Copper Recycling Tips for the Average Homeowner

Copper is an increasingly popular metal used to create a wide variety of household items. From everyday kitchen items to wiring to decorative items, copper is known for being versatile. The reason it is a popular choice particularly for cookware and wiring, is because it is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Many homeowners may not realize that they likely have some kind of copper items in their homes. Taking time to locate unused copper items in your home can actually be extremely beneficial, as copper is a valuable item to recycle. If you bring your metal into a Toronto metal scrap yard like Tal Metal, we can assess your metal and pay you for your contribution. Contact Tal Metal today for a free estimate!

If you are a homeowner and want some tips on how to approach copper recycling, continue reading!

Understanding the Value of Copper Recycling

Copper is a valuable resource because it is one of the best metals for conducting electricity. This makes it a great resource for any type of electrical application. Copper is also a low-reactive metal making it perfect for recycling, as it doesn’t get damaged easily. This allows it to be reused with little effort.  

Choosing to recycle copper over throwing it away has its financial benefits, as you can get paid for taking it to a metal collection or a recycling facility. The price per pound of copper fluctuates on a daily basis, however, people can expect to receive between 3 to 7 dollars per pound of metal. This can result in a significant sum if you have larger/heavier items in your home, like cookware or tools. 

Recycling metal is also environmentally friendly. Recycling copper so it can be repurposed results in much less carbon emissions than consistently producing more of it. The carbon emissions associated with copped production are rather significant which can be damaging to the environment and ozone layer. Recycling metal is also a great way to preserve and use natural resources. Overall, copper recycling is extremely beneficial to homeowners and the environment and should be considered by anyone who may have some scrap metal laying around. 

Identifying Copper Items

It may be difficult to identify copper from other metals in your household. Copper and brass can look very similar so it is important to know how to differentiate the two metals. 

• Colour: Copper is a reddish-brown colour with a pink undertone. Brass is usually more yellow in colour than copper. If you search for photos of copper online, you may be able to identify what your items are made of based on the colour. You can even use a clean penny as a reference point. 
• Magnet Test: Similarly to other unreactive metals like silver and gold, copper is not very magnetic. If you take a magnet and touch it to the surface of your item, it is likely not metal if it sticks. If you do not notice much magnetism, then your item may be made of real copper!
• Sound: Copper has a particular sound when struck. Unlike other metals, copper should produce a lower, more muted sound when struck. Many other metals create a higher-pitched ringing sound. 
• Rust: Copper does not rust, again, due to its low reactivity. When it does oxidize, it produces a bluish-green substance. If you notice rust on your items, you likely do not have real copper. 

Common Copper Items

• Pots and pans
• Electrical wiring
• Old pipes
• Decor items
• Household fixtures like faucets and shower heads
• Jewelry
• Old coins
• Tools 
• Arts and crafts supplies

Copper Recycling with Tal Metal

Overall, looking through your home for scrap copper is a great practice with many benefits. If you find something made of copper, you can be compensated for your findings if you bring your items to the appropriate facility. Copper recycling is also a sustainable practice that benefits the environment. Recycling copper can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with mining and producing copper. Copper's low reactivity makes it perfect for recycling and reusing. Bring your copper items into Tal Metal’s Toronto metal scrap yard today to recycle your items. Contact us today for a free estimate!

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