3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle

nonworking appliances that were sold for scrap to a Illinois scrap yard for recycling.

3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle

Most home and business owners throughout the country are unaware of the vast number of things that can be recycled, choosing to throw away old and unusable items rather than bring them to a recycling center. Unfortunately, this leads to unnecessary waste that could be prevented.

Statistics show that Americans throw away enough aluminum every year to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet, and waste nearly one million pounds of materials per person per year. What’s more, despite representing just five percent of the world’s population, Americans generate 30 percent of the world’s garbage.

But you can do your part to recycle more and reduce waste. Here are four things that you didn’t know that you could recycle and that you shouldn’t just throw out–

1. Appliances

It’s not just small household appliances that can be recycled, but large ones, too. In fact, recycling your refrigerator, stove, air conditioner, and more is one of the best things that you can do for the earth. In fact, steel–which is the most recycled material in the U.S.–makes up 75 percent of the average appliance. What’s more, recycled home appliances account for about 10 percent of total recycled steel each year. If you’re recycling a product with fluorocarbons or chlorofluorocarbons, it’s important to work with a qualified recycler who knows how to dispose of these materials safely.

2. Whole Computers

Dumping your old computer in the landfill is an environmental hazard – computers contain up to eight pounds of lead, as well as other toxic materials that contribute to environmental contamination. That being said, you can drop off whole computers with a certified recycler who will salvage any recyclable materials and safely dispose of hazardous or toxic ones.

3. Electric Motors

Practically any piece of equipment or tool that uses electricity and has moving parts functions with the use of an electric motor. Motors can be brought to a scrap recycling center, which will separate salvageable materials, including the large amounts of copper wire that are found within most electric motors.

…And That’s Not All!

The list of recyclable materials is just a small handful of the everyday items that Americans often throw out, but could be recycling. At SMS, we are passionate about scrap recycling and want to take all of your sources of unwanted scrap metal. To learn more about our recycling process and other materials that we will buy from you, please contact us online or call one of our locations directly – we have offices throughout the country. You can reach our Burnham, Illinois location at 708-730-1400.

Factors that Affect Scrap Metal Prices

Price word cloud for scrap metal pricing trends when wanting to sell scrap metal.

Whether you’re a business owner that purchases scrap metal post-processing, or an individual or a business owner that sells your scrap metal for processing, understanding how scrap metal prices are set is important. Consider these primary factors that affect scrap metal prices in the United States, and feel free to reach out to one of our scrap yards or scrap mills for more questions about the current prices that we are offering to buy scrap metal–

Energy and Production Costs

Clearly, the costs of energy (and production) can have a large effect on the price of scrap metal. Energy costs include the costs of gas, oil, and other sources of electricity. When costs of processing are especially high, the price that is offered for scrap metal may drop in order to make up for the difference. That being said, if the costs associated with new metal mining are particularly high, this can make scrap metal and scrap recycling a more valuable endeavor.

Supply and Demand

One of the most basic economic theories that drives the price of scrap metal is that of supply and demand. This theory holds that the greater the supply of a product, the lower the price; the greater the demand, especially when supply is limited, the higher the price. When scrap metal is in low demand and high supply, scrap metal prices will be lower.

Price of New, Virgin Metals

Another element that can affect the price of scrap metal is the price of virgin metals – those that are newly mined and have not ever been used, recycled, or processed. When virgin metals are more expensive (which can be driven by energy and production costs and supply and demand), scrap metal becomes more valuable as an alternative to virgin products. On the other hand, when virgin metal prices drop, scrap metal becomes less essential, as industries can afford virgin metals instead.

Contact Scrap Metal Services, LLC for Fair Scrap Metal Pricing

At Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we always pay top dollar and fair market value for our customers’ scrap metal and are transparent in how our prices for scrap are determined. To learn more about our scrap pricing, what we buy and what we do not buy, and our locations throughout the United States, please reach out to us today.

We are a leader in the scrap recycling industry with a reputation of excellence, sustainable practices, and worker safety. Please call us today at 708-730-1400 or send us a message directly.

Industry Insights for the Scrap Metal Industry

market revenue concept when looking for steel recycling industry trends

The scrap metal and scrap metal recycling industries are a very important part of U.S. revenue and economic wellbeing, generating billions of dollars every year and providing numerous jobs. Of course, like all industries, year-over-year changes and fluctuations in the market are common. Here are some industry insights for the scrap metal industry for 2018 that are important to know if you work in the scrap metal industry, or are a scrap metal buyer or seller–

Who Are We Talking About When We Say “Scrap Metal Industry?”

When we use the term “scrap metal industry,” we are talking about numerous different players. These key players include:

  • Steel and iron recyclers;
  • Aluminum scrap recyclers;
  • Lead scrap recyclers;
  • Copper scrap recyclers; and
  • Other nonferrous scrap recyclers.

In addition to recyclers, all those involved in the collection and processing of ferrous and nonferrous materials are counted, too.

Revenue Is Slightly Down

According to IBISWorld, over the past five years, the scrap metal industry has declined ever so slightly – 2.3 percent to be exact. As such, U.S.-based scrap metal revenue generated approximately $39 billion in 2018. In addition to the slight revenue decrease compared to previous years, the number of scrap metal businesses has also decreased by .9 percent, and the number of scrap metal employees has decreased by .6 percent.

What’s Expected for the Industry?

It can be difficult to make accurate predictions about the industry – a change can be preceded by a political move, bad weather, or numerous other unexpected circumstances. That being said, some forecasts for the future include:

  • The price of steel is expected to fall slightly, which could threaten the scrap recycling industry. When prices for steel are lower, there is less demand for scrap recycling.
  • However, the industry could also experience a boom in the future, at least in the United States. This is because China buys a lot of American recycled steel products, and as the GDP of China is expected to increase, so are the country’s building and development needs, increasing the demand for steel.

Contact Scrap Metal Services, LLC Today to Learn More

If you have questions about scrap trends or scrap recycling or want to get fair market value when selling your scrap, call our team at Scrap Metal Services, LLC today. We are a leader in the scrap recycling industry and have years of experience behind us. Reach us at 708-730-1400 today or send us a message to learn more.

The Benefits of Recycling Scrap for Your Business

Scrap Metal and if you are looking for help with metal scrap recycling contact a great company in Burnham.

There are a number of businesses in different industries that can benefit from the process of recycling scrap, ranging from agricultural businesses to manufacturing companies and more. Recycling scrap is not only easy when you work with Scrap Metal Services, LLC, but also a great way to clean up your property, make some money, and do the earth some good. Consider these tops benefits of recycling scrap for your business–

The Cash Makes it All Worth It

Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons for businesses to turn to scrap recycling is the fact that recycling your scrap yields business revenue. If you have old equipment on your property that is obsolete, taking up room, and super heavy (because it’s so dense with metal), you can be paid for that piece! At Scrap Metal Services, we take all scrap, ranging from old reapers and winnowing machines and more. We pay cash for scrap!

Your Property Could Use the Pick-Me-Up

Another benefit that you’ll get from recycling your scrap is a cleaner and more organized-looking property. Not only may this be a key part of attracting customers and doing good business, but it can also provide you with more physical space on your property for other business operations. After all, if you keep allowing scrap to pile up without recycling it, at some point you’re going to run out of space.

You’re Doing the Earth a Favor

If your business is trying to go green, recycling your scrap is one step in the right direction. As explained by U.S. Geological Survey, metals are important reusable resources and recycling them provides environmental and economic benefits, including reduced waste and improved energy savings. In a single year, the United States recycled 58.3 million metric tons of selected metals, the majority of which were iron and steel.

If you’re wondering why going green is good for your business, consider that in today’s competitive business market, customers are always looking for companies that stand out from the rest – prioritizing environmental responsibility may help you achieve that. Recycling may also help your business get the green certifications it’s striving for.

Learn More About Scrap Recycling from Scrap Metal Services, LLC

There are a number of benefits associated with recycling scrap but you can’t take advantage of these benefits without partnering with a trusted scrap recycler near you. At Scrap Metal Services, we provide a full range of scrap recycling services including the processing of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, railcar and ship and vessel dismantling, and management of all transportation and logistics.

To learn more about our scrap recycling services for your business, please reach out to us directly. We serve businesses in a variety of industries and serve companies throughout the United States. Reach us by sending us a message using the intake form on our website, or call our Burnham, Illinois location at 708-730-1400.

Scrap Metal Tips for Businesses

Scrap metal car parts on the floor and if you need to rid your company's scrap metal find a great company in Burnham who can take it.

Implementing a scrap recycling plan for your business can increase business revenue, help you to do your part to be green, and reduce the amount of waste you have on your property, as well as free up space in the process. But before you start recycling your scrap, there are few important things to know. Here are some scrap metal tips and information for businesses–

Tips and Things to Know About Recycling Scrap

In order to make the most of your scrap metal recycling operation, be sure to follow the following tips and make the most of the below information about scrap recycling–

  • Know how to get the best prices. It’s likely that the biggest reason you’re interested in scrap recycling is that recycling your scrap can yield profits. But if you don’t know how to get the best price for your scrap, you’re missing out on a big opportunity. The first step is to find a trusted and experienced scrap recycler with a good reputation. From there, you may be able to maximize your profits by sorting scrap yourself (organized by type), waiting until you have a full load to call for pick up, or/and delivering scrap yourself.
  • Know what you can recycle (and why you should). Another important part of smart scrap recycling is knowing what you can recycle, and why recycling is so important. The good news is that you can recycle both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, which means you shouldn’t be tossing any metal without getting it checked out by a scrap processor first.
  • Try the magnet test. If you’re handling the sorting of ferrous vs. non-ferrous materials on your own, you may be wondering how exactly you can tell the difference between these two materials types. One of the easiest ways is to use a magnet. If the magnet sticks, it’s probably ferrous!
  • Avoid scrap businesses with a bad reputation. One of the most important things when recycling scrap is to ensure that you partner with a scrap recycling company with a good reputation; working with a business that’s inexperienced or has terrible client reviews may end up costing you time and money. Do your homework to find a trusted company.
  • Consider working with a trusted scrap recycler that offers on-site scrap management. Finally, you should consider working with a scrap processing company that offers on-site scrap management. This means that all of your scrap will be sorted, loaded, processed, etc. on site, which can be extremely convenient for your company, especially if you’re constantly generating a large amount of scrap. A company that offers on-site scrap management services and transportation and logistics services is ideal.

Learn More About Our Scrap Recycling Operation Today

At Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we have been in business for over a decade, and have quickly risen to one of the global leaders in scrap processing. Offering a multitude of scrap services, we want to be your go-to company for all of your scrap processing needs.

To learn more about our services, please contact our Burnham, Illinois location today at 708-730-1400, or contact us online at your convenience.

Responsible Recycling: Know What Materials Not to Scrap

Plastic, glass, metal and paper recycle bins and look to a renown company in Burnham who can help you with all your scrap metal recycling needs.

As a business that generates scrap metal, there is money to be made in recycling that scrap (not to mention good to be done). But before you create your scrap pile and call in a trusted scrap processor like Scrap Metal Services, LLC, it’s important to know some dos and don’ts of scrap recycling, including what materials should not go into your scrap pile. Here’s a look into what you need to know–

Things to Never Put In Your Scrap Pile

If you sort your scrap properly from the beginning and make sure non-scrapable materials stay out of your scrap pile, you can save money and time later on. Things to never put in your scrap pile include:

  • Plastics;
  • Oils;
  • Hazardous materials;
  • Electronic waste; and
  • Paper and cardboard.

While these things shouldn’t be put in your scrap pile for scrap processing (scrap processing is designed only for ferrous and non-ferrous materials), these items can and should be recycled in the majority of cases. Talk to your local recycling company, or contact Scrap Metal Services, LLC for hazardous waste processing.

Others Tips for Smart Scrap Recycling

In addition to recycling responsibly by removing non-scrap materials from your scrap recycling pile, other tips for smart scrap recycling include:

 

  • Get top dollar by letting scrap accumulate. Rather than taking small piles of scrap as your scrap accumulates, you’ll typically get more money if you wait until you have a big pile. A scrap processor is likely to give you a better deal for a bigger scrap pile, and if you’re having the scrap picked up, you’ll save the company money on transportation costs too.

 

 

  • Sort your own scrap. While a company will surely be willing and able to sort scrap for you, you may be able to save money by sorting scrap on your own. This is based purely on the fact that sorting scrap means more labor for a company, and therefore a more significant charge.

 

Choose the Right Scrap Processing Company for Your Business

Another important thing that you should focus on is choosing the right scrap recycling partner for your business. At Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we are a leader in the scrap processing industry and have more than a decade of experience behind us. To learn more about our scrap processing services and why we make a great partner, contact us today by sending us a message online, or by calling us at 708-730-1400. We look forward to working with you!

Stay on top of Recycling: Know what’s trash and what’s not

Stay on top of recycling: Know what’s trash and what’s not

For years now, separating trash from recyclables has been an integral part of daily life across America. But are your efforts making a difference? Are you putting the right items in the right bins? While recycling household items is up to you, we can help with railcar decommissioning and dismantling, which are just some of our services and all part of keeping our world green.

Arm yourself with knowledge so you know what to throw out and what to throw in the recycling bin. The following items may seem like they fit in the recycling column, but their placement in the recycling group could contaminate your local centers’ ability to process the load.

The no-no’s of the recycling world

Greasy pizza boxes: The box on its own is OK, but once your pizza has left behind an oily residue, the ability to recycle it is in question. It’s difficult for recycling centers to isolate the cardboard box’s fiber from the grease. Tearing out the untouched areas is a good way to at least make sure some of the box is recycled.

Food-filled containers: Even if a container is labeled OK for recycling, if it has debris left behind, it does not fit in the recycling bin. Taking the time to rinse out empty milk jugs can make it pass the recycling muster.

Plastic bags: Using plastics bags as containers for collecting recyclables might seem like an easy and good idea, but the bags themselves are not good to go to the recycling center. Check your area for ways to dispose of plastic bags properly and consider toting around the reusable totes instead.

Coffee on the go: The disposable cups that hold your hot beverage are (surprisingly) not meant for recycling. The culprit that keeps them out: polyethylene, which is the lining that allows the cups to hold liquid. Switching to reusable cups helps cut back on the confusion if a cup is lined or not.

Plastic changes: If you have been a number checker in the recycling game, know that rules change as to what numbers are recyclable. Plastics 3 to 7 – anything from yogurt cups to bread bags – are now not accepted everywhere. It’s best to check with your recycling company or city facility to find out for sure.

The larger side of recycling

At Scrap Metal Services, we provide a full-service scrap metal facility. We can help with vehicles, vans, trucks or SUVs that are no longer running, crashed or totaled, an old model or wrecked. We also can assist with old machinery, tractors, trailers or farm equipment.

We’re here to help at Scrap Metal Services

We offer customer-centric services for all your needs! While our headquarters are in Burnham, Ill., we have offices and scrap processing facilities in locations across the United States. Contact our main offices at (708) 730-1400 or connect with us online and we can answer all your questions.

Why You Should Recycle Your Scrap Metal

Copper tube metal scrap parts in warehouse and if you need a metal scrap recycling service find a great one in Burnham.

If you’re a business owner that has a lot of leftover scrap at the end of the day–which is pretty common for businesses within the manufacturing industry–you may be considering the different solutions for getting rid of the scrap. At Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we’re huge fans of recycling. Here are a few of the top reasons why you should recycle your scrap metal (and why you should choose our company for your recycling needs!):

It’s Good for the Environment

Perhaps the most pressing reason why you shouldn’t think twice about recycling your leftover scrap metal is the fact that recycling is good for the environment. Mining metal ore and turning it into metal is unsustainable, and is a huge drain on natural resources, air quality, and even human health when you get down to the nitty gritty of it. When you recycle metal, you reduce CO2 emissions, save natural resources, and reduce landfill space and protect the soil. If you want to do your part to be green, recycling your business’ scrap metal is a huge part of that!

It’s Good for Your Business’ Pocketbook

There’s no doubt that your company is in the business of making money whenever and wherever possible, especially if it’s for a good cause. This is just one more reason to recycle your scrap metal and to work with Scrap Metal Services, LLC: we’ll pay you top dollar for your scrap! If your business want to recycle and get paid to do so, working with our team is a must.

It’s Convenient

Finally, scrap recycling is a convenient, effective, and stress-free way to manage your scrap metal. In fact, when you work with our company, we can provide you with affordable containers to store your scrap metal on site, and will handle all transportation and recycling logistics on your behalf, which means that you never have to do anything other than set the scrap metal out – we’ll handle the rest!

Contact Us Today to Learn More About Scrap Metal Recycling In Illinois

Our headquarters is located in Burnham, Illinois, but we have offices and scrap processing facilities throughout the United States. If you are ready to learn more about recycling with Scrap Metal Services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today with any questions that you have. You can call or Burnham location today at 708-730-1400, or contact us by sending us a message using the contact form on our website. We will provide you with a timely and honest response.

What’s the Difference Between Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Materials?

Scrap metal in warehouse and if you need a service to remove your scrap metal find one in headquartered in Burnham.

Businesses in the manufacturing industry, as well as some other industry types, are left with a variety of scrap metals at the end of the day. Businesses with scrap metals are tasked with the challenge of finding a responsible scrap metal recycler that will handle both ferrous and non-ferrous materials. The following takes a look into the difference between the two materials types:

Ferrous Materials – What Are Those?

Ferrous metals are those metals that contain iron. Some of the most common ferrous metals include (but are not necessarily limited to):

  • Carbon steel;
  • Cast iron;
  • Alloy steel; and
  • Wrought iron.

Ferrous materials are extremely useful in a number of industries. For example, because most ferrous materials are magnetic they are also key in the appliances and electronics manufacturing industry.

Non-Ferrous Materials: Metals that Lack Iron

If ferrous materials are those metals that contain iron, non-ferrous materials are those that do not. While ferrous materials are certainly valuable in certain industry types, it is actually non-ferrous materials that are typically more expensive and sought after, based on their many desirable properties such as resistance to corrosion (ferrous materials tend to rust), light weight (ferrous materials are heavier), and higher conductivity. A list of important non-ferrous materials include:

  • Copper;
  • Tin;
  • Aluminum;
  • Nickel;
  • Brass;
  • Zinc; and
  • Titanium.

The majority of non-ferrous materials are used in the manufacturing of things like electrical wire, pipes, kitchen equipment, ornaments, water taps, and more. Precious metals, like gold, silver, platinum are also non-ferrous.

Handling and Processing of Your Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Materials

At Scrap Metal Services, LLC (SMS), we provide handling and processing services of your business’ ferrous and non-ferrous materials, offering you the peace of mind you’re looking for. Our non-ferrous metals process services include:

  • Baling;
  • Separating metals;
  • Breaking aluminum; and
  • Processing zorba and other scrap.

All processing, whether of ferrous or non-ferrous materials, is done in a manner that is compliant with regulations and prioritizes best practices for protecting the environment and worker and human health.

Contact Us Today to Learn More About Scrap Metal Processing of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Materials

At SMS, we are a worldwide leader in scrap processing, including the management of both ferrous and non-ferrous materials. If you have questions about how we can help your business or the scrap processing services we provide, do not hesitate to contact us. We have offices across the country, but our headquarters are in Burnham, Illinois. Reach us today for more information at 708-730-1400, or by sending us a message at your convenience.

3 Reasons to Work with Scrap Metal Services, LLC

Pile of Scrap Metal ready to be sent off site and if you are looking for a scrap metal business find one in Burnham.

All business in the manufacturing industry require a trusted scrap recycler; indeed, the majority of manufacturing businesses will be left with scrap metal that they cannot use, nor recycle on site on their own. But more than just knowing that a scrap recycler is needed, businesses are tasked with finding a reliable scrap company that can recycle scrap, decommission railcars, and dismantle ships and vessels. At Scrap Metal Services, LLC (SMS), we can do all of the above and more. Here are three reasons to work with our team if you are in need of scrap recycling services:

1. More Than a Decade of Experience and Success

The first, and one of the most pressing, reasons to work with our team is the fact that we have more than a decade of experience providing superior scrap processing services worldwide. We have established our company as a leader in the industry, and have build a reputation of success and excellence amongst our customers. Our business history shows that we know what we’re doing, are trusted, and operate within all regulations.

2. Complete Management of All Logistics

When you are looking for a scrap recycler to handle your business’ needs, you don’t want to have to worry about spending hundreds or thousands of dollars in time and transportation to figure out scrap management and recycling logistics. Instead, you want to be able to hire a company who can handle all logistics for you. From providing containers for scrap storage to arranging transportation (we even have our own fleet of water vessels and rail) to offer onsite deconstruction and dismantling services and more, we handle all elements of scrap recycling, and pay you top dollar for your scrap to boot.

3. Responsible Scrap Recycling that Prioritizes the Earth and Human Health

Finally, when you choose a scrap recycler, you want to be able to work with a company that is in compliance with all state and federal regulations for scrap management and recycling, and actually cares about the earth and human and worker health and safety. When you work with our team, you’ll find nothing short of excellence when it comes to putting our workers first and making sustainability a top priority. We’re a company you can feel good about partnering with.

Contact Us Today to Learn More

If you want to learn more about why you should work with our company or how we can help you meet your business’ goal, please contact our headquarters in Burnham, IL today at 708-730-1400, or by email. We look forward to partnering with you!