Scrap metal recyling from around the home

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Scrap metal recyling from around the home

Willuknight

143 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 18

Trusted

Topic # 242845 16-Nov-2018 17:16

Previous owner was a packrat, there is so much stuff all over this property, from old sinks and corrugated tin to old iron gates.

How do I tell what's worth anything? Is there any risk of getting ripped off if i just show up to any scrap metal place with no idea what the value of anything is?

Cheers!

Fred99

7598 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4017

Reply # 2128119 16-Nov-2018 18:26

There's not much value in old iron/steel. Stainless steel (sinks etc) copper etc may have value worth the hassle of taking it to a metal recycler - rather than just dumping it at the council recycling depot. I did take some things like an old stainless double laundry tub, a log burner (over 50kg), and an engine block, and for the sake of waiting while stuff was weighed, filling out forms etc, got paid enough for a case of beer. It's up to you - if you drop it off at the council depot, then it will get recycled anyway.

Hammerer

1829 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 459

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 2128134 16-Nov-2018 18:57

The general trend is getting less than you expect because the scrap being dirty or corroded reduces the price.

Here's a recent Christchurch price list which will give you some indication of what you might be able to get where you are: http://www.metalcorp.co.nz/pricelist.php

nickb800

2080 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 373

Trusted

Reply # 2128136 16-Nov-2018 18:59

2 people support this post

Yeah just focus on Cooper/brass/stainless - needs to be separated otherwise you might get paid a (low) mixed rate. If you give them a big mixed pile then it's not fair for them to sort and you gain. If you have a few things put aside that you're not sure of, then I think it's fair to ask and they shouldn't rip you off.

Might as well take your low value steel/iron to the scrap dealer - won't get much but better than nothing. My local transfer station charges to dump metal and expects you to sort it from general waste!

andrewNZ

2020 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1131

Reply # 2128158 16-Nov-2018 20:23

Work took a trailer load of steel to the scrappie about this time last year. Got about $8 for the trailer load, the 3 x 2m lengths of @40mm square hollow ali extrusion fetched $9.

Mild steel is with next to nothing, but it's still worth taking it in because you don't have to pay to dump it.

There are definitely some rouge scrap dealers around. One in Hamilton used to open at 3am... No points for guessing the reason.

Location: Dunedin

andrewNZ

2020 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1131

Reply # 2128159 16-Nov-2018 20:26

nickb800: Yeah just focus on Cooper/brass/stainless - needs to be separated otherwise you might get paid a (low) mixed rate. If you give them a big mixed pile then it's not fair for them to sort and you gain. If you have a few things put aside that you're not sure of, then I think it's fair to ask and they shouldn't rip you off.

Might as well take your low value steel/iron to the scrap dealer - won't get much but better than nothing. My local transfer station charges to dump metal and expects you to sort it from general waste!

My policy is, if they are charging me full dump rates, it goes in with everything else.

Location: Dunedin

Lastman

210 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 57

Reply # 2128161 16-Nov-2018 20:39

I usually find I do quite well out of steel because you have so much more of it generally and it’s heavy compared to copper/brass. Those rates are probably quite a bit lower than last I went.

The prices go in cycles but you probably won’t want to store it on an urban situation.

Morgenmuffel

459 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 35

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 2128746 18-Nov-2018 09:48

Its worth very little as others have said, to be brutally honest depending on where you are in the countryside, you might be better sticking it all in a big pile (give it a quick hose down if its full of muck), and see if they will pick it up.

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

geoffwnz

536 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 127

Reply # 2129121 19-Nov-2018 08:54

As others have said, not much in the bulk steel.

But if you've got some more obscure metals there's better money in them.

I collect up all the various metals from working on cars and reno etc. Take it down when I have a ute load.
Last load was mostly alloy rims with misc other random bits and pieces. Got a tidy $260 from it.

Mostly I figure that it's worth spending a bit more time separating it out as much as possible to get a small return from it than paying to dump it at the tip.

MotorDrive Photography