When recycling scrap metal, it is easy to think only of the obvious – copper pipe, cable reels, and aluminium frames. However, the reality is that many valuable non-ferrous metals are hiding in everyday jobs. These often end up in a skip or left on-site, costing you valuable profits.
By knowing what to look for, you can boost profits, reduce waste and make your projects more sustainable. Here’s a breakdown of hidden metals you may be missing so you can avoid these mistakes and thrive in your recycling.
Electrical Contractors
The obvious material spotted by electricians when recycling their metals in the copper-rich cable drums. However, along with this come offcuts and discarded opponents that are high in copper, brass and aluminium and can add a lot of value to your scrap.
- Cable Offcuts: Many people throw away short lengths of twin & earth or flex, but saving them can quickly add up.
- Consumer Units & Fuse Boards: People often overlook these as scrap, yet inside you’ll find brass terminals and copper busbars ready to separate and weigh in.
- Light Fittings & Switchgear: These can contain aluminium casings or copper windings.
- Old Motors & Transformers: While bulky, these are packed with copper coils, aluminium sheets or other components that can generate scrap value.
Keep bags on site and fill them with offcuts; then empty them straight into your Event Sparks Cable Recycling bin.
Plumbers
With plumbers, copper pipe is the obvious money-maker, but there is more to look out for. With so many fittings, fixtures and older systems still in circulation, plumbing work hides a wide market for scrap recovery.
- Brass Fittings & Taps: The likes of compression fittings and mixer taps are often heavier than they look, and brass consistently holds a strong scrap value.
- Lead: You’ll often come across lead in old pipework, roofing flashings and traps. This isn’t common in new jobs; however, it’s worth looking out for during renovation work.
- Radiators & Valves: Radiators and thermostatic valves hide brass or aluminium cores, which may be worth separating if you have the time.
- Water Tanks & Cylinders: In older properties, you’ll often find copper hot water tanks — a great bonus for your recycling pile.
Avoid letting these materials end up in general waste skips; instead, add them to your scrap pile and boost your returns.
Roofers
While typically overlooked more than plumbers or electricians, roofers are often working with materials that carry significant scrap value. Every time you strip away old roof coverings, you uncover valuable scrap material.
- Lead Flashing & Sheets: These are one of the most valuable scraps in roofing; however, they are easy to ignore when clearing up a site.
- Aluminium Guttering & Downpipes: These are often lightweight but high volume, making them easy to collect and recycle.
- Zinc & Copper Roof Sheets: Roofers work with zinc and copper, both premium materials that they should always recycle during projects.
Large projects such as roof replacement jobs are the perfect way to gather large amounts of recyclable lead. Ensure you don’t skip over other valuable materials when clearing the site.
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical engineers often deal with large units, ducting and intricate systems which can hold large amounts of high-value materials. While scrapping in old systems can be profitable, taking a closer look can further boost these profits.
- Air Conditioning Units: These units contain copper coils, aluminium and steel. Make sure you de-gas them before weighing in.
- Pumps & Compressors: These tend to consist of brass fittings, copper wiring and non-ferrous castings, making them profitable.
- Pipework & Ducting: Pipework and ducting are typically aluminium or copper and are common in large installations.
If you don’t have time to strip these down, collecting the units ensures you don’t miss out on the hidden scrap value.
Construction Contractors
Demolition or construction jobs generate very large volumes of scrap metal, but they are also where most goes missing. Skips fill quickly with rubble, and along the way, steel and non-ferrous metals often get lost in the mix.
- Window & Door Frames: Many are aluminium, so collect them in volume for some nice profits.
- Cladding & Curtain Wall Systems: Builders often use aluminium or zinc here, and both metals can be recycled.
- Temporary Site Cabling & Fixings: You can recover electrical offcuts and brass fittings from site work.
From electricians to plumbers, roofers to mechanical engineers, hidden scraps turn up everywhere on the job. When tradespeople learn which materials are valuable and worth setting aside, they turn overlooked waste into extra profits — all while supporting sustainability efforts.
Ready to make the most of your hidden scrap metal? We’ll provide the bins, the collections and the fair prices – ensuring nothing valuable goes to waste.
