Fact Sheets on Residential Metals Recycling

What is residential metal scrap?

Metal is a fundamental and crucial component of our economy. Metal can be found throughout each and every Canadian home. Some of it is hidden in the walls like pipes, wires and ducts; other metal is more visible, including appliances, doors and window frames. Some of the more common metals are aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, lead, magnesium, precious metals, stainless steel, steel and iron, tin and zinc - all of these are recyclable once the material or product has reached the end of its current life cycle!

Metal and metal-bearing household items can be divided into several groups:

Table 1: Some Small Residential Metal-Only Scrap Items

General Household Metal Items	Renovation/DIY Metal Items
Utensils and cutlery Pots and pans Small appliances Ferrous containers Chains and cords Coat hangers and shoe racks Office or school supplies Small automotive parts Bicycle parts Candlestick holders Fire irons and guards Watering cans	Tools Hinges and fasteners Knobs, handles and hooks Screws, bolts, nails and washers Pipes and taps Metal sheeting Paint trays and cans Ducts, grates and air vents Radiators Switch covers DIY = Do It Yourself

Table 2: Some Small Residential Metal-Bearing Scrap Items

Electrical Multi-Material Items	Other Multi-Material Items
Wires and cables Outlets and interrupters Thermostats and jacks Extension cords Lighting fixtures Christmas lights and tree stands Electronic equipment Computer hardware/peripherals	Nozzles and handles Sports equipment (clubs, rackets, skates, etc.) Clothing accessories (belt buckles, eye glasses, jewellery, watches, etc.) Fire extinguishers Automotive parts Paint rollers, keys and key chains, trophies, umbrellas, mouse traps, etc.

How much metal scrap is discarded?

This is a difficult number to nail down. According to a March 2004 survey conducted by the Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators (AMRC) for the Enhanced Recycling Program (Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change), the amount of small residential metal scrap typically discarded ranges from 2 to 44 kilograms per household per year (kg/hh/yr).

To illustrate how inconsistent the data can be, a compilation of provincial figures ("other metal," "other ferrous" or "other nonferrous" disposed of) provides the following variations: 8 kg/hh/yr in BC¹, 13-14 kg/hh/yr in Saskatchewan², 4 kg/hh/yr in Manitoba³, 5-9 kg/hh/yr in Ontario⁴, and 3 kg/hh/yr in Nova Scotia⁵. In this context, it is likely that the definition of residential "scrap metal" is not standardized, nor is the methodology for measurement consistent from one jurisdiction to the next.

When planning a waste audit, keep the markets in mind. Contact a local scrap yard to find out what kinds of metal materials are worth looking for in the municipal waste stream. At a minimum, the distinction between nonferrous and ferrous metal is an important one to make because of their different values (see below). A closer look at the nonferrous materials would be aluminum, copper and other. To conduct a waste audit in your own community, reference should be made to the standardized approaches that are available at the following sites:

What is the market like for residential scrap metal?

The market for scrap metal is global and highly competitive. As such, prices fluctuate according to supply and demand. For example, high demand from China in 2003 and 2004 pushed scrap prices up to unforeseen heights. Market forces and some foreign government interventions resulted in a decline in prices in mid-2004. However, elevated international scrap prices do not always get passed down through the market chain, particularly where the scrap is being collected in a relatively remote location or where a scrap yard has a local monopoly.

To identify a scrap dealer near you (or to get your dealership registered), consult the Canadian Metals Recycling Database at www.recycle.nrcan.gc.ca.

In general, nonferrous scrap (e.g., aluminum and copper) is worth much more than ferrous scrap. If the average value of mixed scrap in Canada was $100 per tonne, then $11.6-$23.2 million in revenue is being lost annually. At $300 per tonne, this lost potential revenue estimate would triple to $34.8-$69.6 million.

While the best source of information regarding market prices is the local scrap dealer, four Internet sources of information regarding the value of scrap metal may be useful:

If you know where other recyclable metal prices can be accessed, please let us know and we will post the information on this site.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

If all residential scrap metal were recycled, how much greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings would be realized?

What are greenhouse gas emissions? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides the following definition: "Greenhouse gases are those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, the atmosphere and clouds. This property causes the greenhouse effect. Water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and ozone (O3) are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere."⁷ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines emissions as "Releases of gases to the atmosphere (e.g., release of carbon dioxide during fuel combustion). Emissions can be either intended or unintended releases."⁸

What is the connection between GHG emissions and recycling? In short, recycling eliminates the emissions associated with raw materials extraction and processing. The primary reason for this is that it requires less energy to recycle an end-of-life product into a new product than it does to make that item from raw inputs, such as ore or trees.

The relationship between waste management and GHG emissions has been examined by a number of agencies such as the U.S. EPA⁹ and the Canadian Plastics Industry Association.¹⁰ Natural Resources Canada (via Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change) and Environment Canada are working together to update and improve the Canadian numbers and this work will be finalized by September 2005. Further information can be found under the summary for the Enhanced Recycling program. See also the July 2003 issue of R-Net¹¹ for more GHG discussions.

Before GHG emission savings can be calculated for recycled scrap metal, it is necessary to estimate the amount of scrap metal that is ferrous and nonferrous.

First, it is very difficult to determine the average composition figure for scrap metal. There are just too many variables at play. But from recent waste characterization studies it is possible to develop some rough numbers that can be used to calculate GHG emissions. From various sources, therefore, it is assumed that 79% of residential metal scrap is ferrous and the remaining 21% is nonferrous.¹²

Based on the earlier assumption that Canadian households discard 116 000-232 000 tonnes of metal scrap per year, approximately 92 000-184 000 tonnes are ferrous and 24 000- 48 000 tonnes are nonferrous scrap. The primary components of nonferrous scrap are aluminum and copper, but further analysis is required to determine more realistic percentages. Although there is other metal present, it is assumed that 80% is aluminum and 20% is copper for the GHG projection provided below.

Second, the establishment of GHG emission factors for different "waste" materials is an evolving science. The following rounded GHG emission numbers are not finalized but are provided as interim values in order to develop order-of-magnitude projections. They will be updated (July 2005) as our collective understanding of the issue improves.

If all the residential scrap metal currently discarded were to be recycled, then Canada would reduce its GHG emissions by 226 000-456 000 tonnes of eCO2 annually. So how can all of this incredibly valuable recyclable metal material be diverted from disposal?

Best Practices

Targetting the small metal items

In many communities, private-sector metal recyclers ("scrap dealers") are well established and will accept scrap metal from residential sources, especially large items. In response to public demand, some communities offer municipally sponsored collection of white goods (large appliances). Services for large items, therefore, are in place in most cases and it is a question of ensuring they are used.

Municipal programs that specifically address small scrap metal items other than steel and aluminum cans are rare. Because of this, there is insufficient municipal experience to characterize certain activities as "best practices." Interviews with recycling program coordinators from across Canada suggest that several options may be viable.

Given the relatively small quantity of scrap metal in the household outside of the white goods category, a regular dedicated curbside collection is likely not feasible. One option is to "piggyback" on existing programs.

Adding to an existing white goods drop-off program

Any program that offers drop-off depots for white goods should be able to take all scrap metals and it would then just be a question of promotion. Indeed, given recent high values for nonferrous and ferrous scrap metal, any such scrap recovery program may pay for itself. Several issues worth considering are: depots must be accessible to the general public; drop-off containers should be staffed (at least peripherally) to minimize contamination; and the program must be widely and continually promoted.

Adding to a white goods curbside collection program

Communities that offer curbside white goods pick-up could encourage households to put out all their scrap metal, not just their old refrigerators and washing machines. Whether a cube van or stake truck is used, the hauler will also need a large open box to hold the loose scrap. There may have to be some revision of contracts and consultations with the end markets, but the prospect of extra material should outweigh handling issues.

A special pick-up once or twice a year

While a weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly collection of scrap metal may not be economical, a once- or twice-a-year collection is an option. A number of Canadian municipalities have already adopted this option, e.g., East Hants (Nova Scotia) and Pembroke-Petawawa (Ontario). Several remarks are warranted:

Removing refrigerant, mercury switches and sensors, and PCB capacitors

Removing hazardous materials or components from metal appliances can certainly be considered a best practice. While not yet required by law in some parts of the country, the removal of refrigerant from refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners represents due diligence for any program with a mandate for environmental protection and resource recovery. This can be undertaken at the municipal level (or required of a contractor). A growing number of municipalities are now removing mercury switches from freezers and sensors from gas appliances. It can be done easily and cheaply. Some programs even remove PCB-containing capacitors from certain old models of refrigerators and freezers.

Enhanced promotion and emphasis on other scrap metals

The promotion of scrap metal programs is currently very much focused on the main constituent of the residential scrap metal stream: white goods. In those programs that offer curbside pick-up of large appliances, for example, more emphasis could be placed on what else could be collected (both larger items like old bicycles and smaller items like cookware).

Could scrap metals be added to an existing blue box or bag program?

Adding scrap metal to an existing fibre and consumer packaging (blue box or bag) program could be challenging. This is a two-pronged issue that begins with collection.

Note: In Ontario (and possibly Quebec), there may be an issue regarding the introduction of new materials to the blue box that are not packaging or newsprint, as the funding formula under the Waste Diversion Act (and Bill 101 in Quebec) is based on weight, and obligated stewards would be difficult to identify. These issues would need to be addressed by the bodies overseeing the funding programs.

Financial Incentives

Paying cash or in-kind for scrap metal

Given the cost of offering a curbside collection program for scrap metal, municipalities might find it more economical to offer some kind of financial incentive to residents who drop off scrap metal at recycling depots and landfill sites. This could be actual payment based on weight, "free" compost, or vouchers for other services.

It should be noted that there could be operational issues such as payment levels, security, cash/change, labour costs, etc., so a non-cash payment might be the best place to start. In cases where the municipality has entered into a partnership with other agencies such as Goodwill, many of these issues may have already been addressed and resolved. While this could be seen as competing with the private-sector scrap yards, it could be argued that by collecting aluminum cans and other consumer packaging made of metal this competition already exists.

User pay waste collection

Any program that encourages people to divert recyclables from their domestic waste stream should see an increase in the recovery of scrap metal, and adopting the user pay principle for waste has proved to be the most effective incentive of all. By their very nature, scrap metal items tend to be heavy and/or bulky. Thus, programs like in the City of Orillia, where the user pay principle is applied for waste, in conjunction with a convenient and well-promoted scrap metal program, should see increased recovery of that material as well as many other recyclables.

Tipping fees that favour source separation

Just as user pay programs apply levies to garbage and usually offer the recycling service at no charge, differential tipping fees at the landfill can encourage source separation of materials. The degree of difference between fees charged for source-separated recyclables and regular waste, and for loads that are unsorted or contaminated, may vary; many programs do not charge for separated recyclables. Increasing the disposal cost for unsorted or contaminated loads provides a financial incentive for the generator to segregate waste.

Enhancement and encouragement of reuse activities

There are often many opportunities already in place in a community to divert certain materials from landfill (thrift stores, annual yard sale events, reuse businesses, etc.) and a municipality's role may be limited to promotion, encouragement and assistance to these activities. This could be as simple as making a list of "reuse" facilities or scrap metal dealers available to residents. It could be a municipally sponsored reuse guide, or tipping fee relief to thrift stores and associated activities.

A growing trend in larger municipalities is the establishment of "eco-centres" (e.g., Montréal) or community recycling centres (e.g., Region of Peel, Ontario) where various waste diversion services are offered, including some kind of reuse facility. These are often partnerships with non-profit organizations like Goodwill.

Case Studies

There are two forms of residential scrap material recovery to consider: curbside collection service and drop-off depots. Historically, the separate handling of this material began with the "annual spring clean-up" when tipping fees were low and the municipality often provided the collection service at no charge. This material was usually disposed of.

However, a significant proportion of the salvageable goods was removed from the curb by enterprising individuals before the scheduled collection for use in their own homes (in the case of easily repaired appliances and furniture) or by commercial scavengers who converted the metal scrap into cash at local scrap yards.

As tipping fees increased and environmental standards and awareness grew, the tradition of the municipally sponsored spring clean-up (and disposal) was either discontinued completely or evolved into a large-item/white goods collection.

In communities that collect scrap metal, the most inexpensive and common option is the drop-off depot where resident access is usually provided at no charge. Associated depot costs include staffing (recommended but not essential), promotion, fencing enclosure, signage, car access, site maintenance, and container purchase or rental.

Revenues from the sale of the materials will partially offset costs; indeed, with high scrap metal values, drop-off depots could even be regarded as revenue generators for a municipality, depending on the contractual arrangement with the scrap merchant who takes the material. Greater distances to market will disadvantage remote communities.

The following summaries are in addition to the case studies provided in the AMRC survey report (www.recycle.nrcan.gc.ca). The recovery rates from these communities range from 1.95 kg/capita/year to 28.7 kg/capita/year, which is residential plus commercial scrap.

County of Northumberland (Ontario): 205 tonnes from
79 120 pop.

Northumberland residents are provided with a two-stream, "wet/dry" program. In 2002 they recovered 205 tonnes of scrap metal from the waste stream, about 75% of which was residential and the rest was commercial. A local scrap dealer provides a 40-yard roll-off container at the processing plant and removes the materials, as required, for further sorting off-site.

Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre (Ontario): 133 tonnes from
40 000 people (not including pilot tonnage)

The OVWRC 2004 "Don't Scrap It" scrap metal collection pilot will evaluate whether residential scrap metal can be economically added to the existing curbside recycling program. The pilot's 3 927 households have been asked to put scrap metal into their 25-gallon yellow bins and set them out with other recyclables. Only those items that fit in the bins can be included; larger items such as chairs, appliances, bicycles, etc., must be set out during special collections. Total metal collected in the first six weeks of the pilot (April 1-May 14) was 3 370 kilograms. The OVWRC also provides a special spring and fall curbside collection for all other large residential metal scrap.

City of Edmonton (Alberta): 2 592 tonnes from 648 284 pop.

The following data are not included in the AMRC survey report: A total of 2 952 tonnes of residential scrap metal was recovered in Edmonton in 2003 (44% at the composting facility, 28% at the MRF, 17% at drop-off depots and 11% at the central transfer station). This total excludes 513 tonnes of white goods and 84 tonnes of IC&I metal.

Halifax Regional Municipality (Nova Scotia): 5 000 tonnes from
377 932 pop.

Bulky items including white goods are co-collected with waste every second week. These materials are taken to the Otter Lake Waste Processing and Disposal Facility where they are unloaded onto the tipping floor. At this point, larger metal items are manually removed and stockpiled until sufficient quantities justify shipment to market. The rest of the waste stream is loaded onto a conveyor belt where more metal items are sorted prior to shredding. While the shredded waste is then screened using an overhead cross-belt magnet, the resulting material stream has yet to be recycled due to high contamination levels. Halifax staff estimate that 50% of the recovered scrap metal is from residential sources (this includes white goods).

East Hants (Nova Scotia): 650 tonnes from 22 649 pop.

The Town of East Hants provides its residents with two collections per year (spring and fall) that target scrap metal. Staff plan to add smaller items to their list of targeted items, including pots, pans, small appliances, cutlery and metal toys, etc. Quantities have increased from 422 tonnes in 2002/03 to current levels. As in Halifax, staff estimate the split between residential and IC&I to be about 50/50.

Note
If your community has a residential scrap metal recycling program that you think would be of interest to others, or if you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please send a message to us at www.recycle.nrcan.gc.ca/contacts_e.htm.

Staff at the Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators (AMRC) and Natural Resources Canada (Minerals and Metals Sector) prepared these facts sheets (May-October 2004).