In a time of increasing financial unrest, thousands are turning to scrap metal as a way to supplement dwindling funds. Scrap metal recycling is an excellent way to earn extra cash and offers the added benefit of cleaning up the environment as well.

Scrap metal recycling is the process of taking unused or unwanted metals and exchanging them for profit. Worldwide, there are many companies who specialize in the purchase and recycle of metal products. Once the metal is bought, it is refined and reduced to its most basic liquid form. The base metal is then used to create new products.

While industrial sized recycling companies earn huge capital, the individual who seeks fame and fortune through scrap metal recycling should only see a small percentage of that wealth. Rates for recycled metals vary and are dependent on the form in which they are purchased and the market area in which they are being sold. Below is a list of the most common scrap metals and how much they can be sold for.

Aluminum: $.20 to $.60 per pound.

Copper: $2.00 to $3.00 per pound.

Steel/ Iron: $300.00 to $500.00 per ton

With this in mind, it’s easy to see that in most cases, recycling scrap metal will not create a vast fortune for the small time collector. It can, however; offer some spare cash. To start recycling scrap metals, here are some helpful tips:

WHAT YOU NEED:

• A vehicle, preferably one with a high hauling capacity such as a truck or trailer.
• Heavy Duty Work Gloves
• An area to keep metals until they are sold

WHERE TO GET SCRAP METAL:

• Around the house: There are often unused and unwanted pieces of metal found lying around. Old items such as hot water heaters and refrigerators contain valuable wiring, steel, and copper.
• Around the neighborhood: A great way to get scrap metal is to ask neighbors. Many people have old appliances and unsightly metal products, but don’t know who to call for removal.
• Along the roadside: Being careful of cars, search road shoulders and the land surrounding them. Often metal debris will lay there after being tossed or lost from another vehicle.
• Business establishments: Heating and cooling companies, plumbers, and auto shops often have scrap wiring and parts. It may be difficult to get them to part with it though, as they see the value in them as well.
• Landfills: While most dumps have set regulations for the removal of waste from the facility, be sure to ask before going.

Once a small stockpile of metals is established, it is necessary to sort them. Sorting is a fairly simple process where each type of metal is separated into its own specific pile. This enables quicker and easier transactions when ready to recycle.

Finally, when the metal hoard is large enough to qualify for a trip to the recycler, load it up on the truck or trailer and head for the nearest center. Here, helpful staff should help unload the metals, weigh them according to their type, and present you with payment.

The idea behind composting is simple: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. While a bit cliché, this concept has been around since the beginning of man. Ancient civilizations employed the use of composts to eliminate organic waste and help improve soil quality. Today, millions have latched onto the idea and are beginning to compost in backyards everywhere.

To join the ranks of eco-friendly composters across the globe, here’s what to do:

PICK A BIN:

While the use of composting bins is not necessary to compost, they do serve a purpose. Compost bins allow for quicker decomposition, provide protection of compost materials from scavenging animals, and help keep the compost pile from becoming an unsightly mess.

Bins can be purchased or made from home. Ready made bins can be found online or at most home improvement stores. Dependent on the style and size, most pre-manufactured compost bins start around $30.00 and can range into the hundreds. High quality bins can be expected to cost as much as $600.00.

If this price tag seems a little hefty, creating a homemade composting bin is uncomplicated, requires little skill and the purchase of only a few items. Here are the things needed to build a small starter composter:

• 3ftx5ft precut chicken wire for the compost walls.
• 2 to 4 wooden or metal stakes to steady the walls.
• Hammer to pound in stakes.
• 16 inches of galvanized wire for connecting the walls and stakes.
• Wire cutters to trim extra wire.
• Pliers to bend the connecting wires.

START BUILDING:

After gathering the necessary parts and tools, assembly can begin. Construction should only take10 to 15 minutes for completion. Follow the steps below:

1. With precut chicken wire on the ground lengthwise, hold the top of one end and pull to the opposite end. At this point, the chicken wire should have the shape of a cylinder.
2. Using extra galvanized wire and pliers, connect the two ends. Generally, there should be a connection at the top, middle, and bottom.
3. Stand the cylinder up and place it in the area where composting will be done.
4. Hammer into the ground, 2 to 4 wooden or metal stakes on the inside walls of cylinder.
5. Tie the stakes to side using galvanized wire and trim with wire cutters.

REDUCE AND REUSE:

When assembly is complete, the new composter is ready to work. Simply toss in unused organic scraps such as egg shells, coffee grounds, newspaper, cardboard, and vegetables. Other organic ingredients like hair trimmings, animal manure, and grass cuttings can also be added. It has, however; been recommended that meat and dairy products not be used for composting as they present problems with odor and unwanted pests.

Once the compactor begins to fill, the contents inside will start to decompose. After a couple of weeks, the product of decomposition becomes a high grade fertilizer that can be used in the garden, on the lawn, or in house plants.

Composting may seem like a tiny way to help protect the environment, but its benefits are huge. When people use composting systems, not only does it reduce the amount of bulk waste in landfills, it also creates a valuable product out of common waste.

Contrary to popular belief, recycling is not a new idea. For centuries, civilizations have utilized the process to turn trash into treasure. Ancient cultures used it as a way of disposal, while the Romans employed its uses for the reformation of statues and idols. In the 21st century, recycling evolved into a front page cause. Due to increasing environmental awareness, people the world over began to reduce and reuse.
There is a multitude of byproducts that are viable for recycling. Many can be found around the house or neighborhood. Some common items that are recyclable are:

• Metal- Aluminum, copper, steel, and iron.
• Plastic- Milk jugs, bags, and bottles.
• Glass-Bottles and untreated window panes.
• Paper products- Cardboard, newspaper, bags.
• Food scraps-Fruit peels, vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds.

When a product is recycled, it is broken down into its basic form. Generally this is a liquid, but in the case of organic materials such as food and paper, these are often reduced to pulp or compost. After it is condensed, the product is then used to create a new and valuable commodity.
The benefits of recycling are far reaching. Ranging from soil enrichment to financial savings, recycling is a task that offers great rewards.
ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES:

• Using waste materials to produce new goods allows for decreased need of outsourcing to other countries for certain products.
• Recycling degradable materials such as paper and food scraps through composting can deliver high quality fertilizer for sale or home use.
• In a tough economy, the recycling industry provides thousands of job opportunities.
• Many communities and agencies offer payment to those who recycle.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES:

• Recycling helps to prevent limited essential resources from being depleted.
• Recycling reduces the number of landfills and the amount of trash in them.
• Composting is excellent for soil enrichment, using organic materials to replace unhealthy chemical fertilizers.
• Using recycled products in manufacture reduces energy needs and cost.
• Recycling aids in climate control by reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere.

SOCIAL ADVANTGES:

• Recycling gives individuals a feeling of satisfaction in knowing that they are contributing to protecting and preserving the Earth.
• Environmental responsibility will be passed down to ensure that the planet can sustain future life.
• Globally, nations are joining together in the fight against environmental issues such as global warming.

The ease of recycling and its massive profit make it one of mankind’s greatest endeavors. Without it, the Earths reserves of vital elements would become depleted, its atmosphere eroded, and civilization would pay the ultimate cost.
To become a crucial element in the fight to save the planet, start recycling today. Here’s how to start:

• When tossing trash, separate it. Buy inexpensive bins that will hold plastics, glass, and aluminum.
• Start a compost heap. Use ordinary kitchen scraps to create organic nourishment for the garden and house plants.
• Turn in your outdated electronics such as computers, printers, and cell phones.
• Return or reuse plastic bags used for groceries or shopping.

While these ideas may seem simple, they are an admirable way in which everyone can participate in “going green”. In recycling, every little bit helps, one piece at a time.

In a time of climate control and “going green”, worm farming may be the ultimate in eco-friendly projects. Worm farms are cropping up worldwide as a way for citizens to reduce waste and create pure, organic fertilizers. While worm farms are often recognized for their commercial uses in the fishing industry, many individuals are finding its benefits right at home.

Worm composting, or vermiculture, is a simple process in which worm castings (fecal matter) are harvested and used as organic fertilizer. Starting a worm farm requires very little cost or skill. Ready made worm bins are available for purchase, but most individuals can create their own with only a few basic supplies. Below is a list of items to get started.

• 1 medium sized plastic or wood container.
• Bedding material consisting of dampened newspaper shreds and a small amount of soil.
• Food scraps for disposal, such as egg shells and vegetable products.
• Red Wiggler Worms.

To build the worm bin, simply layer bedding material, soil, and food scraps inside the container and place worms on top. Cover tightly with a lid and keep the container in a darkened room for about two weeks. After two weeks, worms should have multiplied and more scraps can be added for food. Castings from the worms are ready for harvesting when the bedding itself has been decomposed.

To extract castings:

• Remove worms from compost; set to side.
• Place compost into new, air tight containers. This compost is now a high quality fertilizer to be used on plants and in the garden!
• After harvesting, simply begin the worm bin process again with bedding, soil, scraps and worms.

While maintaining a worm farm is virtually effortless, there are a few basic instructions that should be followed to help ensure productivity and sanitation.

• Overfeeding worms can lead to unpleasant odor.
• Too many acidic food scraps can harm or kill worms.
• Don’t use dairy or meat products to feed worms as this will cause odor and unwanted insects.

Worm farming is an excellent way to help the environment and produce a low cost, high quality fertilizer from the convenience of home. Worm farming can also be utilized as a self-employment opportunity. Here are a few distribution ideas for a start-up worm farm:

• Farmer’s Markets are a great place for getting home-made fertilizer into the hands of community members.
• E-bay can be an excellent resource for getting world wide recognition for your fertilizer product.
• Worms harvested as fishing bait can be sold to convenience stores in the area.

From the backyard to offices around the world, worm farms are cropping up everywhere. Many people find that worm farming is a rewarding project that not only offers a great feeling of “doing your part”, but also has the added satisfaction of saving money. Running a worm farm can bring feelings of independence and pride to its owner. If worm farming is of interest, there are unlimited possibilities as to what can be accomplished!

Since the dawn of civilization, man has created rubbish. Admittedly, waste was minimal in early times and presented no real disposal problems. As it consisted mainly of degradable materials such as vegetable remnants and bones, ancient refuse was either recycled or composted. Items that couldn’t be reused or broken down such as clay pots were scattered away or buried.

As time progressed, humans evolved into more industrial creatures. The manufacture and consumption of new materials presented mankind with a fresh dilemma. Rubbish needed to be maintained, but how?

Forced by disease and pestilence, waste management systems arose to eliminate problem trash. In order for the systems to function properly, individual households and businesses would need a way to store and transport litter to designated elimination areas. The days of sweeping rubbish to the side were over and a new era of personal responsibility emerged.

Rubbish bins became commonplace in homes and institutions. These specialized containers enabled citizens to effectively store accumulated garbage and allowed for easy transfer of its contents to dumping sites. Garbage cans revolutionized waste management into an easy affair.

In present day, the idea that someone would not have a garbage can is preposterous. Most households have at least one in every room. Such high demand for rubbish bins has sent the trash can industry into overload. Trash bins vary in shape, size, and color. General sizes of residential household rubbish bins include 4gallon, 8gallon, 13gallon, and 32gallon. Most trash cans require liners, often called trash bags. Trash bags help to reduce bacteria and make emptying the can effortless. Most bins are made of highly durable plastic, but can be created from wood or metal.

Although most garbage cans are used for trash, there are other tasks in which the rubbish bins can be useful.

RECYCLING: In today’s society, the rubbish bin has transformed into a way to help preserve the planet. Many homes employ the use of trash cans to sort and hold different varieties of recyclables such as aluminum and plastic.

ANIMAL FEED: Lidded garbage cans allow for ample storage of dog, cat and horse feed. Trash cans work well for this purpose as it locks out moisture and pests.

PLANTERS: Depending on the size of the trash can, it may be used indoor or outdoor as a plant or tree pot. When using the can as a planter, it is a good idea to poke or drill small holes in the bottom for excess water drainage.

Rubbish bins can be purchased online or in stores everywhere. Depending on the model, price will vary. Top brands for trash cans include Rubbermaid and Georgia-Pacific, but can be found under many other manufacturers.

While the simple garbage can made taking out the trash easier, the invention of the trash compactor brought managing waste to a whole new level. Created in the 1970’s for home use, the trash compactor was a space saving, built in appliance that stored and crushed rubbish. The purpose for the compactor is to maximize the amount of trash that could go into a single bag. Compounding garbage not only saves money on bags, but also reduces bulk in common dumping areas.

Featuring the latest in touchless technology, this rubbish bin from Nine Stars uses infrared sensors to open and close the lid. Just place your hand or rubbish within six inches and the lid will open instantly for three seconds. No touch means reduced bacteria spread and a cleaner, healthier kitchen!

Features:

• Hands-free automatic opening lid
• Manual Open/Close buttons
• Power saving On/Off switch
• Garbage bag retainer ring tightly holds the edges of the bag to prevent spillage
• Infrared motion sensor detects motions within 10 inches
• Hidden battery compartment (Requires 4x D Batteries – Not Included)
• Capacity: 6 gallons
• Material: Stainless steel
• Weight: 7.00 lbs.
• Overall Dimensions: 14″ H x 16.5″ W x 15.5″ D

simplehuman round step trash can

This is the top selling trash can from simplehuman ™. True to its name, it is simple yet timeless and elegant. Perfect for the kitchen or the bathroom – its fingerprint-proof stainless steel finish means that you won’t have to try hiding this bin away. Solid construction, strength, and durability, patented lid shox ® technology, and smartbucket bag change system almost makes this too good to put rubbish in.

Features:

• Available in stainless steel, black, or white (White and Black units come with steel lids)
• Lock back lid to stay open whilst you finish cleaning
• Nonskid base to stop trash can from moving or tipping
• Smartbucket ® bag change system – patented design for easy bag disposal
• Fingerprint proof stainless steel lid and body
• Dent proof plastic inner bucket
• Solid stainless steel pedal
• 10 year limited warranty
• Available in 8 or 10.5 gallons

Specifications:

• 8 gallon/ 30 liter: 25.5″ H x 12.5″ W x 14.5″ D, 36.3″ H with lid open
• 10 gallon/ 40 liter:25.9″ H x 14.3″ W x 16.3″ D, 38.3″ H with lid open