Brass and Aluminum Recycling in Kalamazoo
In the metal recycling industry, materials such brass and aluminum are as good as gold. And it’s no wonder why they’re so sought after—aluminum and brass are essential to civilizations across the globe, and brass was even used by the ancient Mesopotamians thousands of years ago. Today, these materials are more important than ever, and are essential to the construction of homes, medical technology, and most electronics and appliances you own. With this in mind, it’s no wonder why keeping these materials in circulation is essential to our world.
Today, we’re discussing why aluminum and brass recycling is so effective, and how you can identify which materials to recycle.
What’s So Special About Aluminum and Brass Recycling?
We all know that aluminum and brass can be recycled—but what makes it so special? We rely on a wide variety of metals in our daily lives, but recycling most of them is often seen as impractical or difficult. This is because other metals have qualities that make them difficult to break down into their essential resources; qualities such as:
- High melting points
- Complex compositions
- Resource-intensive conversion needs
- Likelihood of contamination
By contrast, aluminum and brass recycling is a breeze. Aluminum, for example, has a melting point of 660.3° Celsius (1,221° Fahrenheit), which is less than half of other common metals, such as wrought iron. Additionally, brass and aluminum can famously be recycled indefinitely, with no significant degradation after repeated melting and reprocessing cycles.
The Items You Should Look Out For
If you’re interested in brass and aluminum recycling, then there are a few items you should keep a look out for.
Items for Brass Recycling
As a general rule, you can look around your household to find the most common applications for brass.
- Plumbing Fixtures. Due to its affordability, reliability, and corrosion resistance, plumbing fixtures almost always contain brass components.
- Electrical Components. Because brass is an excellent conductor of electricity, it’s almost always found in electrical components such as switches, terminals, and plugs.
- Decorative Items. Because of its easy molding, corrosion resistance, and lustrous shine, it’s common to find brass door handles, hinges, and ornaments.
Items for Aluminum Recycling
Because aluminum shares many similar properties as brass, you’ll often find it used in similar ways. Additionally, aluminum’s light weight and structural strength make it ideal for one-use items and building materials.
- Cans. If you’ve been in Michigan for a while, you know the state’s return policy for aluminum cans. Returning these is not only great for recycling, but also for the environment.
- Building Materials. Due to its versatility, you’ll find aluminum in a wide range of building materials, such as tubing, roofing, and doors.
- Industrial Scrap. Because aluminum is so ubiquitous in construction, companies that create aluminum building materials generate a large amount of scrap.
Brass recycling and aluminum recycling are some of the most important processes in our industrialized world. Not only are these processes environmentally friendly, but they help reduce costs for everyone: private citizens, small businesses, and even multinational corporations. If you want to make some money while doing your part for both the environment and the economy, click here to contact us today.
