Recycling Household Metallic Objects - A Complete Guide
This post was last updated in 2023
Recycling household metallic objects is something we can all do. By diverting metal waste from landfills and reducing the need for raw materials extraction, you can play a crucial role in conserving natural resources.
While recycling options for steel and aluminium is generally well known, we often don’t know what can be done worth more complicated items made from metal – appliances, utensils, random things from your tool shed…
In this blog post, we will explore the ins and outs of metal recycling in Australia, including what can and cannot be recycled and where to go if you have some tricky items that need recycling.
Specifically, you will find answers to the following questions:
If you just want to know what can be recycled and where, jump to here: How do you recycle metals in Australia?
If you have questions specifically about pots and pans, check out this blog post: What to Do with Old Cooking Pots and Pans: A Recycling Guide
And if you have questions about lids and bottle caps, check out this blog post: Recycling Metal Lids and Bottle Caps – Tips to Help You Out
Is metal recycled in Australia?
Yes, metal recycling is well-established and active in Australia. The country has recycling infrastructure and collection sites that citizens, businesses, and industries can utilise to recycle scrap metals and household items. You just have to know what can be recycled and where.
I’ll be covering what can be recycled and where further on below.
What I discovered looking into this – which was a real surprise – was that Australia’s metal recycling rate is really high – the 2018 National Waste Report found 90% of all metals generated in Australia are recycled.
That sounds pretty impressive.
It’s not surprising since metals are essentially 100% recyclable (very little of the raw product is lost when recycled) resulting in strong market demand for scrap metals. So much so, that there are dozens of scrap metal yards around Australia.
These scrap metal yards:
- Collect items that contain metal and sort them into different metal groups.
- They may then send them off to another facility for processing, while others clean and shred the metal onsite.
- From there they may be sent overseas for further processing or sent to another facility to be melted and reformed for reuse.
And yes, there is a metal recycling export market behind this – not just local recycling facilities. A 2022 government report noted that 50% of all recyclable metals are exported overseas for processing.
Many are calling for a ban on the exports of scrap metals, to ensure the materials remain in Australia for processing. This would significantly boost Australia’s efforts towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by reducing our reliance on virgin materials.
However, for now, exporting our scrap metal seems to be a firm part of the whole industry.
Much of the scrap metal collected in Australia comes from:
- Industrial waste
- Construction/demolition sites
- End-of-life products from businesses (cars, electronics, appliances etc.)
Very little is sourced from consumers.
Steel and aluminium cans are the most commonly recycled consumer items. These items are collected through household recycling bins. Yet even with this service in place, the recycling rate amongst consumers is not as high as it could be.
These stats from a factsheet produced by Townsville Council are quite telling:
- 94% of households in Australia have access to recycling facilities that can accept steel and aluminium however…
- Only 56% of cans consumed in Australia are being returned for recycling.
- Every year each Australian sends 3.5kg of steel cans to landfill – that is enough to make 40,000 fridges.
- Aerosols are one of the easiest of all steel cans to recycle, yet only 35% are currently being put in recycling bins.
The recent introduction of the “return and earn” scheme across parts of Australia has done a lot to improve recycling rates, but there is still room for improvement.
And stated in the National Waste Report – the tonnages associated with this loss may be low but the potential environmental impacts and value of the lost resources are high.
So yes, metals are recyclable in Australia – have been for a long time. And the recycling rates are very high. However, there is still more that could be done to improve the recycling rate for household metal waste.
Can you put metal in the recycling bin?
Yes, metals can go in the recycling bin in Australia – however not all metals. Steel and aluminium are the two types of metals that can go in your yellow recycling bin. Aluminium cans, steel food cans, empty aerosol cans and aluminium foil and trays are commonly accepted items.
When it comes to aerosols, they need to be empty and the lid needs to be separated from the can (since it is made from plastic, likely a plastic that can be recycled by your council).
When it comes to aluminium foil, it needs to be rolled up to something bigger than the size of your fist. This is so it can be picked up easily in the materials recovery facility.
Steel lids can also be recycled through your household recycling bin. Use a magnet to confirm that it’s steel (the lid will be attracted to the magnet). Then place them in a steel can and squash the top of the can close before putting it in the recycling bin. That way it will be easily picked up for recycling once it gets to the materials recovery facility.
In general, it is good practice to clean your items before placing them in the recycling bin but they don’t have to be pristinely clean – the metal recycling process involves heating objects to a very high temperature to melt them. In this process, impurities rise to the surface and are removed.
Any other metal objects not listed above CAN NOT go in your yellow recycling bin.
But that doesn’t mean they need to go into landfill either. Scrap metal yards and Council hazardous waste collection services can help you out.
More on that below.
Note: It’s been suggested that steel, copper and cast iron pans can go in your household recycling bins but information from various councils and materials recovery facilities have confirmed this is not what our recycling bins are designed to collect. More information on pots and pans can be found below.
What will a scrap man take?
Scrap men, also known as scrap metal collectors or dealers, play a crucial role in the metal recycling ecosystem. They collect various ferrous and non-ferrous metal items from individuals, businesses and construction sites. Items they collect can range from nails to cars and everything in between.
From a review of the scrap metal sites mentioned below, it is clear they typically accept the following household items:
- Large appliances (washing machines, refrigerators, dryers etc.)
- Smaller appliances ( kettles, toasters, coffee machines etc)
- Cars and car parts (bumpers, engines, etc.)
- Copper pipes and copper wires in electronics
- Aluminium windows and doors
- Brass fixtures (like doorknobs), ornaments and musical instruments
- Stainless steel sinks and fixtures
- Iron furniture and structural materials
- Lead pipes, flashing and gutters
- Cooking utensils, pots, pans and bowls
- Tools, nuts and bolts
- Jewellery made from precious metals
This list doesn’t cover everything but it gives you an idea of what is or isn’t accepted.
Scrap metal collectors will use the terms “ferrous” and “non-ferrous” metals a lot on their websites. If that means nothing to you, don’t worry! It’s not something you need to be across.
Bottom line – any item you think has a large metal component to it can be taken to a scrap metal yard (some exceptions to this are noted in the next section). You don’t need to work out what is what. The collectors will use their special equipment to sort out the different metal types.
Although, if you are curious, ferrous metals contain iron and are magnetic. Non-ferrous metals are things like copper, brass, zinc, tin and lead. They are not magnetic and are the most sought-after and highly-paid scrap metals.
Which metals can not be recycled?
While most metals can be recycled, some are a challenge to recycle. Items containing uranium, plutonium or other hazardous chemicals typically cannot be recycled. Items bonded with other materials are difficult to recycle and heavily corroded metals may be unsuitable for recycling.
Here’s a list of metallic items that scrap metal yards are likely to reject:
- Metal plated jewellery
- Metal paint cans that aren’t empty
- Cans containing hazardous chemicals
- Gas cylinders that aren’t empty
- Less than 50% of the item is made from metal (electronics excluded)
I confirmed with SIMS Metals, one of the largest scrap metal collectors around, that they will take pots and pans, even if they aren’t completely metal. So even if they are coated with a non-stick coating, or made from layers of different material, as long as it is mostly metal, they’ll take it.
And apparently they will take them, even when they’re badly burnt!
Case in point – they took this badly burnt up item off my hands – pan and spatula.
I did wonder if it really would be recycled (or were they going to throw it in the trash can after I left 
). But they took it, so going by advice they gave me over the phone, backed up by them actually taking this piece of junk, I’d say that scrap metal yards will accept items in bad condition.
They didn’t pay me for it of course!
There aren’t many household items with uranium and plutonium but ionisation smoke detectors are something to be mindful of. They contain very small amounts of a radioactive substance that is bound to metal foil. Not all smoke detectors are “ionisation” smoke detections, but they do exist.
Don’t worry, it’s not dangerous to have these in your home! But they can’t be recycled by scrap metal yards.
Some of the items that scrap metal yards won’t accept because of the hazardous material in them will be accepted by councils as part of the hazardous waste collection services they offer. Search “hazardous waste” and your council name for directions on this.
Unfortunately, services vary from council to council and state to state. In some states, you will have to pay to have these items disposed of and in other states, this service is offered for free. Sometimes councils offer a pickup service, other councils require you to take them to a collection site. It all varies.
In general, these services will accept the following items that contain metals:
- Gas cylinders
- Car batteries
- Paint cans
- Motor oil cans
- Smoke detectors
- Fire extinguishers
For an idea of what councils do with these items, check out the NSW EPA website. It may differ from state to state, but the metals in these items can be recovered for recycling and all other components can be reused in some way.
For more information on paints, you can check out this blog post: Reuse and Recycle – Paints & Household Chemicals
For those of us in NSW, you can drop your items off at a Community Recycling Centre.
These centres will take the following items:
You can find your closest location here.
So there are very, very, few metallic object that should end up in your household landfill bin. Metallic objects can either go in your recycling bin, go to a scrap metal yard or end up with the council for proper recycling/ disposal.
The only metals that should end up in landfill are items that have less than 50% metal in them. Not much can be done about these composite products I’m afraid.
How do you recycle metals in Australia?
In Australia, certain items made from steel and aluminium can go in your yellow recycling bin. Other household items made from metal can be taken to a scrap metal yard for recycling, provided the item does not contain hazardous chemicals and is made mainly from metals.
Items with hazardous chemicals can be given to your council for recycling/proper disposal.
Items with hazardous chemicals can be given to your council for recycling/proper disposal.
Any item with < 50% metal will likely need to go into landfill. The exception is electronic (I’ll be covering this in another blog post). And if you can separate the metal from other components (for example, pulling out the metal spiral in a spiral notebook) then you can get around this issue.
Here is a summary of the information in the previous sections as a quick reference guide:
Yellow Recycling Bin
- Aluminium cans
- Steel food cans
- Empty aerosol cans with lids off
- Aluminium foil, larger than a fist-sized ball
- Aluminium trays
- Metal lids placed securely in a steel cam
General rule: Everyday items made from steel and aluminum only
Scrap Metal Yard
- Large appliances
- Smaller appliances
- Cars and car parts
- Copper pipes and wires
- Aluminium windows and doors
- Brass fixtures, ornaments and musical instruments
- Stainless steel sinks and fixtures
- Iron furniture and structural materials
- Lead pipes, flashing and gutters
- Cooking utensils, pots, pans and bowls
- Tools, nuts and bolts
- Jewellery made from precious metals
General rule: Any item with > 50% scrap metal
Council Services
- Gas cylinders
- Car batteries
- Paint cans
- Motor oil cans
- Smoke detectors
- Fire extinguishers
General rule: Contact your council for hazardous waste collection services
Where are some scrap metal yards near me?
There are several scrap metal yards and metal recycling places throughout Australia. Not all accept household items, but many do. The largest scrap metal collector out there is SIMS Metals. They accept virtually any item that is made mainly of metal.
You can find your local SIM Metals scrap yard here.
For other scrap metal sites near you, turn to Google. I have provided some quick links below, which will lead you to the search results for the metro areas listed below:
Alternatively, if you are from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth refer to the table below.
I put this table together because not all scrap metal yards take household waste. I checked the websites for the top rated yards in each metropolitan area around Australia and came up with the list below (search by putting in the initials of your state):
| Company Name | Location | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| A D L METAL PTY LTD | 47 Egerton Street, Silverwater NSW 2128 | (02) 9748 4551 |
| Western Sydney Scrap Metal | 4 Stubbs St,Auburn, NSW 2144 Australia. | 401 579 760 |
| Worldwide Metal Scrap | 2/123 Station Rd, Seven Hills NSW 2147 | 423 931 996 |
| Greenway Metals | 70 Mandoon Rd Girraween NSW 2145 Australia | 0402 448 520 |
| Chilcorp Recycling | Broadmeadows and Euroa, VIC | (03) 9416 2068 and (03) 5795 2386 |
| Scrappys | 578-580 Ballarat Road, Albion VIC 3020 Australia | 1300 668 892 |
| Super Metal Recycling | 345 Frankston – Dandenong Road, Dandenong South VIC 3175 | (03) 9706 4909 |
| Envirometal | 18-20 Strathvale Court, Caboolture, QLD 4509 | (07) 5499 4632 and (07) 5499 2932 |
| Metal Biz Recyclers | ROCKLEA, GEEBUNG,SLACKS CREEK, QLD 4123 | 0468 727 272 |
| Action Metal Recyclers | Oxley, Kingston, Toowoomba, Burleigh Heads, Banyo, Gladstone, Garbutt, Warwick and Coolum Beach, QLD | 07 3379 3444 |
| ADELAIDE METAL RECYCLYING PTY LTD | 183 Eastern Parade, Gillman, SA 5013 | 08 8123 4113 |
| Pooraka Bottle & Can Recycling Centre | 10 Ween Road, Pooraka SA 5095 | (08) 8262 3666 |
| Glen Osmond Recycle Centre | 389 Glen Osmond Road, Glen Osmond, SA | (08) 8379 9955 |
| United metal recyclers | 56-58 Raymond Ave Bayswater, Perth WA 6053 | 08 9371 7133 and 0403 333 809 |
| King Scrap Metal | 29 Truganina RoadMalaga WA 6090 | 08 6150 9424 |
| West Coast Metals | 22 Crocker Drive. Malaga. WA. 6090 | 0477 331 630 and 08 9248 2207 |
You should be able to find a scrap metal yard or metal recycling centre near you – there are sooooo many.
How much money can you earn by recycling metal?
Yes, scrap metal yards will pay you for your rubbish but the amount of money you can earn by recycling metals depends on several factors – quantity, quality, metal type and current market prices. When it comes to household items you can expect anywhere between 10 c per kg to $110 per kg.
I would refer to this website for general pricing in Australian dollars: https://www.topdollar.com.au/scrap-metals-prices-sydney/
The 10c per kg figure is from my local SIMS Metal recycling yard – it’s not much. And they won’t pay you if you have very small amounts or the items are in bad condition (like the poor pan pictured above).
But I’m not doing this to earn extra cash. I’m just looking to ensure a valuable resource is reused.
But you can earn some good money collecting and selling scrap metals. If you go to the website above, you will see that you can earn more than the $110 per kg ceiling I noted above (based on what you get for whitegoods).
Here’s an example of what one Melbourne man was able to earn from scrap metal he collected:
Metal recycling rates in Australia are quite high, thanks largely to the effort of businesses and industries sending their waste to scrap metal yards. However, there is a lot more that we could do as individuals to ensure this valuable resource remains in circulation.
So, next time you have metal items you need to get rid of, ensure they are recycled and not thrown into landfill.
Through these conscious actions, we can collectively work towards a more sustainable future 
.
.xxx Tahsin
