Recycling seems like a no-brainer when you think of the environmental impact of trash. Still, a lot of people don’t make it a habit to recycle. It can appear to be a complicated process if you factor in different types of waste and where to dispose of them. Not everyone knows which bin is for which waste, or even where to find the location of specific recycling programs. These uncertainties can lead to important recycling questions that need to be answered. Here are six of the most common recycling questions and their answers

What is Recycling?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines recycling as the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling provides economic and environmental benefits and also benefits the community by creating green jobs, earning potential and reducing pollution.

Does Recycling Help or Hurt?

When you think of the environmental impact of recycling, it is far more helpful to recycle waste, from plastic to metal, than it is to dump them in mounting landfills that release toxic chemicals and gasses into the ground and drinking water source. A safe landfill is a myth. Manufacturing products from recyclables use less energy for processing to create usable materials/products. Recycled glass is re-melted to make new glass products, saving roughly 10-15% in energy, while recycled aluminium metal can be cleaned and re-melted into new aluminium products, saving 94% of the energy that is typically required to produce the aluminium from ore that requires extensive processing involving heat and electricity.

 Why is it Important to Only Recycled Items in the Recycling Bin?

To prevent contamination of the recycling stream, it is paramount that items that are nonrecyclable be kept out of the recycling bin. At recycling centers, the nonrecyclable items can result in costly equipment damage, and the facility also loses more money to sort and send these items to landfills. There is multi-stream recycling that requires different types of materials to be collected in separate bins, and single-stream recycling (SSR) that accept different types of materials in the same bin. This is something to keep in mind. 

Are Plastic Bags Recyclable?

This is often a confusing issue for some individuals. The quick answer is yes; however, plastic bags are not accepted by most curbside or single-stream recycling programs in general. Not all local recycling providers accept a particular “recyclable” item. Whenever you need clarification on what’s acceptable, check the label on the recycle bins. 

What are Some of the Items That Should Never Place in The Recycling Bin(s)?

Some of the items that you should never place in your recycle bin(s) according to Recycle Across America include: garden hoses, dishware, paper tissue, clothing, wood, tubes, batteries, wires, electronics, prescription bottles, food or food-soiled paper or needles, among others.

What are the Most Common Recyclable Items That Can be Placed into Curbside Recycling Bin?

Consider the following common recyclable items suitable for curbside recycling bin according to the EPA: Jugs, glass bottles, plastic bottles and caps, food boxes, paper, food cans, mail, beverage cans, jars (glass and plastic).

If you are unsure about what to do with your recyclable items, Allied Recycling Center can accommodate your recycling needs with a wide range of capabilities that can help you make the environment a better place. If you still have more questions about recycling, you can contact us online, call us at  (508) 668-8699 or come and see us at our recycling center in Walpole, MA. 

There is some value in your junk car and you should try and get the most out of it before letting it go completely. Finding the right place to sell your junk car requires some preparation. There is always someone looking to give you less for your junk car when it’s worth more. It’s up to you to decide the type of seller that you want to be and who much you are willing to accept for your junk car. Check out these tips on how you can get the most money from your junk car.

Familiarize Yourself with the Lemon Laws

Every state has some form of Lemon Law, and it’s essential that you know about the one in the state you reside. According to HG.org, Lemon Laws are state and federal laws that provide a remedy to buyers who purchase cars or defective vehicles that fail to meet standards of quality and performance. In other words, Lemon Law governs the condition that a vehicle should be in for sale in order to protect a buyer from making a deal on a vehicle that is thought to be in better shape than it actually is. To avoid any legal trouble, it’s important to make the buyer aware of any serious safety hazard before finalizing a purchase. You may end up losing more than you gain if you fail to do so.

Know the Value of Your Car

Figuring out the true value of your junk car can help you when negotiating with a buyer. Appraisers tend to estimate the value of your vehicle using common factors, such as the location of the vehicle, year, make and model, condition of the vehicle and the current price of scrap metal. The diminished value of the car will play a role in determining how much you receive for it, but individual components can also help you get more cash, depending on the type of car you are selling. There are plenty of online tools, like cashautosalvage.com that can give you an idea of the value of your junk car.

Avoid Getting Scammed

A scammer is always waiting for someone who is especially desperate to get rid of their junk car. Some signs to look out for include a buyer wanting to make a blind sale or purchase the car without seeing it upfront. The end result is often the seller getting stuck with a bad check that cannot be cashed. Another scam is a buyer offering the option of establishing a payment plan. This is a big no-no unless it’s a trusted friend or family member.

Sign a Contract

Even though it’s a junk car, it’s crucial to have a contract in place because it’s a smart way of doing business. A signed contract offers certain protections for both parties involved in the transaction and serves as proof of sale. A solid contract should have a detailed description of the condition of the car, terms of the sale and information that provides protection from any future liability.

You should get the best value for your junk car so be smart when selling. Allied Recycling Center can provide you with upfront pricing information for junking your car, confident buying experience and best of all, a sale that you’ll be happy with. For a free quote or with any questions, you can either contact us online or call us at (508) 668-8699. 

The process of junking your car can be a simple one, but what comes before that is the hard part. Deciding on whether you would like to junk your car is the real difficult part, as a car can be worth a lot of money. Due to the price tag attached, you may want to sell your car, keep your car (even if it often needs repairs) or junk your car for cash. While selling your car receives the same output as junking it, there are no additional steps involved in junking your car, whereas if you decide to sell, you must essentially market your car and wait for someone to bite. Here are some of the reasons to determine if it is time to junk your car.

1. Maintenance Costs: You may not notice how much these costs add up over the course of the year, but it can be a large number. To determine a cost comparison, add up all the repair work that your car has needed and divide to figure out the monthly cost of the vehicle. This can be used as a price point of what you will continue to have to spend. You can do a cost comparison between this and the cash you will get for junking your car to decide.
2. Current Value: If the current value of your car is very low, sometimes it is better to junk your car and receive a lump sum amount of cash in return, as you could get a better car, or just take the money to put towards something else.
3. Your Car History: looking back at the history of your car and its general health can really help to push towards a decision. Including past repairs, you may determine that it is not worth it to keep the car.
4. Your Life: Looking at your life can really make all the difference. If you need a car, and will be driving it often, it can be easier to use the junk money for a new vehicle. Similarly, you may determine that you don’t need a car for everyday life anymore.
5. Safety: This is a very large factor as if your car does not have proper safety mechanisms, such as seat belts or air bags, it is not worth it to keep, as it could be a danger to you and your family.

While there are lots of reasons to keep a car, sometimes this is not necessary, or the best option. To learn more about junking your car at our recycling center in Walpole, MA, contact us today, or call us directly at 508-668-8699 for more information.

Scrap metal can be found in several items, from appliances to electronics. Before throwing out, dumping or recycling certain items, consider that there might be some more value in them. Scrap metal can provide you with a few extra dollars. Not all scrap metals are created equal or garner the same amount of money when selling. Some scrap metals are more valuable than others. If you’re interested in making a good chunk of change from selling your scrap metal, here are a few tips that you could find useful in the process.

Separate the Scrap Metal

Don’t be too hasty to get rid of your scrap metals without first separating them. Don’t dump your copper, brass, aluminium and iron all in one bin to be sold. The downside of doing that is you run the risk of only getting paid for the aluminium and not for any of the other metals. This is a sure way to lose money. Take the time to sort your metals, either using boxes, bags or bins. Even if you are unsure of the type of metals that you have, don’t get sloppy. Use online resources to locate a guide showing photos and descriptions of common scrap metals, or at least sort according to what looks similar. Label your containers before leaving, which will help you save time unloading and weighing at the scrap yard.

Use a Magnet

Non-ferrous metals, like copper, aluminium and brass are more valuable and will earn you more cash than ferrous metals like steel and cast iron. Using a magnet is one of the simplest and easiest ways to separate different metals and alloys based on the elements contained within them. A magnet will stick to metals containing iron, while other metals lacking iron will not. Being able to use a magnet to identify your metals by type will save you time and earn you more money.

Negotiate

It is typically possible to negotiate scrap metal price with a scrap yard owner or manager. You may find that you have more negotiating power based on the quantity and quality of your scrap metal. Most scrap yards are generally more interested in the number of metals that you are selling, and it’s advantageous to sell in bulk since you can make more money that way. It’s good to build a relationship with a scrap yard owner and establish yourself as a valued customer.

You don’t have to sell yourself short when trying to get some cash for your scrap metal. Separating your metals before heading to the scrap yard. A magnet is a good tool to use to identify your ferrous metals from your non-ferrous metals. Never forget the power of negotiating. Consider all these things when selling your scrap metals and you could make more money than you expected. For your scrap metal needs, Allied Recycling Center can help you to get your money’s worth by offering the best return on your scrap metals. If you have questions on scrap metal, feel free to call us at  (508) 668-8699 or contact us on our website.

Metal plays an important role in many aspects of our daily life. From the pop can holding your drink to the steel beams supporting a building, metal is all around us. However, some metal is different from the rest. Ferrous metals are a type of metal that hold unique features and abilities that non-ferrous metals lack. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly those differences are and why they matter.

What Are Ferrous Metals?

Ferrous metals include all iron-based metals. Steel and cast iron are the most common examples of ferrous metals we see each day. These metals are known for the strength and versatility that makes them ideal for use in automobiles, buildings, tools, appliances, and much more. The use of these metals in appliances is largely due to the fact that ferrous metals are typically magnetic. The magnetic ability of the metal is perfect for engines and other moving parts in an appliance. Ferrous metals other than cast iron and steel are prone to rusting if they experience moisture or other harsh conditions.

Scrapping Ferrous Metals

Ferrous metals make up the majority of the metal recycled and scrapped each year. In fact, over 40% of the steel industry depends on the use of recycled ferrous materials. Recycled materials offer the benefits of both a quicker production time and less of an environmental impact. With the use of recycled materials, enough energy has been saves to power nearly 18 million residences. Because most ferrous metals are magnetic, the recycling process is easy. Magnetic machines can be used to sort through and lift out usable materials. Some of the most commonly recycled ferrous metal sourced include:

• Pop cans
• Appliances
• Machinery

You can likely recycle items in your home that contain ferrous materials you’d never consider! Think about water tanks, washing machines, and even old-style cast-iron bathtubs. Once you’ve gathered up the items containing ferrous metals in your home, continued recycling is the next step. Consider making a set location responsible for holding pop cans and other recyclable metal materials.

Contact our team at Allied Recycling Center to learn more about recycling ferrous metals. We serve all of the greater Boston area from the south shore to Western Massachuttes. We’re ready to answer any questions you may have about what can and cannot be recycled and walk you through the process! If you’re still seeking the final push to recycle your ferrous metals, take a second to remember that you will likely be compensated for your scrapped items! You can call us at  (508) 668-8699 or contact us online via our website. 

Both the environmental and economic benefits of scrap metal recycling are undeniable. First, consider the positive environmental impact of recycling scrap metal versus mining virgin ore:

• An astonishing 300 to 500 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions are eliminated by recycling metal, according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. This makes a substantial positive impact on the global environment, air quality, and climate change.
• According to the National Institute of Health, using scrap metal reduces mining waste by 97% and water consumption by 40%, as compared to mining virgin ore.
• In addition to mining waste and water consumption, energy consumption is another key factor when considering scrap metal recycling over new material. The savings can be as much as:
  • 92% for recycled aluminium over mined ore
  • 90% for recycled copper over mined ore
  • 56% for recycling steel over mined ore
• To put these numbers into perspective, consider that recycling one aluminium can create enough energy savings to power a standard lightbulb for four hours, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Next, consider the positive economic impact of recycling scrap metal:

• According to the National Institute of Health, recycling scrap metal creates 36 times more jobs than sending the same scrap metal to an incinerator. Likewise, recycling also creates six times more jobs than sending the scrap to a landfill instead.
• The recycling industry contributes $236 billion annually to the economy and employs over a million American workers, according to the National Recycling Coalition.

Scrap metal can be melted down and reused countless times, thus making the most out of a finite resource. Because metals are not naturally renewable, it is essential to the planet, and smarter from a cost of goods standpoint, to make the most out of the existing supply of metals.

Sources of scrap metal can include old cars, airplanes, appliances, buildings, bridges, and other metal items that are no longer valuable in their current condition, but can be melted down and repurposed again and again. The ability to reuse these materials means resale value for those recycling, in addition to a better value for those seeking the metal for production.

Given the substantial environmental benefits, support from leading agencies and authorities, undeniable cost savings, and American job creation, scrap metal recycling is the clear choice for those seeking metal for production purposes, as well as those owning metal they no longer need in its current form.

Many people have heard about the importance of recycling, but all too often they assume that stops with plastic bottles and cardboard boxes. While it’s important to recycle those smaller items, there’s a much bigger recycling industry that you should be supporting. Recycling scrap metal has benefits for you and the environment, so there’s no reason not to do it!

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The process of recycling scrap metal greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This can be credited to the fact that recycled scrap metal will be reused as new metal, with much less of a process than is used to make brand new metal from natural materials. This ultimately means that energy can be saved and allocated for other important needs.

Keeping Landfills Clean

Of course, a landfill will never be completely clean because of what it is, but by not sending your scrap metal to join the pile you can make a big impact. Scrap metal does not degrade in the landfill. That means that once it’s put there, it will remain for hundreds of years. Instead, by recycling you can keep the scrap metal out of landfills and encourage the recycling industry as a whole.

Conserving Resources

Many of the natural resources used to make metal are non-renewable. That means that once we use them all, they’re gone for good. Recycling scrap metal prevents the need for using those precious non-renewable resources to create new metal. Instead, the resources that were used to create your scrap metal get to be reused time and time again.

You Make Money!

We told you that recycling scrap metal could benefit you directly and you’re probably wondering how. The answer is simple – money! By recycling scrap metal, you often receive a payment per pound depending on the type of material you’re recycling. Even if the monetary amount you receive is small, it’s more than you would get if you simply threw the scrap metal away! Recycling scrap metal is an especially lucrative industry if you have it often and in larger amounts.

We aim to make the process of recycling scrap metal as simple and easy as possible. Not only does that make your part easier, but it encourages our customers to recycle scrap metal more often. Come see us at Allied Recycling Center today to learn more about how you can begin recycling your scrap metal, helping the environment, and making some extra cash today! For any questions, call us at  (508) 668-8699 or contact us on our website.