Second Street Iron & Metal
  • Home
  • About
    • Scrap News
    • Service Areas
  • Services
    • For Individual Clients
    • For Businesses
    • Scrapping Cars: FAQ
  • Pricing
    • Ferrous Metals
    • Non-Ferrous Metals
  • Contact

September 06th, 2023

9/6/2023

1 Comment

 
How Does Scrap Metal Recycling Benefit The Environment?

Nearly 60 million metric tons of scrap metal are recycled in the United States annually, according to Statista. The most common types of scrap metal recycled in the US are iron & steel, followed by aluminum, lead, copper, zinc, and many other metals. The scrap metal industry is so popular because it has two primary benefits: residents & businesses can sell their scrap metal to earn some quick and easy cash, and the metals that are recycled can be melted down an infinite number of times and molded into new products. Not only are recycled metals cheaper to purchase than never-before-used virgin metals, but the scrap metal recycling process is much healthier for our environment than the creation of new metals. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the reasons why scrap metal recycling is beneficial to our environment!

Reduces Carbon Emissions

Companies are placing more and more emphasis on recycling all raw materials to meet aggressive "zero to landfill" standards. Recycling metal minimizes emissions and air pollution, making it a more environmentally friendly option than traditional disposal methods. You too can help your company meet its carbon reduction objectives by recycling metals!

Reduces Pollution

When metal scraps are not properly disposed of, they may hurt the environment. For instance, if your laptop is disposed of in a landfill, the lead from the battery may leak into the soil, which then enters our water supply. Furthermore, the energy needed for mining, processing, and transportation leads to a significant amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses being released into the environment. Recycling is a far more sustainable choice because it only utilizes a small part of the resources needed for mining!

Maintains Resources

Metal goods can be recycled an infinite amount of times after they have served their initial purpose. For this reason, producing new products from recycled scrap metal is a much more sustainable practice than mining the Earth for materials to create virgin metals. Some resources on our planet are depleted by the creation of new metals due to incessant mining, however,  metal recycling aids in the preservation of those resources.

Reduces Energy Usage

More energy and fossil fuels are used to create new metals than are used to recycle old ones. Recycling metals is far more environmentally friendly than mining for new ones because recycling uses less resources than mining does. The majority of metals can be recycled endlessly without losing any of their quality, having both positive environmental and financial effects.

Contact Second Street Iron & Metal!

​If you're ready to start recycling scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, Second Street Iron & Metal is here for you! Our facility, located just north of Boston in Everett, is in the perfect location to accommodate the entirety of the Greater Boston area! We strive to give our clients the best prices for all kinds of scrap metal! Give us a call at (617) 387-1188 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!

​
1 Comment

July 28th, 2023

7/28/2023

0 Comments

 
Top 5 Most Valuable Types Of Copper Wire

Copper is one of the most sought after types of scrap metal because of the value it carries, and copper wire is one of the best places to find pure copper. Copper is valued so highly because it is an excellent conductor of electricity and is therefore used in a wide range of applications, making demand for the material high. For this reason, selling copper to your local scrap metal recycling center can earn you a pretty penny! In this article, we’ll talk about five most valuable types of copper wire and where you can find them! If you are looking to sell scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, contact Second Street Iron & Metal in Everett, MA, today!

#1 Bare Bright Copper Wire

Bare bright copper wire is the most valuable type of copper wire. Bare bright copper wire is a shiny, light orange type of copper wire that has never had any coating, insulation, or other materials attached to it. To be classified as bare bright copper, the wire must be 99% copper and have no coatings, corrosion, or other impurities in it.

#2 Copper Wire

#2 copper wire is slightly lower quality than #1 bare bright copper wire, and therefore is slightly less valuable. #2 copper wire must be at least 94% pure copper, as opposed to #1 copper wire’s 99% purity, and has a darker reddish-orange color. #2 copper wire is often found in motors and copper yokes.

Insulated Copper Wire

Insulated copper wire is wire covered with a thick rubber coating. You can strip away the rubber coating, but often that’s not necessary. Many scrappers will buy insulated copper wire as it is. The offer that you’ll get for insulated copper wire usually depends on the quality of the copper inside the insulation.

THHN

THHN, also known as spaghetti wire, typically contains pure copper wire inside the insulation. Like with insulated copper wire, the price you’ll get for THHN depends on the grade of copper inside the insulation.

Romex® Wire

Romex wire is insulated copper wire that has two coatings. This wire sells for less because it requires more work to get the copper inside out. If you want to make more money for the scrap wire that you have to sell, you can remove the insulated coatings from the wire yourself.

Sell Scrap Metal To Second Street Iron & Metal In Everett, MA!​

If you're ready to start selling copper wire or any other type of scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, Second Street Iron & Metal is here for you! We strive to give our clients the best prices for all kinds of scrap metal! Give us a call at
(617) 387-1188 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!


​
0 Comments

July 11th, 2023

7/11/2023

0 Comments

 
What Is Carbide & Where Can I Find It?

Just like copper, brass, aluminum, and several other types of scrap metal, carbide can be categorized into grades, some of which are more valuable than others. No matter the grade of carbide you have, it is one of the most valuable scrap metals, meaning that your local recycling facility will pay you a pretty penny for any scrap carbide you can find! Learn more about carbide below or contact our team at Second Street Iron & Metal today to get the best scrap metal prices in the Greater Boston area!

What Is Carbide?

Carbide is a composite material made up of carbon mixed with other elements. There are several types of carbide: boron carbide, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, and more. Tungsten carbide is the most common type of carbide, which is an incredibly strong metal that is both heat and rust resistant. Carbides are widely used in manufacturing industries that require high-performance materials.

Where Can I Find Carbide?

Due to carbide strength and durability, it is often used in products in the manufacturing industries. Some of the most common carbide-containing products include drill bits, saw blades, lathe components, punches, and more. When a manufacturing industry or machine shop needs to replace a saw blade, drill bit, or any other tool that is made up of carbide, it gives you an excellent opportunity to sell the used piece of metal to a scrap metal recycling facility for a great price. The electronics industry also utilizes silicon carbide in products such as led lights and power electronics. It offers high thermal conductivity, and the product can withstand high temperatures. Carbide is also used in the production of jewelry and accessories. Tungsten carbide is popular for making durable and scratch-resistant wedding bands, rings, and watch components. To find carbide that you can sell for its scrap value, you could check with your local industrial suppliers and specialized manufacturers.

Contact Second Street Iron & Metal!
​
​If you're ready to start recycling scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, Second Street Iron & Metal is here for you! Our facility, located just north of Boston in Everett, is in the perfect location to accommodate the entirety of the Greater Boston area! We strive to give our clients the best prices for all kinds of scrap metal! Give us a call at
(617) 387-1188 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!


​
0 Comments

June 09th, 2023

6/9/2023

0 Comments

 
Can You Sell Rusty Metals To A Scrap Facility?

The short answer is yes, you can sell rusty metal items to most scrap metal recycling facilities! Rust is an iron oxide that is the result of the reaction that happens between iron and oxygen, and is usually catalyzed by the presence of water or moisture in the air. It’s undesirable to have rust on your metal equipment because it alters the appearance and is corrosive, meaning it weakens the metal. The good news is that even if your metal items & equipment are rusty, they can still earn you cash when you sell them to a scrap metal recycling facility!

What Kinds of Metals Get Rusty?

Only iron and iron-coated metals get rusty. As mentioned above, rust is the result of a reaction between iron and oxygen, so only iron-containing metals can technically rust. Other metals have other reactions when they become oxidized; for instance, copper, which is a non-ferrous metal (meaning it doesn’t contain iron), corrodes, but it does not technically rust. When copper oxidizes, it produces copper carbonate, which is the greenish-blue color found on older copper. This is why the Statue of Liberty is a greenish-blue color!

Does Rust Affect the Value of Your Scrap Metals?

While rust makes metal unattractive, it doesn’t necessarily reduce its value. Recycling facilities can remove rust easily using chemicals. You can also remove rust using vinegar and soda. A scrap metal’s value is determined by its weight and the type of metal, so rust typically won’t alter its monetary value.

Sell Your Scrap Metal To Second Street Iron & Metal in Everett, MA!

​
​If you're ready to start recycling scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, Second Street Iron & Metal is here for you! Our facility, located in Everett, is in the perfect location to accommodate all of the Greater Boston region! We strive to give our clients the best prices for all kinds of scrap metal! Give us a call at (617) 387-1188 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!
0 Comments

May 04th, 2023

5/4/2023

4 Comments

 
What Are The Most Profitable Items To Scrap For Cash? 

Do you have a lot of scrap metal lying around that you’re not sure what to do with? Luckily, that junk metal can be turned into cash, giving both your wallet and the environment a helpful boost! There are many different kinds of things you can sell to a scrap metal recycling facility, including old appliances, tools, equipment, junk vehicles, and almost anything else that is primarily made of metal! Because different types of metal are worth different amounts, there are some types of scrap metal that are more valuable than others, some of which we’ll touch on in this article! If you are looking to sell scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, contact Second Street Iron & Metal in Everett, MA, today!

Copper

Copper is one of the most valuable scrap metals you can sell, and it’s easily found in your home. Copper is always in demand at scrap facilities, so you are sure to make a nice profit. Copper can be found in pipes, wires, kitchen sinks, and other fixtures. Doing a home renovation is a great time to source scrap copper to sell, as you will likely have a lot of it lying around! 

Aluminum

Aluminum is another metal that’s easy to source for recycling. While it is not as valuable as copper, it can be found much more easily. Some common places to find aluminum include food and drink cans, gutters, doors, siding, window frames, bicycles, and even cars. Aluminum is highly accessible, so you likely already have some lying around that you could take to a scrap yard for recycling.

Appliances

Used appliances are also ideal for scrap metal recycling. Old refrigerators, stoves, washers, and dryers can earn you a pretty penny from a scrap yard. Some recycling companies will also come to pick up your old appliances, eliminating the pain of moving them yourself while preventing them from ending up in a landfill.

Tools & Electronics

You can sell your old metal tools and electronics to your local scrap metal recycling facility! While you can sell your computer or tools as they are, you will bring in the most money if you clean them first and break down the computer to sell its metal components. You can also sell any old wires and cables you might find inside old computers! 

Sell Your Scrap Metal To Second Street Iron & Metal!​

​If you're ready to start recycling scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, Second Street Iron & Metal is here for you! Our facility, located in Everett, is in the perfect location to accommodate all of the Greater Boston region! We strive to give our clients the best prices for all kinds of scrap metal! Give us a call at
(617) 387-1188 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!
4 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Metal Markets
    Scraping Tips

    Archives

    September 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015


All Rights Reserved to Second Street Iron & Metal Co., Inc. 2017; Web Design M.F.