Responsible Recycling: Know What Materials Not to Scrap

Plastic, glass, metal and paper recycle bins and look to a renown company in Burnham who can help you with all your scrap metal recycling needs.

As a business that generates scrap metal, there is money to be made in recycling that scrap (not to mention good to be done). But before you create your scrap pile and call in a trusted scrap processor like Scrap Metal Services, LLC, it’s important to know some dos and don’ts of scrap recycling, including what materials should not go into your scrap pile. Here’s a look into what you need to know–

Things to Never Put In Your Scrap Pile

If you sort your scrap properly from the beginning and make sure non-scrapable materials stay out of your scrap pile, you can save money and time later on. Things to never put in your scrap pile include:

  • Plastics;
  • Oils;
  • Hazardous materials;
  • Electronic waste; and
  • Paper and cardboard.

While these things shouldn’t be put in your scrap pile for scrap processing (scrap processing is designed only for ferrous and non-ferrous materials), these items can and should be recycled in the majority of cases. Talk to your local recycling company, or contact Scrap Metal Services, LLC for hazardous waste processing.

Others Tips for Smart Scrap Recycling

In addition to recycling responsibly by removing non-scrap materials from your scrap recycling pile, other tips for smart scrap recycling include:

 

  • Get top dollar by letting scrap accumulate. Rather than taking small piles of scrap as your scrap accumulates, you’ll typically get more money if you wait until you have a big pile. A scrap processor is likely to give you a better deal for a bigger scrap pile, and if you’re having the scrap picked up, you’ll save the company money on transportation costs too.

 

 

  • Sort your own scrap. While a company will surely be willing and able to sort scrap for you, you may be able to save money by sorting scrap on your own. This is based purely on the fact that sorting scrap means more labor for a company, and therefore a more significant charge.

 

Choose the Right Scrap Processing Company for Your Business

Another important thing that you should focus on is choosing the right scrap recycling partner for your business. At Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we are a leader in the scrap processing industry and have more than a decade of experience behind us. To learn more about our scrap processing services and why we make a great partner, contact us today by sending us a message online, or by calling us at 708-730-1400. We look forward to working with you!

Stay on top of Recycling: Know what’s trash and what’s not

Stay on top of recycling: Know what’s trash and what’s not

For years now, separating trash from recyclables has been an integral part of daily life across America. But are your efforts making a difference? Are you putting the right items in the right bins? While recycling household items is up to you, we can help with railcar decommissioning and dismantling, which are just some of our services and all part of keeping our world green.

Arm yourself with knowledge so you know what to throw out and what to throw in the recycling bin. The following items may seem like they fit in the recycling column, but their placement in the recycling group could contaminate your local centers’ ability to process the load.

The no-no’s of the recycling world

Greasy pizza boxes: The box on its own is OK, but once your pizza has left behind an oily residue, the ability to recycle it is in question. It’s difficult for recycling centers to isolate the cardboard box’s fiber from the grease. Tearing out the untouched areas is a good way to at least make sure some of the box is recycled.

Food-filled containers: Even if a container is labeled OK for recycling, if it has debris left behind, it does not fit in the recycling bin. Taking the time to rinse out empty milk jugs can make it pass the recycling muster.

Plastic bags: Using plastics bags as containers for collecting recyclables might seem like an easy and good idea, but the bags themselves are not good to go to the recycling center. Check your area for ways to dispose of plastic bags properly and consider toting around the reusable totes instead.

Coffee on the go: The disposable cups that hold your hot beverage are (surprisingly) not meant for recycling. The culprit that keeps them out: polyethylene, which is the lining that allows the cups to hold liquid. Switching to reusable cups helps cut back on the confusion if a cup is lined or not.

Plastic changes: If you have been a number checker in the recycling game, know that rules change as to what numbers are recyclable. Plastics 3 to 7 – anything from yogurt cups to bread bags – are now not accepted everywhere. It’s best to check with your recycling company or city facility to find out for sure.

The larger side of recycling

At Scrap Metal Services, we provide a full-service scrap metal facility. We can help with vehicles, vans, trucks or SUVs that are no longer running, crashed or totaled, an old model or wrecked. We also can assist with old machinery, tractors, trailers or farm equipment.

We’re here to help at Scrap Metal Services

We offer customer-centric services for all your needs! While our headquarters are in Burnham, Ill., we have offices and scrap processing facilities in locations across the United States. Contact our main offices at (708) 730-1400 or connect with us online and we can answer all your questions.

Why You Should Recycle Your Scrap Metal

Copper tube metal scrap parts in warehouse and if you need a metal scrap recycling service find a great one in Burnham.

If you’re a business owner that has a lot of leftover scrap at the end of the day–which is pretty common for businesses within the manufacturing industry–you may be considering the different solutions for getting rid of the scrap. At Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we’re huge fans of recycling. Here are a few of the top reasons why you should recycle your scrap metal (and why you should choose our company for your recycling needs!):

It’s Good for the Environment

Perhaps the most pressing reason why you shouldn’t think twice about recycling your leftover scrap metal is the fact that recycling is good for the environment. Mining metal ore and turning it into metal is unsustainable, and is a huge drain on natural resources, air quality, and even human health when you get down to the nitty gritty of it. When you recycle metal, you reduce CO2 emissions, save natural resources, and reduce landfill space and protect the soil. If you want to do your part to be green, recycling your business’ scrap metal is a huge part of that!

It’s Good for Your Business’ Pocketbook

There’s no doubt that your company is in the business of making money whenever and wherever possible, especially if it’s for a good cause. This is just one more reason to recycle your scrap metal and to work with Scrap Metal Services, LLC: we’ll pay you top dollar for your scrap! If your business want to recycle and get paid to do so, working with our team is a must.

It’s Convenient

Finally, scrap recycling is a convenient, effective, and stress-free way to manage your scrap metal. In fact, when you work with our company, we can provide you with affordable containers to store your scrap metal on site, and will handle all transportation and recycling logistics on your behalf, which means that you never have to do anything other than set the scrap metal out – we’ll handle the rest!

Contact Us Today to Learn More About Scrap Metal Recycling In Illinois

Our headquarters is located in Burnham, Illinois, but we have offices and scrap processing facilities throughout the United States. If you are ready to learn more about recycling with Scrap Metal Services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today with any questions that you have. You can call or Burnham location today at 708-730-1400, or contact us by sending us a message using the contact form on our website. We will provide you with a timely and honest response.

SMS Expansion – SMS awarded contract at APERAM (Genk, Belgium)

SMS is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the scrapyard management contract at the APERAM steelmaking facility in Genk, Belgium.   Significantly, the services are currently being performed by the world’s largest steel mill service provider and the right to business was fiercely contested by other major market payers.   SMS operations will begin on August 1, 2018.

APERAM is a global player in stainless, electrical and specialty steel, with customers in over 40 countries.  SMS, together with its new Belgium affiliate, Scrap Metal Services Belgium, BSBV (currently being incorporated) will be performing the services.   As part of SMS’s overall strategic growth initiatives, SMS is very excited about this expansion into Europe.

For more information, the full press release is linked below:

Press Release

What’s the Difference Between Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Materials?

Scrap metal in warehouse and if you need a service to remove your scrap metal find one in headquartered in Burnham.

Businesses in the manufacturing industry, as well as some other industry types, are left with a variety of scrap metals at the end of the day. Businesses with scrap metals are tasked with the challenge of finding a responsible scrap metal recycler that will handle both ferrous and non-ferrous materials. The following takes a look into the difference between the two materials types:

Ferrous Materials – What Are Those?

Ferrous metals are those metals that contain iron. Some of the most common ferrous metals include (but are not necessarily limited to):

  • Carbon steel;
  • Cast iron;
  • Alloy steel; and
  • Wrought iron.

Ferrous materials are extremely useful in a number of industries. For example, because most ferrous materials are magnetic they are also key in the appliances and electronics manufacturing industry.

Non-Ferrous Materials: Metals that Lack Iron

If ferrous materials are those metals that contain iron, non-ferrous materials are those that do not. While ferrous materials are certainly valuable in certain industry types, it is actually non-ferrous materials that are typically more expensive and sought after, based on their many desirable properties such as resistance to corrosion (ferrous materials tend to rust), light weight (ferrous materials are heavier), and higher conductivity. A list of important non-ferrous materials include:

  • Copper;
  • Tin;
  • Aluminum;
  • Nickel;
  • Brass;
  • Zinc; and
  • Titanium.

The majority of non-ferrous materials are used in the manufacturing of things like electrical wire, pipes, kitchen equipment, ornaments, water taps, and more. Precious metals, like gold, silver, platinum are also non-ferrous.

Handling and Processing of Your Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Materials

At Scrap Metal Services, LLC (SMS), we provide handling and processing services of your business’ ferrous and non-ferrous materials, offering you the peace of mind you’re looking for. Our non-ferrous metals process services include:

  • Baling;
  • Separating metals;
  • Breaking aluminum; and
  • Processing zorba and other scrap.

All processing, whether of ferrous or non-ferrous materials, is done in a manner that is compliant with regulations and prioritizes best practices for protecting the environment and worker and human health.

Contact Us Today to Learn More About Scrap Metal Processing of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Materials

At SMS, we are a worldwide leader in scrap processing, including the management of both ferrous and non-ferrous materials. If you have questions about how we can help your business or the scrap processing services we provide, do not hesitate to contact us. We have offices across the country, but our headquarters are in Burnham, Illinois. Reach us today for more information at 708-730-1400, or by sending us a message at your convenience.

3 Reasons to Work with Scrap Metal Services, LLC

Pile of Scrap Metal ready to be sent off site and if you are looking for a scrap metal business find one in Burnham.

All business in the manufacturing industry require a trusted scrap recycler; indeed, the majority of manufacturing businesses will be left with scrap metal that they cannot use, nor recycle on site on their own. But more than just knowing that a scrap recycler is needed, businesses are tasked with finding a reliable scrap company that can recycle scrap, decommission railcars, and dismantle ships and vessels. At Scrap Metal Services, LLC (SMS), we can do all of the above and more. Here are three reasons to work with our team if you are in need of scrap recycling services:

1. More Than a Decade of Experience and Success

The first, and one of the most pressing, reasons to work with our team is the fact that we have more than a decade of experience providing superior scrap processing services worldwide. We have established our company as a leader in the industry, and have build a reputation of success and excellence amongst our customers. Our business history shows that we know what we’re doing, are trusted, and operate within all regulations.

2. Complete Management of All Logistics

When you are looking for a scrap recycler to handle your business’ needs, you don’t want to have to worry about spending hundreds or thousands of dollars in time and transportation to figure out scrap management and recycling logistics. Instead, you want to be able to hire a company who can handle all logistics for you. From providing containers for scrap storage to arranging transportation (we even have our own fleet of water vessels and rail) to offer onsite deconstruction and dismantling services and more, we handle all elements of scrap recycling, and pay you top dollar for your scrap to boot.

3. Responsible Scrap Recycling that Prioritizes the Earth and Human Health

Finally, when you choose a scrap recycler, you want to be able to work with a company that is in compliance with all state and federal regulations for scrap management and recycling, and actually cares about the earth and human and worker health and safety. When you work with our team, you’ll find nothing short of excellence when it comes to putting our workers first and making sustainability a top priority. We’re a company you can feel good about partnering with.

Contact Us Today to Learn More

If you want to learn more about why you should work with our company or how we can help you meet your business’ goal, please contact our headquarters in Burnham, IL today at 708-730-1400, or by email. We look forward to partnering with you!

How Is Scrap Metal Value Set?

If you’re the owner of a business that produces scrap metal, understanding how the value of that metal is determined–and therefore how much you will be paid for selling and recycling your scrap metal–is a very important consideration. You surely want to get top dollar for your scrap metal, which means working with a trusted scrap metal processor that uses fair factors to determine an offer. Here’s a look into factors that affect the value of scrap metal, and therefore how much your scrap may be worth:

Supply and Demand

Of course, one of the driving factors in the value of scrap metal is the theory of supply and demand; how does the current supply of certain metals meet consumers’ demands? When there is a supply shortage and the demand is greater, prices will increase; on the contrary, if there is an excess in supply and no demand for materials, prices will decrease.

Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Materials

Another thing that will affect the value of your scrap metal is whether or not your scrap is ferrous–which means it contains iron–or non-ferrous–which means it does not contain iron. Currently, non-ferrous materials tend to be more highly valued, as they are used in more industry types. Ferrous materials tend to be less sought after, which means that you probably won’t get as much money for this type of scrap metal.

The Location of Your Scrap

Overhead costs that are associated with the transering/transportation of scrap can also affect the value of your scrap metal, as a scrap recycler/purchaser will probably offer you less money if overhead costs are high in order to counter this. However, if you’re located in a location where scrap metal is more difficult to acquire, the demand for your scrap may increase its value.

Global Scrap Value

Remember that it’s not just prices throughout your state or the United States which affect the value of scrap metal, but global markets, demands, and economies.

Why Work with Scrap Metal Services, LLC

When you work with Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we will pay you top dollar for your scrap. We are able to do this by following all scrap value trends and setting a fair price based on real data. Not only do we pay you the maximum value for your scrap, but we also handle all logistics on your behalf in order to minimize costs and stress on your part.

To learn more about our scrap recycling services, please call our headquarters in Burnham today at 708-730-1400, or send us a message using the intake form on our website.