Recycling Center in Austin

We all know that recycling is a sustainable practice that benefits our planet and communities. The City of Austin is doing its part by committing to a zero-waste goal to reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90% by the year 2040.

Here at Gardner Metal Recycling, we are not only glad to be part of this initiative but happy to help community members make a few bucks along the way. As a family-run south Austin recycling center with more than 60 years in the business, we provide our customers with premier recycling services and competitive prices for their scrap metal haul.

Whether you’re a contractor, a utility service provider, manage a manufacturing or industrial facility, or are a scrap metal entrepreneur, we’ve got a range of scrap metal recycling services to cover your needs. Read on to find out why we are the premier Austin recycling center.

Recycling Scrap Metal

Melting down, molding, and repurposing metal dates back to as far as 400 BC. This is because metal maintains its compositional integrity, even when subjected to heat or other processes that would degrade other materials. The practice continues to this day in efforts to reduce waste and help protect the environment. And there's an added benefit — recycling scrap metal is great for your bank account, too.

With a rise in demand for metal supplies across industries and through government-led infrastructure initiatives, recycling scrap metal can be a lucrative enterprise. Sustainability and decarbonization policies adopted by the public and private sectors have incentivized a boost in scrap metal recycling production.

Today, scrap metal recycling is a massive industry. In fact, the total economic activity generated by the U.S. scrap recycling industry is $87.4 billion, which goes toe-to-toe with some of the country's biggest sectors. Individuals and businesses alike can use profits collected from scrap metal recycling to cover overhead costs or fund other investment opportunities and build wealth.

Metals We Recycle

All kinds of scrap metals are recyclable—from steel beams to brass or copper pipes to wiring to shavings and more. At Gardner Metal Recycling, we accept a wide range of recyclable scrap metals, such as:

• Copper
• Brass
• Iron
• Steel
• Aluminum

When recycling metal, you may want to do a magnet test to distinguish between ferrous metals—like steel and iron, and non-ferrous metals—like aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, titanium and zinc, as well as copper alloys like brass and bronze. If the object is ferrous, the magnet will stick; if the object is non-ferrous, the magnet won't.

The reason we do this is that non-ferrous metals usually fetch a higher overall value, but iron and steel can be found in bulk, which is the reason for their lower price tag. In fact, steel and iron are the most recycled materials in the world thanks to their ability to be recovered in larger structures and the ease of reprocessing them.

Recycling Services Offered

When it comes to hauling your scrap metal, we offer pick-up, drop-off, and hybrid service options. You can drop off your scrap metal in four easy steps:

• First, collect and sort all of your scrap metals
• Then call us to get a quote based on current scrap metal pricing
• Next, you can deliver your scrap metal haul to our recycling center in Austin
• Last, get paid for your scrap metal bounty

We also offer pick-up services that cater to one-and-doners or those with an ongoing need for high-volume metal recycling. Our comprehensive pick-up recycling service includes:

• A scheduled consultation for pricing and pickup
• An onsite container for your commercial or industrial scrap metal waste
• A scheduled pick-up to remove your container when it’s full
• Competitive pricing for your scrap metal haul

Even if you have some household scrap that you’re not sure what to do with, our recycling center can service and process ewaste, auto parts, appliances and any metal item or item with metal mixed in with other materials.

How Much is My Scrap Metal Worth?

Scrap metal prices fluctuate daily and vary by each type of metal. Copper is the most valuable metal, especially if it's high grade. Brass also carries a higher value than other types of metal, followed by aluminum, stainless steel, and lead. It can even be more valuable than gold or silver.

While those metals may be worth more per pound, steel and iron are found in large amounts in commonly produced items. Because these metals can be found in and are needed in such abundance, larger scrap metal recycling hauls can produce a sizable profit.

You can always take the guesswork out of gauging how much your scrap metal is worth. The best way to find the current value of your scrap haul is by requesting a free sales quote from one of our scrap metal experts.

Austin Recycling Drop-Off FAQ

• What should I do with household hazardous waste (HHW)?
  The Environmental Protection Agency defines HHW as leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic. This can include things like paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides that contain hazardous ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them.
  
  Because these products contain toxic contaminants that pose a threat to human health and the environment, it is imperative to practice proper disposal techniques. Refrain from pouring HHW materials down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or putting them out with the regular trash. Instead, bring HHW to the Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.
• What should I do with electronics and appliances?
  Proper disposal of electronics and appliances can be a complicated process because of the mixed materials used. At Gardner Metal Recycling, we process ewaste so that all of the materials present can be recycled instead of dumped into the landfill.
• What should I do with clothing and housewares?
  Clothing and housewares in good condition can be reused. Consumers are encouraged to find local organizations that accept donations first. Otherwise, you can schedule a collection and pick-up through the City of Austin.
• Where can I recycle plastic bags?
  Plastic bags cannot be recycled the same way other materials can since they get caught up in the machinery at recycling facilities. Not only could this potentially halt the assembly line during the recycling process, but it can also endanger workers dedicated to keeping our communities clean. In-store drop-offs should be used instead when recycling plastic bags.
• Where can I recycle tires?
  Old tires should be transported to a specialized recycling facility or tire shop. You can also get creative and upcycle them for home gardening projects or even contact your local zoo to see if they can put them to good use.
• What should I do with my brush and yard trimmings?
  For brush and yard trimmings, you can recycle them by turning them into compost at home. There are also drop-off points in Austin that will do this for you. For larger brush debris, curbside collection is provided twice a year to Austin residents.

Gardner Metal Recycling: Competitive Pricing for Your Scrap Metal Recycling Needs

Gardner Metal Recycling knows that recycling scrap metal is vital for our community, both environmentally and economically. Our services reflect that by providing our recyclers with competitive pricing for their scrap and individualized customer service plans to suit your needs.

Our sales team is up to speed on daily fluctuations in scrap metal prices, and they can provide you with a free quote for your scrap metal haul. We can also provide solutions for how to improve the value of your materials, such as cleaning and stripping them.

The easiest way for you to get scrap metal pricing for your materials is to bring them directly to us for a quote or call us at 512-982-0447.

You can also contact us online for a competitive quote on your metal scrap or to schedule a consultation for sorting, preparing and transporting your scrap metals using one of our scrap container rentals.

Find out how Gardner Metal Recycling can benefit your company’s bottom line by recycling your trash into treasure.