After having several inquiries, I have decided to include a breakdown of the most requested scrap metal grades. For a full list, go here.

Prepared Scrap Iron:
Size Is 1/8″ Min X 3′ X 16″
-Use Heavy Wire To Tie Digger Chain
-Digger Chain Must Be Hooked And Rolled
-No More Than 5% Cast Iron
-Non-Ferrous Materials May Not Be Included
-No Turnings
-No Non-Metallic Materials
-No Closed Containers
-No Oils, Fuels, Or Free-Flowing Liquids
-No Hazardous Materials
-Anything With Asbestos Not Acceptable
-No Motors, Transmissions, Electric Motors
-No Barrels, Buckets, Paint Cans, Tires

Unprepared Scrap Iron:
Size Is 1/8″ Min Over 3′ X 16″
-See Prepared Iron For More Details
-Transmissions Go Here
-No Barrels, Buckets, Paint Cans

Sheet Metal And Tin:
Size Is Under 1/8″ Thick
-No Non-Metal Materials
-Mufflers
-Sheet Metals, Ie: Metal Roofing
-Fence Wire (Must Be Rolled And Tied. No Weeds, Insulators, Or Posts. Each Roll Must Be Separate From Others)
-No Non-Ferrous Metals

Appliances/Shred:
-Mostly Consists Of Stoves, Water Heaters, Dryers, Washers, Furnaces, Overhead Doors W/Insulation, Refrigerators, Etc.
-Ferrous Metal Materials Contaminated With Wood, Rubber, Plastic, Steel With Non-Ferrous Attached
-All Cfc Containing Appliances Will Not Be Taken If They Have Not Been Certified Cfc Free
-No Barrels, Buckets, Paint Cans

Electric Motors:
Electric Motors Only
-No Gear Boxes, Pumps, Pulleys
-No Non-Metallic Materials
-No Liquids
-No Oil Bath Cleaners
-Submersible Pumps Different Grade

Motor Blocks:
Pickup And Auto Motors Only, V8 & Smaller
-No Industrial Motors
-Please Remove All Oil And Oil Filters
-No Torque Converters
-Big Hole In Oil Pans
-Will Not Accept If Still Dripping Oils
(Roll It Around Before Bringing In)

Cast Iron:
Cast Iron With No More Than 5% Steel
-No Non-Metallic Materials Or Non-Ferrous Materials
-No Dirt
-Weight Limit 300# Per Piece
-Size Max Is 24″
-Thickness Not To Exceed 3″
-No Porcelain Or Enamel Coated
-No Steam Radiators
-No Transmission Gears Or Rear-End Gears
-No Large Amounts Of Pipe

According to an article posted on the American Metal Market website, “five steel mills in Changshu city, in China’s Jiangsu province, have declared bankruptcy as a result of the current market downturn.” Just another sign that the current economic crisis in the US is being felt all over the world. The recession is real but it is up to each of us to decide if we are going to just accept it and let it roll over us or if we are going to find opportunity in it.

There will be many who choose to cut every possible cost so as to preserve cash and shore up profits. Those who do, will make the depth of the recession become a self-fulfilling prophecy for their firms. Those companies look to long-term results and work creatively and smart will find hidden opportunities to increase their market share.

The thing I hate about this type of story is the use of statistics that have no relevance. For instance, The Sun used a tear-jerking statistic that the needs of the entire population of drought-stricken Nambia could be met with the amount of water that is wasted by Starbucks. The thing they try to do is to get people to think that if Starbucks didn’t waste so much water, that water could go to help the citizens of Nambia.

Of course, that is plain ludicrous because there is no economical or even logistical way to divert all that water to Nambia. Now, I don’t condone Starbucks practices, they certainly should be investigating whether the practice really makes sense or not. However, it would be helpful if news outlets such as The Sun would stop trying to prop up their stories with irrelevant statistics in order to strengthen the story. Good reporting needs no propping.

Well, hopefully, this is correct. It certainly will help with the unemployment. As for any one presidential candidate being able to create more green jobs, unless those jobs are in the government sector, he’s just blowing smoke. And if they are in the government sector, I would rather save the taxpayer money for something else other than building bigger government.

In case you haven’t noticed, scrap prices of every material are down dramatically. The economic slowdown has reduced demand of pretty much every single scrap commodity. That, of course, is starting to impact recycling rates on some items. One in particular is paper and cardboard products.

International Paper just recently had to shut down one of its paper machines that makes cardboard due to decreased demand. This has in turn reduced the price on recycled paper products and recycling yards will now find it harder to secure a buyer for those products and lowers the price they pay for the material. All of this results in less recycling of paper.

We seem to become more and more aware of things we used to take for granted the longer the economy continues to struggle. Hopefully we won’t see any permanent reduction in recycling rates.