Scrap Metal Recycling for Construction

Companies
No matter how carefully the architect plans the job design, every project generates some waste.
And if there’s demolition involved in the job, at the end of the day, you could be hauling off tons
of debris — or paying someone else to do it for you. But have you ever considered scrap metal
recycling as part of your demolition plans?
The bottom line is that waste costs money. The storage and removal of waste materials costs
construction businesses hundreds of dollars per project, yet many of those expenses can be
offset with a solid construction and demolition scrap metal recycling program.
Implementing metal recycling processes is often a lot less cost prohibitive and complex than
many builders think. And there are some seriously good reasons to get started. Let’s take a look
at the hows and whys of construction metal recycling to see whether a program is right for your
business.
 
Metal Recycling Can Reduce End-of-Project Costs

Construction managers often balk at demolition metal recycling, wrongly assuming that these
services will be costly and time consuming. However, on the contrary, a well-managed
construction scrap metal recycling program can easily net several thousand dollars per project,
depending on its size and the type of materials recovered. Metals are particularly valuable: bright
bare copper wiring, for instance, often fetches more than many other metals.
Many metal recycling centers lend out bins for scrap metal recycling, which makes it more
convenient. This can also significantly reduce dumpster rental costs, especially since many rental
services charge more for larger units. At the end of the day, if you’re throwing recyclable metals
into a dumpster—or paying a waste removal service to haul it away—you’re not using your
money efficiently.
 
Builder Scrap Metal Is an Urgent Problem

Although the money spent to store and remove waste materials poses a significant argument for
metal recycling, there are other good reasons to implement a program for your company—
namely, the huge environmental toll of waste.
About a fourth of all solid waste originates from construction. This is unfortunate, considering that
so many waste materials are recyclable. Aluminum doors, windows and frames; structural steel;
steel framing members; wiring and conduits; pipes and pipe fixtures; and HVAC materials are all
examples of recyclable metals found on construction and demolition sites.
Mining for new metals poses some environment risks as well, which can be mitigated with metal
recycling programs. In the past, improperly managed mining sites have caused soil and water
contamination as well as added excessive carbon emissions to the air. Recycling your waste
metal can reduce your business’s contribution to these problems.

Implementing a Recycling Plan Is Simple and Effective

One of the biggest impediments to construction recycling is that it requires some additional effort
from your employees. However, business owners tend to overestimate the amount of work such
programs require. There’s no need for subcontractors to get involved in complicated sorting. This
work can be left to metal recycling vendors. Your teams simply need to be trained to separate
metal debris from nonmetal debris, which is not exactly rocket science!
Co-mingled recycling programs—ones where materials are not sorted on-site—are much more
convenient and simpler to implement, though your demolition scrap metal recycling center may
deduct fees from your earnings as a charge for sorting. While metal recycling programs will be
more lucrative if you ask employees to sort metals on-site, sorting materials at this level often
diverts time away from the task at hand and may require additional space on-site for separate
roll-away bins. Ultimately, you’ll need to ask yourself which method makes the most sense for
your needs.
Another issue to be on the lookout for is metal theft. Bins left uncovered during off-hours may be
raided by thieves, or perhaps even looted by employees. However, you can maximize the value
of your program by asking your metal recycling center to provide bins with covers and padlocks
and locking them every night.
 
Your local metal recycling center may be able to provide project-level advice for sorting, storing,
protecting and transporting recycled materials. For more information about starting a construction
recycling program in the Austin area, contact us at Gardner Metals today. We can turn your
scrap metal into gold!