If you have unwanted metal taking up space at home, on a building site or around your business premises, selling it can be a great way to turn something you no longer need into money. But what is the best way to sell scrap metal? And how can you make sure you’re getting a fair price?
Start by identifying what you have
Before deciding how to sell your scrap, it’s useful to have an idea of what materials you’re dealing with. Scrap metal can include a wide range of materials, such as:
- Copper
- Brass
- Aluminium
- Stainless steel
- Steel
- Cast iron
- Lead
- Zinc
- Electrical cable
These can generally be divided into ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Ferrous metals contain iron, while non-ferrous metals include materials such as copper, brass and aluminium.
Different metals have different scrap values, so keeping materials separated where practical can make it easier for a scrap metal merchant to assess your scrap accurately.
Take your scrap metal to a scrap yard
For many homeowners and tradespeople, taking scrap metal directly to a scrap yard is the most straightforward way to sell it. This is perfect if you have a smaller, easily transportable amount of copper, or even a combination of smaller scrap metal items. Once at the scrap yard, your metal can be identified and weighed before its value is calculated.
Arrange a weigh and pay collection
If you’re dealing with a large amount of metal, or the material is too heavy or awkward to transport, our weigh and pay collection service can make things considerably easier. We will collect the material from your chosen location, and weigh this using our industrial scales fitted into our vans. Your scrap will then be valued according to the type and quantity of metal collected.
Use a scrap metal skip for larger projects
If you’re generating scrap continuously rather than having one large load ready to sell, a dedicated scrap metal skip can be a particularly useful solution. This allows unwanted metal to be placed into the skip throughout a renovation, construction project, demolition or commercial clearance. Once the work is finished, the skip can be collected and the scrap transported for sorting and recycling.
How much is scrap metal worth?
Scrap metal prices can vary considerably, so there isn’t a single fixed price for all metals. The value of your scrap may depend on:
- The type of metal
- The weight
- The grade
- The condition of the material
- Whether it has been mixed with other metals
- Current market prices
Why choose a licensed scrap metal merchant?
Choosing an established, licensed scrap metal merchant, like us here at X-Met Metals, gives you confidence that your materials are being handled correctly. We can identify different metals, arrange suitable collection, and ensure recyclable materials are sent for processing rather than simply being disposed of.
For more information about scrap metal recycling, get in touch with our experienced team today here at X-Met Metals. We offer competitive weigh and pay services, convenient scrap metal collection from your chosen location, scrap metal skip hire for larger projects, and fully licensed scrap yards where you can recycle a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In fact, for scrap metal recycling across the North West, from Chorley to St Helens and Blackburn to Skelmersdale, we are the team you can count on. Whether you’re clearing a home, managing a construction site or disposing of industrial scrap, our experienced team is here to help you recycle your metal quickly, safely and responsibly.