Many businesses generate a great deal of scrap metal, whether wiring, plumbing, or construction materials. If yours is a business like this, you should consider recycling the excess at a scrapyard instead of discarding it. Metal recycling facilities often pay cash for valuable materials and thereby help reduce landfill mass. The following are some of the most valuable metals you shouldn't just throw away.

What Are the Most Valuable Scrap Metals?

1. Aluminum

Recycling aluminum is profitable because of the high consumer demand for aluminum items, from drink cans and lawn chairs to electronics and rain gutters. Moreover, recycling requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce aluminum from ore, so many resellers pay a bit more per pound to ensure supply. 

2. Steel

Recycled steel is found in all sorts of products, from old ladders and car rims to coat hangers and plumbing pipes. However, the most valuable type is stainless, found in used kitchen equipment, medical devices, and old appliances. Most steel is very easy to recycle and does not need to be sorted by color or size.

3. Copper

Copper always commands a good price, which is why abandoned buildings are so often stripped of their copper wires. Copper wiring and pipe are usually left over from plumbing and electrical projects. Many old boilers, rain gutters, and electromagnetic components are also made of copper and provide a good return.

4. Brass 

Brass is not a precious metal like gold or silver, but it is rarer commercially than steel and aluminum materials. Manufacturers nevertheless prize it for lamps, housewares, musical instruments, and marine components, making it a lucrative metal to recycle. 

Rely on Holmes Iron & Metal Inc. in East Spencer, NC, for all your scrap metal recycling. Serving Rowan County and beyond, they bring 40 years of experience and expertise to every transaction. They are friendly and customer-centered and offer top dollar for your old metal. They even accept large and bulky items and heavy equipment, including scrap vehicles and engines. Call (704) 633-6119 for pricing, or visit their website to learn more about the metals they accept.