Gutting a building to be remodeled or demolishing an entire structure can create an enormous mess. If you’ve ever tried flipping a home, been involved in rebuilding a dilapidated building, or just tried to remodel your kitchen, you know how old materials can begin to pile up.

Many times, it’s easy to find a drive away dumpster and fill it with all the drywall, glass, pipes, and other materials that are pulled from your demolition project. However, you may be throwing money out with the trash! Construction and demolition projects are filled with valuable metals that can be scrap recycled for cash if you’re willing to invest the extra time to find them and take the short trip down to the scrap yard.

At Roane Metals, we understand how important it is to save money on building projects where you can. That’s why we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities to scrap recycle your metals instead of tossing them in the dumpster.

Instead of creating a heap of rubble on your next construction or demolition project, use this as your guide to turning your scrap metals into cash.

Types of construction and demolition projects

There is a wide range of construction and demolition projects depending on the scope and needs of the particular building.

New construction

The type of scrap created by new construction is typically the leftovers from customizing materials to fit in a particular space. Many times, these materials can be reused elsewhere on the project, but metal pieces can accumulate quickly and prove to be valuable for scrap recycling.

Renovation

Renovations involve a partial dismantling of an interior or exterior space and include projects like kitchen remodels, bathroom updates, and deck rebuilds. These may seem like small projects at first, but there can be a significant amount of materials that can be recycled or sold for scrap.

Demolition

While popular TV shows talk about “demo day,” the reality is this is a major project that can take considerable time to complete. The term demolition can be used in a wide range of contexts, from the complete removal of a structure to gutting a room to be remodeled. The rubble created from these projects, though, can have a significant amount of scrap metal if separated from the other materials.

Deconstruction

This is a softer version of demolition, where large portions of a structure are dismantled to be preserved. These pieces are either reused or recycled.

Commonly recovered materials

Construction and demolition projects result in a lot of old or scrap materials, many of which can be reused or recycled. These materials include:

• Metals
• Concrete
• Wood
• Roofing
• Brick
• Architectural salvage

While many items may be damaged, they can almost always be recycled. This is especially true for scrap metals.

Benefits to recovering and recycling scrap metals

Recovering scrap metals from your next work site can make a greater difference than you may realize.

Economic

Contractors and project managers need to always be on the lookout for ways to save money on project costs. Construction already has high overhead for equipment, labor, and safety measures, so cashing in on scrap metals instead of trashing them can be a simple way to save on costs. Money is also saved by reducing project disposal and removal costs.

Recycling scrap metals also provides jobs in the rapidly growing renewable energy industry.

Environmental

With landfills and greenhouse gas emissions continuing to rise, it is more important than ever for all of us to make positive steps toward protecting the environment. On a construction or demolition site, recycling scrap metals can make a significant difference by preserving thousands of acres from becoming landfill space. Scrap metal recycling can also help decrease greenhouse gas emissions because recycling existing materials requires much less energy than producing virgin materials.

Public Relations

By emphasizing sustainability and preservation, your business can show the community your commitment to improving your area through reducing your disposal waste. Your business can also lead the way in complying with policies for waste disposal and recycling goals.

Ways to stay safe and get the most from your recovery

Safety first

Many demolition sites can have toxic chemicals like asbestos, lead-containing paints, and Synthetic Mineral Fibers (SMF), so be sure to wear protective gear when handling construction and/or demolition waste.

Get a site assessment

Before removing debris, it’s important to schedule a site assessment to ensure there are no hazardous chemicals that may make the site unsafe. This is also true after the site is cleared so no chemicals have a chance to work their way into the soil, air, or surrounding water sources.

Scrap metal pickup

With our roll-off metal recycling service, you can utilize our drop-off and pick-up services from our dependable and experienced transportation team.

Scrap Metal Recycling in East Tennessee

Construction and demolition can be signs of a healthy, growing community. Show your area how your contracting company is making a difference by prioritizing scrap metal recycling at your next job site. Not only will it help you save on project costs, but you can be a leader in sustainable operating practices. Roane Metals Group is ready to partner with you and your business as we all work toward a greener future in the construction industry.

Here at Roane Metals Group, we buy a wide range of metals, and our experienced and highly trained staff wants to give you the best bang for your scrapping buck with our honest scales to maximize your payout. If you have scrap metal and you’re ready to cash in, come by one of our two conveniently located East Tennessee scrap yards in Rockwood and Crossville.

To find out more about recycling your scrap, give us a call at 865-354-4282 today.