rust Than Car

You’ve had a lot of memories made with your car. The problem is, there’s more rust than paint on it. You may want to keep a car that holds sentimental value, but a lot of rust can make this dangerous. If you rub your car and you come up with a reddish color on your hand, it’s time to recycle.

2. You Spend Too Much Money Repairing It

If you feel like you’re sinking too much money into your junk car to try to keep it on the road, it may be time to recycle it. While you might be falling prey to the “Sunk Cost” effect, where you feel like you’ve spent too much to justify the recycling, it is worth it to get value out of it and invest in a new car.

3. It’s Spending Way Too Much Time on Your Lawn

Is your car spending more time in front of your home instead of on the road? That’s definitely a sign that you should recycle your vehicle. Your neighbors will also likely be glad that you did, too, since it can bring down property values if it looks like you’re just neglecting to take care of how things look on the outside.

4. It Hits 150,000 Miles

Another sign is that if your car has hit 150,000 miles, it’s probably close to being on its way out, especially its engine. You can have the car recycled and get a newer vehicle. It can be hard to let go of your car, especially if you spend many hours with it on the road. You can look at it as an opportunity to get another and create brand-new memories.

Are you looking to recycle your junk car? At River Valley Recycling, we have all the tools to help. Contact us to learn more about our services today!