Techniques to Identify Scrap Metal
There are quite a few ways to identify scrap metals, so you know exactly what you have! With metal recycling, the magnet test is always reliable. A magnet helps you easily separate ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals. Visually, it should be relatively easy to separate metals into categories. If a metal has rust or is significantly heavier than other metals of similar size, it is likely ferrous. Identifying certain metals, like copper, is fairly simple. Copper has a unique color that is often described as orange or reddish-brown, and can have a green tint. Because brass has zinc in it, there is a strong yellow tint in the metal alloy. Weight is also a useful gauge for identifying metals. A great example is aluminum, which is significantly lighter than other metals that have similar appearances. When in doubt, use a chemical test for accurate results. When administering a chemical test, take the necessary safety precautions. If you’re bringing metals into Element Recycling, there is no need to test metals. Our team will sort and process the metals for you and offer cash payment on the same day.
What are Ferrous Metals
A ferrous metal will have iron in it, which gives it a magnetic quality. In a batch of scrap metal, ferrous metals are easily separated from non-ferrous metals with the use of a magnet. By separating your ferrous and non-ferrous metals, you will know exactly which wires to bring into Element Recycling. Ferrous metals we accept include car bodies, tin, iron, steel, carbon, and more.
What Are Non-Ferrous Metals
A non-ferrous metal will not include any iron. Non-ferrous metals, like copper and aluminum, tend to be more valuable, and recycling centers will offer a higher price per pound. There is a much higher demand for copper and aluminum, which means we pay a higher rate and will price-match any of our recycling competitors. Learning to identify copper and other non-ferrous metals makes recycling much easier. Being able to pull out the premium metals quickly means you know exactly which scrap wires and metals you want to set aside for recycling. Metals that are free of rust are more likely to be copper, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, or other non-ferrous materials that are free of iron. Element Recycling accepts non-ferrous and ferrous scrap metals of all kinds, including zinc, stainless steel, lead, copper, brass, aluminum, tin, iron, and more.
Identifying Copper
Copper is one of the easier metals to identify because of its bright metal color. The brownish-red color of copper sticks out among other recycling materials. Some copper wire may have a green tint to it, a result of the metal’s oxidation. Because of this, the inside of copper is brighter, resulting in even brighter cuts and scratches. Copper is the heaviest when compared to brass and aluminum, so weighing similarly sized scrap should also help you distinguish copper from other metals. As one of the common non-ferrous metals, copper is not magnetic. Copper is frequently found inside electrical systems, including wires, cabling, electronic panels, etc. Older buildings may have copper piping installed. General electronics frequently have copper inside them, too. Learn more below about identifying other metal materials to make spotting copper scrap even easier.
Identifying Brass
Brass is often used in cases where corrosion of other metals would be a concern. Brass is still widely used for plumbing, and brass scrap is often worth nearly as much as #1 insulated copper. While similar in color, brass has a distinct yellow hue that comes from the presence of zinc. This yellow, sometimes gold in color, makes it easy to spot brass, especially side-by-side with copper. Brass is one of the most common metals for metal recycling. Similar to aluminum, brass can be recycled indefinitely and is extremely energy efficient. Recycling brass scrap metal will always pay well, so never throw away scrap metal that could be recycled and reused!
Identifying Aluminum
When identifying aluminum, first check the colors of the metal. In contrast to copper and brass, aluminum is silver in color. Aluminum is not a ferrous metal, and therefore is not magnetic at all. With its obvious light weight, aluminum is often easy to spot, especially when compared to other heavier ferrous metals like stainless steel or zinc. Common aluminum metal is made to be very soft and pliable. It is commonly found in cans, cooking foil, some cookware, and vehicle parts. Aluminum can go through the recycling process indefinitely while only using a fraction of the energy that would otherwise be used to process virgin aluminum. Aluminum doesn’t need as heavy a processing when going through the steps of recycling. Because of aluminum’s affordable price and ideal recycling attributes, it is used in everyday items, like soda cans.
Creating Value From Scrap Metals
We are dedicated to offering the industries of Omaha a place to recycle their scrap for a good price. Our team is here to offer market value for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and will price-match other local scrap metal recycling facilities. Copper, Aluminum, Brass, and other metals are important resources that continue to be in high demand. Element Recycling works with our community to turn scraps into cash as we offer same-day cash payouts. If you are looking to offload scrap metal, cables, wires, or other recyclable metals, stop by our facility today.
Materials We Accept: Electronics and Metals
We purchase nearly all copper and aluminum cables, meaning you shouldn’t run into any issues dropping off a variety of cables. We accept data and networking cables, insulated copper wire, aluminum cables, extension cords, high-voltage cables, fiber optic cables, household wiring, construction site scrap, and more. We also offer electronic recycling and accept many different types of electronics. Element Recycling recycles many computer parts as well. Circuitboards, power cords, hard drives, SSDs, motherboards, RAM, and other computer parts can be dropped off during business hours. Whether you’re a business recycling enterprise computers or an individual looking to offload an old phone, come to Element Recycling and drop it off. We remove data from any device to ensure customer privacy. Drop off phones, tablets, laptops, computers, monitors, power cords, printers, keyboards, batteries, and more.
Please note we do not accept the following: Propane tanks, glass, CRT monitors, rubber, hazardous materials, or Alkaline batteries.
Recycling for Cash at Element Recycling
We offer same-day cash payments for recyclable metals, electronics, and computer parts. Bring your cables, wires, and other materials to get paid today. We work with businesses, industrial facilities, and individuals to ensure Omaha is recycling as much scrap as possible! Reach out to our offices to learn more about what items we accept or to learn about how the process works. Our team is ready six days a week to offer you premium service and day-of cash payments. Bring your scrap metal to Element Recycling, centrally located off I-80 near Aksarben, just a few minutes from downtown Omaha.