If you want to make a little extra money, recycling scrap metal can be fun. There are many different sources of scrap metal, which can be worth a lot of money at your local recycling center. There are also some metals that can easily be confused for less valuable steel, which is why you will want to know what to look for when collecting your scrap. Here are some tips to help you get started with collecting scrap metals:

1. Separate All The Non-Ferrous Steel You Find

There are many different types of steel. The non-ferrous alloys like stainless steel can be very valuable. Even galvanized steel will be worth more than plain steel when you take it in for recycling. It is a good idea to separate out all the non-ferrous types when collecting scrap metal. To know what is non-ferrous, use a magnet. If the magnet does not stick to the metal, this means it is a non-ferrous material.

2. The Heavy Metals That Are Worth More Because Of Their Density

There are also many heavy metals that can be worth a lot at the scrap yard because of their density. With metals like lead and brass, it does not take a lot to have a good amount of weight in metal. Lead is even very valuable, and can be found in areas like shower pans in old homes or in old plumbing systems.

3. Know What Is Aluminum When You Start Collecting Scraps

Aluminum is another metal that you may come across a lot when collecting scrap metal. It can be found in old metal siding and other building materials, such as awnings. Many compact and modern cars also have a lot of aluminum in parts, such as transmissions and even engine blocks.

4. Finding The Valuable Metals In Unusual Places

There are also valuable metals that can be found in unusual places, such as platinum in catalytic converters or gold in modern electronics. Some of these materials can be difficult to refine, but they are worth a lot of money. If you have catalytic converters, it is important that you leave them together when taking them in for recycling because they will not be worth much if you break them open.

These are some tips to help you with your scrap collecting efforts. If you have enough metal saved, contact a scrap metal service, like Full Circle Recycling,  to get current prices on the metals you plan on recycling.