Scrap Metal Disposal: Where to Take It and Who Can Haul It

The best way to dispose of scrap metal depends on how much you have and what it is. A few pieces of steel or aluminum can go to a scrap yard or a county drop-off. A garage, basement or whole property full of metal, appliances and other junk is usually faster and safer with a professional hauler. Never put scrap metal in your curbside recycling bin.

Below, we walk through each option, what to check before you load the truck, and how to handle the tricky items: refrigerators, batteries, propane tanks and pallets. We are Ohana Property & Transition Services, a family-owned cleanout and junk removal company in Columbus, Indiana, so the local examples are Central Indiana ones. The principles apply anywhere in the U.S.

TL;DR

• Separate magnetic metal (iron, steel) from non-magnetic metal (aluminum, copper, brass). Non-ferrous metal usually pays more at a scrap yard.
• Skip curbside recycling for scrap. Use a scrap yard, a county drop-off, a city bulky-item program or a hauler.
• Refrigerators, freezers and AC units contain refrigerant. Federal rules prohibit venting it, so many yards want proof it was recovered.
• Lithium-ion batteries, propane tanks and automotive batteries never go in the trash or in a metal pile. Take them to household hazardous waste drop-off.
• For large volumes or a full property cleanout, a hauler saves you trips, lifting and rejected loads.

Table of Contents

• What counts as scrap metal
• Your four disposal options
• Never put scrap metal in the recycling bin
• Appliances and refrigerant
• Batteries, propane and other hazards
• How to get rid of pallets
• When hiring a hauler makes sense
• What Ohana charges
• Our perspective: scrap metal is rarely the whole job
• Get a free quote
• Step-by-step checklist before you dispose of scrap
• FAQ
• Sources

What counts as scrap metal

Scrap metal is any metal item or leftover that has reached the end of its use: old pipe, shelving, fencing, siding, bed frames, grills, lawn equipment, wire, appliances, car parts, and offcuts from a renovation.

The first useful split is magnetic versus non-magnetic. Hold a magnet to the item:

• Ferrous (magnet sticks): iron and steel. Think steel beams, rebar, most appliance shells, water heaters, old tools.
• Non-ferrous (magnet does not stick): aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel in many cases, lead, zinc. Think gutters, window frames, copper pipe, brass fittings, electrical wire.

The split matters for recycling and for money. According to the EPA’s recycling guidance, non-ferrous metals had a recycling rate of roughly 68% in 2018, while durable-goods ferrous metals sat at 27.8%. Non-ferrous metals are also generally worth more per pound, which is why scrap recyclers ask suppliers to sort and why sorting can lift your payout.

A simple rule of thumb from Earth911: a product generally needs to be at least 50 percent metal to be worth recycling as scrap, even if plastic or other material is attached.

Your four disposal options

Sell it to a scrap yard

If you have a decent pile of clean metal, a scrap yard can pay you for it. Expect to do the work yourself. Yards often ask you to remove plastic, wood and glass, drain oil, gas and hydraulic fluid, and cut oversized items down. Policies differ by location, so call first.

Most professional yards also record your identity. Bring a photo ID, because yards are expected to document who sells material to help prevent sales of stolen metal.

Be honest about the math. A trunk of steel brackets may pay very little. Gas, time and a sore back can cost more than you get back.

Use a county drop-off

In Bartholomew County, the Solid Waste Management District lists scrap metal as accepted at the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center on S. Mapleton Street, at the county landfill, and at its convenience stations. Their examples include hangers, metal siding and satellite dishes. Hours differ by site, so check the district page or call before you go.

Other Indiana counties run similar programs through a solid waste district. Search your county’s name with “solid waste management district” to find yours.

Schedule city bulky-item pickup

Most cities do not take scrap in the regular cart. The City of Columbus runs an automated toter program and a bulky item collection through CurbCycle. Its trash guidelines say restricted waste such as lead-acid batteries, propane tanks and hazardous materials are not allowed in that service. Large metal items usually need advance scheduling.

If you live elsewhere, look for your city’s public works or sanitation page and read the bulky-item rules before you set anything at the curb. Items put out without a work order may simply be left behind.

Hire a hauler

When the metal is part of a bigger job, such as a garage full of old shelving and tools, a rental property with a dead water heater and a stack of fencing, or an estate with decades of belongings, a hauler does the lifting, loading and disposal in one visit. For pricing and what to ask, see our guide to bulk junk removal and our checklist for hiring licensed, insured haulers.

Never put scrap metal in the recycling bin

Curbside programs are built for cans, bottles, paper and similar items. Car parts, appliances, cord, cookware and scrap pieces do not belong there. Programs such as Cuyahoga County’s in Ohio say this plainly: take them to a scrap yard instead. Unaccepted items can jam sorting equipment, and your whole bin can be rejected.

The exception is the ordinary food and beverage can. Check your own hauler’s list for what goes in the cart.

Appliances and refrigerant

Appliances are scrap metal with a catch. Refrigerators, freezers, window AC units and dehumidifiers contain refrigerant, and the Clean Air Act prohibits releasing it into the air. Because of that, scrap recyclers face federal obligations of their own: the consent decree in a federal case against a major metal recycler shows the EPA enforcing these refrigerant rules at scrap facilities.

What this means for you:

• Many yards will not take a cooling appliance unless refrigerant has been recovered, or they may charge a fee to do it.
• Do not cut, crush or puncture a refrigerator to “get at the metal.”
• If you are unsure, ask the yard or a hauler how they handle it.

We cover this in more detail in U.S. refrigerator disposal rules. Other appliances like washers, dryers, stoves and water heaters are generally easier, since they hold no refrigerant. Our appliance removal service typically runs $75-$150 per job.

Batteries, propane and other hazards

Some metal items should never be tossed into a pile or a trash bin. Lithium-ion batteries and pressurized containers can start fires in trash trucks and processing facilities. The Columbus Fire Department’s fire prevention guidance points residents toward safe drop-off options such as the Tox-Away program.

In Bartholomew County, the district’s Tox-Away page lists accepted household hazardous waste at the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center, including rechargeable batteries, automotive batteries, fire extinguishers, oil filters, motor oil and small propane cylinders. It specifically says gas-grill-size and larger tanks are not accepted. Confirm with the district before you bring anything in.

Before you scrap any item, check it for:

1. Batteries inside (power tools, e-bikes, electronics).
2. Leftover fuel, oil or hydraulic fluid (mowers, generators, engines).
3. Pressurized parts (tanks, extinguishers, aerosol cans).
4. Refrigerant (anything that cools).

How to get rid of pallets

Pallets are usually wood, so they are not scrap metal, but people often search for both together. A few options:

• Reuse or give away. Sound pallets are in demand for projects and shipping. A free listing on a local marketplace often clears them within days.
• Wood recycling or a county drop-off. Some Indiana solid waste districts and private facilities take clean wood. Call first, since many accept only untreated lumber.
• Haul them with other junk. If you have a few pallets and a pile of other items, a junk removal visit takes everything at once.
• Metal pallets and racking. Steel or aluminum pallets and racks are true scrap and can go to a yard.

Do not burn pallets. Treated or painted wood can release harmful fumes, and local burn rules vary.

When hiring a hauler makes sense

Doing it yourself saves money only when the load is small and the metal is valuable. A professional makes sense when:

• The load is heavy or awkward: water heaters, steel shelving, old swing sets, farm equipment, cast iron tubs.
• Metal is mixed in with furniture, boxes, carpet and trash.
• You are cleaning out a rental, foreclosure or estate on a deadline.
• You are selling a house and need the garage or basement cleared.
• You cannot lift or drive the load yourself.
• A renovation left scrap pipe, siding, framing and other debris on site.

If you go with a private hauler, confirm they are licensed and insured and ask where the load goes. Our checklist for hauler questions covers it. Ask, too, what happens to usable items after pickup; our piece on keeping items out of the landfill explains how that can work.

After a big haul-away, many people also want a spotless space. If your project involved renovation, a service offering post-construction cleaning can handle the dust and residue once the metal and debris are gone.

What Ohana charges

We quote each job by scope and volume, using photos so you know the number before we arrive. Published price ranges for our one-off services:

Full property cleanouts and estate cleanouts are quoted individually, because the scope varies so much.

Our perspective: scrap metal is rarely the whole job

In our work, scrap metal almost never shows up alone. It sits in a garage beside paint cans and old tires, in a basement next to a broken water heater, or in a house a family is clearing after a loss. The metal is easy to sort. The hard part is time, energy and the emotional weight of the property.

That is why we work from photos first. You send pictures, we give you a clear quote, and we schedule fast, often within 24-48 hours. We separate what can be donated, what can be recycled and what has to be disposed of, and we build donation-conscious recovery into cleanouts so usable items are not just dumped.

Our honest advice: if you have a few clean pieces of copper or aluminum, take them to a yard and keep the cash. If you have a property to clear, a deadline, or items you cannot safely move, call us. We are family-owned, woman-owned and MBE/WBE certified, and we aim to make a stressful transition easier.

— Olga

Get a free quote

If your scrap metal is part of a garage, rental, estate or move-out cleanout, send us photos and we will quote the job at no charge. Start with our full property cleanouts page, see how we handle estate cleanouts, or call (812) 302-6833. We serve Columbus, Seymour, North Vernon, Edinburgh, Franklin, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Lafayette and surrounding Central Indiana communities.

Step-by-step checklist before you dispose of scrap

1. Sort with a magnet. Ferrous in one pile, non-ferrous in another.
2. Remove non-metal parts where you safely can: wood, glass, plastic.
3. Drain fluids from engines and equipment, and dispose of them at hazardous waste drop-off.
4. Pull batteries and take them to a proper collection site.
5. Flag refrigerant appliances for professional handling.
6. Call ahead to the yard or drop-off for hours, rules and ID requirements.
7. Compare your own time and gas against a flat hauler quote.

FAQ

What is the best way to get rid of scrap metal?

For small, clean loads, take it to a scrap yard or county drop-off. For large, heavy or mixed loads, a hauler is usually quicker and safer. Match the method to the volume and your ability to lift it.

Can I put scrap metal in my curbside recycling bin?

No. Curbside programs are designed for common containers, not scrap such as appliances, car parts or cord. Take scrap to a yard, a county drop-off or schedule a bulky pickup if your city offers one.

Will a scrap yard take my old refrigerator?

Often only if the refrigerant has been properly recovered, or for a fee. Federal rules prohibit venting refrigerant, so yards are careful. Call ahead, or have a hauler handle it.

How do I get rid of pallets?

Give away sound pallets, take clean wood to a facility that accepts it, or have a hauler remove them with other junk. Steel pallets can go to a scrap yard. Ask before you bring treated wood anywhere.

How much does scrap metal removal cost with Ohana?

Our junk removal runs $100-$500 per job, and appliance removal runs $75-$150. Larger cleanouts are quoted individually. Send photos for a free estimate.

Sources

• EPA: How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables
• Scrap Acceptance Policy Overview
• Earth911: How to Recycle Scrap Metal
• Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District: Locations and Materials Accepted
• Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District: Tox-Away
• City of Columbus: Trash Guidelines
• CuyahogaRecycles: Dispose of Scrap Metal Right
• U.S. Department of Justice: Consent Decree, Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-10604
• Columbus Fire Department: Fire Prevention

Recommended

• How to Dispose of Large Furniture Items the Right Way
• 5 Treadmill Disposal Options for U.S. Homeowners: Sell, Scrap, or Call a Pro
• From $100 to $500: What Junk Removal Companies Take in Central Indiana
• Avoid Illegal Venting: U.S. Refrigerator Disposal Rules (EPA Sec. 608)