Scrap Aluminum Toronto
When we recycle aluminum products, there’s no limit to how many times this resource can be remanufactured. The best thing about aluminum is that it always maintains its original material attributes – no matter how many times it’s recycled. While aluminum recycling benefits the environment, it’s surprising how many tons of aluminum still ends up in landfill. As a resource, aluminum is one of the most abundant metals on earth. Its resilient and sustainable – really an amazing metal.
Producing new aluminum products from aluminum waste takes considerably less energy when compared to using virgin metal. In fact, it’s possible to produce 20 recycled aluminum cans with the same energy as it takes one can from virgin ore. Today, even with widespread efforts to promote aluminum recycling, too much aluminum is still thrown away – everything from food containers; to beverage cans; to outdoor furniture. Material not collected for recycling was in billions of dollars.
In Toronto, homeowners generally associate aluminum recycling with regular weekly collection in blue plastic bags (or recycling bins). But for serious waste metal collectors, there’s good money to be made – especially with large volumes of waste.
Common Categories of Aluminum Scrap
Common materials brought into the aluminum recycling stream include:
- vehicle rims
- exterior siding
- window and door extrusions
These items may all contain aluminum, but they do not necessarily belong to the same grade. Rims are often cast alloys, siding is typically sheet material and extrusions are manufactured profiles.
As general industry guidance, keeping clean aluminum separate from steel, copper, brass, plastic, rubber, and other attachments usually makes sorting and processing more straightforward. It also helps prevent a clean category from being treated as mixed material. Before removing fasteners or breaking down an item, make sure the work can be done safely and confirm whether the preparation is worthwhile.
For aluminum recycling in Toronto, it is useful to group similar items together and describe any coatings, insulation, or non-aluminum components when arranging an assessment. Tal Metal can clarify how a particular load should be prepared before drop-off or scrap metal pickup in Toronto.
Aluminum waste is all around us
Whether you’re a typical homeowner, or a serious collector, aluminum recycling has a host of benefits. At Tal Metal, our waste recycling services include both residential and commercial.
Automobile Parts
Auto parts are loaded with aluminum and “end of life” vehicles can be a huge source of waste aluminum. These auto parts are valuable – they can be mechanically separated and recycled
Building Materials
The construction industry is a large consumer of aluminum and therefore a large source of waste. From roofing, to windows, to doorframes, all the waste aluminum can be salvaged and recycled.
Electronic Products
Electronic appliances and products are a huge source of aluminum. The list is endless – fridges and stoves; washing machines and dryers; computers and cell phones; televisions and stereos.