What to Do With Metal That Isn’t Shaped Like a Can
When I ask clients what metal they recycle, they invariably say aluminum and steel cans. After a brief moment of praise, I press on, “What about broken key chains, busted garden tools, wire hangers and the like?” All types of residential scrap metal are recyclable, and recyclers don’t care if it is attached to cloth, plastic or wood–as long as it is minimal. Through the recycling process, metal is separated from contaminants, so it’s easy to recycling metal-bearing household items without separating all the components.
Below is a partial list of items, made entirely of metal or containing metal, exiting U.S. homes each year that can be recycled:
Clean aluminum foil
Pie tins
Kitchen utensils
Cutlery
Cookware
Wire “cages” from champagne bottles
Jar lids
Trophies
Tools (garden and construction)
Empty CO2 soda and whipping cream chargers
Keys
Key chains
Clothing hangers
Electrical wire and cable
Electrical boxes
Empty camp stove propane canisters (Coleman “Green Key” type, at the discretion of the facility operator.)
Empty aerosol and non-aerosol cans (At the discretion of the facility operator.)
Empty fire extinguishers (Head removed.)
Miscellaneous hardware
Spiral bindings
Rings from notebooks
Pens, mechanical pencils
Scissors
Paper clips
Flashlights
Plumbing fixtures and parts
Boxes and containers
Pet cages
Lamps and light fixtures
Fireplace tools and screens
Watering cans and pales
Umbrellas
Eyeglasses
Bed frames
Picture wire
Bucket handles
Appliances (Federal law requires that refrigerants, oil, PCBs and mercury are recovered from household appliances prior to dismantling or disposal. States may have additional laws.)
Bicycles and bicycle parts
Barbeques
Patio or deck furniture
Doors
Window frames
Automotive parts
Ladders
Ironing boards
Electronics (Electronic waste recycling is mandatory in many states.)
Ski poles and bindings
Skates
Basketball hoops
Buckles
Padlocks
Tackle boxes
Any metal, from the tiniest screw to the largest appliance, can and should be recycled. If you have large items that you cannot transport to the recycling center yourself, your city may pick them up at no charge on recycling day if they are notified in advance. Call your city’s solid waste department for details.
For small miscellaneous scrap metal, start two collection bins in your garage, basement or an outdoor shed. Label one bin FERROUS METAL (magnetic metals derived from steel or iron) and the other NONFERROUS METAL (nonmagnetic metals such as aluminum, lead, and copper). Keep a magnet close by to test any metal you are unsure about. When the bins approach full, take them to a drop off recycling center and deposit the contents into the correct bins.
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