Scrap Metal Collection Preston
at Scrap Metal Collection we provide fast, efficient, and eco-friendly scrap metal collection services for both residential and commercial clients. Whether you’re looking to clear out metal clutter from your home or dispose of industrial metal waste, our reliable team is here to help. We ensure that all collected metal is responsibly recycled, contributing to a cleaner environment while putting money back in your pocket.
What we collect
We take a wide variety of scrap metal, including both ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Here’s a detailed list of the common types of metals and items we collect:
Ferrous Metals
Ferrous metals contain iron and are typically magnetic. We accept:
Steel (e.g., structural beams, appliances, car parts)
Cast Iron (e.g., pipes, machinery, bathtubs)
Iron (e.g., old railings, tools, and industrial equipment)
Non-Ferrous Metals
Non-ferrous metals are typically more valuable and non-magnetic. We collect:
Copper (e.g., wiring, pipes, electronics)
Aluminium (e.g., cans, window frames, car parts)
Brass (e.g., plumbing fixtures, decorative items)
Stainless Steel (e.g., cutlery, kitchen appliances, medical equipment)
Lead (e.g., old pipes, car batteries)
Appliances
We take most metal-based household appliances, including:
Washing Machines and Dryers
Ovens and Stoves
Dishwashers
Microwaves
Air Conditioners
Electronics & Cables
We recycle metal components from electronics and wiring:
Electrical Wiring and Cables
Computers and Laptops
Printers and Copiers
Circuit Boards
Vehicles & Car Parts
Whether you have an old vehicle or scrap parts, we collect:
Car Bodies and Frames
Engines and Transmissions
Batteries
Aluminium Wheels
Miscellaneous Items
If it’s metal, we probably collect it! This includes:
Bicycles
Metal Furniture (e.g., bed frames, chairs)
Garden Tools
Fencing and Gates
Why Choose Us
Fast and Convenient: We offer prompt collection services, ensuring your scrap metal is picked up quickly and efficiently.
Eco-Friendly: All collected metal is recycled responsibly, reducing waste and helping to protect the environment.
Get Paid for Your Scrap: We pay competitive rates for your scrap metal, ensuring you get value for items you no longer need.
Licensed and Insured: Our professional team is fully licensed and insured, giving you peace of mind with every collection.
How It Works
Contact Us: Call us or fill out our online form to schedule a collection.
We Collect: Our team will come to your location, load the scrap metal, and transport it for recycling.
Get Paid: We weigh your scrap metal and provide a fair price based on current market rates.
Schedule Your Scrap Metal Collection Today!
Ready to clear out your scrap metal and get paid for it? Contact us today for a free quote and schedule your collection. We’re here to make the process simple, convenient, and beneficial for both you and the environment.
Scrap Metal Recycling - Everything you need to know
Scrap metal recycling is an essential service that helps reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and support the circular economy. Whether you’re a homeowner, a business, or an industrial site, understanding how scrap metal collection and recycling works can help you make informed decisions about disposing of metal waste responsibly. Here’s everything you need to know about scrap metal collection, scrap metal recycling, and where all that metal goes after collection.
What is Scrap Metal Recycling
Scrap metal recycling involves collecting, processing, and reusing metal materials that are no longer in use. Instead of sending metal items to landfills, they can be repurposed into new products, reducing the need for mining raw materials.
Benefits of Scrap Metal Recycling
Conserves Natural Resources: Recycling metals reduces the need for mining, preserving finite resources like iron ore, copper, and aluminium.
Reduces Energy Use: Recycling metal uses far less energy compared to producing new metal from raw materials (up to 95% less for aluminium, for example).
Minimizes Landfill Waste: Recycling metal prevents it from ending up in landfills, reducing environmental pollution and saving space.
Supports the Circular Economy: Scrap metal recycling keeps materials in use, minimizing waste and supporting sustainable manufacturing practices.
Scrap Metal Collection - How it Works
Scrap metal collection is the first step in the recycling process, where unwanted metal items are gathered from homes, businesses, or industrial sites. Here's how it typically works:
1. Contact and Schedule a Collection
Most scrap metal collection services offer simple ways to schedule a pickup, either by phone or through an online form. Some companies provide free collection services, while others may pay for valuable metals like copper, aluminium, and brass.
2. Collection Day
On the scheduled date, a collection team arrives to pick up the metal. They load the items into their trucks, ensuring all safety measures are taken for bulky or hazardous items like appliances or car parts.
3. Transportation to a Recycling Facility
Once the metal is collected, it’s transported to a scrap yard or recycling facility, where it will be sorted and processed.
Where Does the Scrap Metal Go After Collection?
After the collection, the scrap metal is transported to a recycling facility or scrap yard, where it undergoes several stages of processing to prepare it for reuse.
1. Sorting
Once at the recycling facility, the first step is to sort the metals. Sorting is done based on whether the metal is ferrous (iron-containing) or non-ferrous (non-iron). Specialized machinery, such as magnets, helps with the process.
Ferrous Metals: Identified by their magnetic properties (e.g., steel and iron).
Non-Ferrous Metals: Separated by hand or with advanced equipment (e.g., copper, aluminium, brass).
2. Shredding and Melting
After sorting, the metals are broken down into smaller pieces to make the recycling process more efficient. Large items, like cars and appliances, are shredded to manageable sizes.
Shredding: Reduces large metal items into smaller pieces to prepare for melting.
Melting: The metals are melted in a furnace. Different metals are melted at different temperatures, depending on their properties.
3. Purification
After melting, the metal may be purified to remove any contaminants. This ensures that the recycled metal is of high quality and suitable for future use.
Electrolysis: Used for metals like copper, where electrical currents purify the metal.
Chemical Treatments: Other purification methods may be applied to remove impurities from the molten metal.
4. Solidifying
Once purified, the molten metal is poured into moulds to solidify into specific forms. These forms can be:
Bars or Ingots: These large blocks of metal are easier to transport and store.
Sheets or Coils: Common for metals like aluminium or steel, which are used in construction or manufacturing.
5. Distribution
Finally, the recycled metal is sent to manufacturers who use it to create new products. These products could be anything from construction materials to new cars, electronics, or appliances. Recycled metal is often indistinguishable from new metal, making it a valuable part of the manufacturing cycle.
The Environmental Impact of Scrap Metal Recycling
Scrap metal recycling has a massive positive impact on the environment, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of metal production and minimizing the strain on natural resources.
Energy Savings: Recycling metals saves significant energy compared to mining and refining new metals. For instance, recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy required to produce it from raw materials.
Reduced Mining: Mining for metals can cause significant environmental damage, including deforestation, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity. Recycling reduces the need for new mining operations.
Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Because recycling metal uses less energy, it also reduces the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, helping to combat climate change.
Landfill Waste Reduction: By recycling, we divert large quantities of metal waste from landfills, reducing soil and water contamination from rusting metal.
How to get started with scrap metal collection
Getting started with scrap metal recycling is easy. Here’s a quick guide:
Gather Your Scrap Metal: Collect unwanted metal items from your home, office, or business. This can include old appliances, electronics, and metal furniture.
Sort Your Metals: If possible, separate your ferrous from non-ferrous metals to speed up the recycling process.
Contact a Scrap Metal Collection Service: Reach out to a licensed scrap metal collection company to schedule a pickup or find a local recycling drop-off centre.
Get Paid for Your Metal: If you're recycling valuable metals like copper, aluminium, or brass, the collection company will typically weigh the material and pay you based on current market rates.
Scrap metal recycling is a vital part of the global effort to reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower environmental impact. By responsibly recycling scrap metal, you not only help preserve natural resources and reduce pollution but also contribute to a more sustainable economy. Whether you’re clearing out your home or disposing of industrial metal waste, scrap metal collection and recycling provide a convenient and environmentally-friendly solution.