What Are the Best Practices for Collecting and Storing Copper for Recycling?

Many homeowners have scrap metal and random unused appliances lying around their homes. Although they may seem useless, if any items are copper, they can actually be rather valuable. Copper recycling is an excellent way to gain some value out of unused scrap metal in your home. With the proper collection, preparation and storage methods, you can facilitate safe and effective copper recycling that can benefit your wallet. If you are looking for a quick scrap metal pickup, contact TAL Metal. Our team will come to you to make the recycling process that much easier. Contact us today for a quote!

Why Copper Recycling Matters

Although it is common practice to throw away scrap metal and devices when they have reached the end of their useful life, choosing to recycle your metal items is a more sustainable practice. Copper recycling is an excellent way to conserve limited natural resources, which can help promote sustainable sourcing and effectively reduce carbon emissions. It takes up to 85% less carbon emissions to reprocess recycled copper than it takes to mine and produce fresh copper. This results in a significant reduction in your carbon footprint and can help protect the environment and the ozone layer against deterioration. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Collecting Copper for Recycling

Your home may contain a higher volume of copper than you may think. Being able to accurately identify and salvage copper items can help streamline the recycling process. Some common sources of copper include:

• Electrical copper wiring
• Plumbing elements and pipes
• Appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers can contain copper parts and pieces.

If you are unsure as to whether some scrap items in your home are composed of copper or not, asses it based on a few standards:

• Copper is usually reddish-brown in colour
• Copper is not magnetic, so if a magnet sticks to it, it is not pure.
• Copper doesn’t produce a loud, pingy sound when struck. If the metal sounds more muted, it could be copper.

How to Prepare and Store Copper for Recycling

Once you have collected any copper items in your home, ensure that they are cleaned and detached from any other alloys or non-metal items. This will help streamline the recycling process. Once this is done, you can also weigh out your metal in order to receive an accurate recycling quote. Once prepared, store your copper items together in a cool, dry place. This will help prevent any rusting or corrosion that can occur from moisture. Ensure you keep your copper items safe until they are ready to be recycled.

Facilitate Copper Recycling with TAL Metal

Copper recycling is essential for both the economy and the environment. It offers both financial and environmental benefits, making it an excellent idea for anyone looking to make a few dollars while reducing their carbon footprint. Before recycling your copper, ensure that it has been accurately identified, cleaned, and stored in a safe place. Once this is done, contact TAL Metal for scrap metal pickup. Our team will ensure that your copper is safely recycled for the best value possible.

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