Many people don’t know the difference between a “scrap yard” and a “junkyard.” They often expect to see rusting parts, navigate piles of waste, and see a mess of metal everywhere. The truth is, a modern scrap yard is simply a specialized recycling facility, and visitors to Super Metal Recycling’ in Melbourne, Australia, are often surprised by how bright, clean, and organized a scrap yard can be. If it’s been a while, or if you are new to metal recycling in Melbourne, here are six things about scrap yards you should know.

Scrap yards aren’t just for cars.

While it’s true that a lot of scrap metal comes from vehicles, modern scrap yards also recycle all kinds of other metals. Everything from washing machines to old furniture can be recycled at a scrap yard.

You don’t have to be a professional.

You don’t need to be a professional to sell scrap metal. If you have a few old pieces of metal lying around, you can bring them to a scrap yard and get cash for them. There are different grades of scrap metal graded according to their type and quality. The most common grades are ferrous and non-ferrous.

Ferrous metals are magnetic and contain iron, such as steel or cast iron. Non-ferrous metals don’t contain iron and are not magnetic. Examples of non-ferrous metals are aluminium, copper, brass, and stainless steel.

The prices fluctuate.

Like any commodity, the prices of scrap metal fluctuate. The price is based on the supply and demand, as well as the type of metal. For example, copper is currently in high demand, so the price of copper scrap is higher than it was a few years ago.

You can get paid on the spot.

When you sell scrap metal, you will be paid on the spot. The payment will be based on the weight and grade of the metal.

You don’t need a lot of metal to sell.

You don’t need a lot of metal to sell it as scrap. Even a small amount of metal can be recycled.

Some scrap yards don’t accept certain types of metal.

Before you take your scrap metal to a scrap yard, it’s important to check whether they accept the type of metal you have. Some scrapyards only deal with certain types of metals, such as ferrous metals or non-ferrous metals. At Super Metal Recycling, we accept all types of scrap metal.

We hope this has cleared up some common misconceptions about scrap yards. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask us. We’re always happy to help!