The Beaumont Recycling Center, which opened its doors Aug. 28, provides access for those seeking to sell various materials for recycling efforts.
The materials are weighed using digital scales with visible weight displays, and payments are instantaneous.
The faciltiy accepts copper wires, pipes and fixings, aluminum sheets, cans and car parts, brass and bronze faucets and plumbing fixtures, stainless steel sinks, kitchenware and industrial scrap, appliances and white goods such as washers, dryers or refrigerators, steel and iron beams, rebar or heavy machinery, insulated wire such as copper wiring, extension cords and power cables and different types of batteries, which include car batteries, UPS batteries and industrial batteries.
The facility does not accept bottles.
The price of these materials changes periodically, but there are ways to optimize how much sellers will be paid for their sold goods.
When bringing in copper materials, Clean No. 1 copper usually pays the most, while insulated or soldered copper may pay less. While No. 1 copper is clean and uncoated, No. 2 copper may have coatings, solder or corrosion, and is often priced lower.
Clean and sorted aluminum, such as extrusions, typically pays more than mixed or contaminated aluminum scrap.
For maximum value, aluminum should be brought in clean with minimal contamination with paint, plastic or other materials, according to the facility’s website.
For bronze and brass scrap, yellow brass and red brass typically have different values. For maximum value, sellers should clean separated brass without extra attachments like plastic, rubber or steel.
For stainless steel, Type 316 typically pays more than Type 304 because of its higher nickel content. Stainless steel can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality, and can be more valuable if different grades are separated.
Facility staff can also help identify and sort out the different grades.
Wheels are accepted at the recycling center, but tires need to be removed before hand, as the facility only accepts the metal wheel itself. Chrome-coated and bulk wheels are also accepted. For bulk wheels that are of larger load, pickup arrangements can also be made.
Ferrous scrap, which are scrap metals containing iron and steel, can be sold regardless of whether the material is rusty or painted. All grades are accepted, with adjusted prices based on condition and weight.
A magnet can be used to tell if the material is ferrous or non-ferrous. If it sticks, it is ferrous like steel or iron. If it doesn’t, it’s non-ferrous like copper, aluminum or brass. Both can be brought in at the same time and organized on-site.
For wire scraps, not all wire needs to have its insulation stripped off. However, stripping the insulation can be valued more, since it is pure copper, but insulated wires, extension cords and appliance wires are also accepted. For maximum value, the best way to prepare wires are to separate copper from aluminum when possible, remove excess plastic, rubber or plugs and keep wires clean and dry, according to the facility’s website.
Recycling materials with lead such as batteries are a safe material for recycling, despite being a hazardous material. According to the facility’s directive, staff follow strict safety standards to handle and recycle the materials responsibly.
All materials brought into the recycling center vary in price due to global market demand, supply and quantity.
Beaumont Recycling Center is located at 565 Orange Ave. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. –2 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, visit beaumontscrap.com.
— Maddie Sims | Maddie@TheExaminer.com
