The government have recently announced new regulations that aim to boost recycling rates and protect the environment. Plans are being put in place to change household and business bin collections to a ‘new, simpler common-sense approach’ to recycling. What are the changes? In the hopes of ending the confusion about what materials can go in […]
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With the recent ban on disposable vapes in the UK welcomed by many, we’re sure they’ll be around for a while longer at least – so let’s look into how easily they can be disposed of and why they’re so dangerous. Disposable vapes have become popular since the smoking ban and changes to cigarette packaging […]
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Abandoned shopping trolleys are a common sight, often seen straying just outside the supermarket’s car park, down a random side street, or upturned in the canal. But what should you do if you find them? Trolley theft is a bigger problem than you might think – the retail industry estimates that there are close to […]
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What metal items go into my kerbside recycling bins? The items accepted in your kerbside recycling will change depending on your local council. Manchester City Council have allocated a brown bin for mixed metal, glass, and bottle-shaped plastic recycling. They accept the following metal items in your recycling collection: Foil and foil trays Empty aerosol […]
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What is a precious metal? The term ‘precious metals’ simply describes high value pure metals. Although these chemical elements are naturally occurring, they’re typically quite rare. They also have shared qualities that increase their value. Precious metals are usually quite ductile and less chemically reactive than other metals – properties that make them useful for […]
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Recent data indicates that over the past five years, only 1% of reported catalytic converter thefts across England and Wales resulted in someone being charged for the crime. This meant that just short of 50,000 catalytic converter thefts were left unsolved. A freedom of information request has shockingly revealed that, between 2017 and 2021, a […]
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A fantastic invention with the potential for some exciting scrap metal recycling applications was presented at Northern Europe’s largest design event, Dutch Design Week, this October. This year’s theme was ‘Get Set’, with a focus on products that foster change through innovation. This was in no doubt achieved by graduate student Jelle Seegers who showcased […]
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The high price of copper has made it a tempting target for organised crime. In recent years there has been a rise in theft of the valuable metal across the UK since the pandemic saw the price of copper soar. Rise in UK copper theft At the end of August, £60K worth of copper cables […]
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A spokesperson for the Great Central Railway has asked for local scrap dealers and merchants to keep their eyes out for copper piping, expansion links, and steam boiler valves that were stolen from the Loughborough train depot this weekend. The 1946 Boscastle steam engine was undergoing major restoration work when parts specifically designed for the […]
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Several things are having a major impact on the supply and demand of metals this year. Notably the Russian invasion of Ukraine; as both countries are top exporters of various metals, the war has led to supply shortages worldwide. Pig iron supply shortages have had a knock-on effect on the price of steel around the […]
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