A number of variables, including supply and demand, the state of the global economy, and the value of the Rand, affect the price of scrap metal. Steel, copper, aluminum, and brass are the metals that are recycled the most frequently in South Africa. With approximately 80% of the steel produced in South Africa being recycled, steel is the most recycled metal in the world.
Another highly sought-after commodity is copper, which now costs about R65 per kg. Copper is a priceless metal used in plumbing, electronics, and electrical wiring. Aluminum is used to make cans, window frames, and automobile components, and costs about R12 per kg. Brass is frequently used in plumbing fittings and decorative things, and it costs about R33 per kilogram.
Every bit helps when it comes to recycling. The collection and sale of empty aluminum cans is one approach to generate income through recycling. A single empty aluminum can typically weighs around 14 grams. This indicates that 71 cans would be required to produce 1 kilogram of aluminum. This would be equivalent to roughly R0.17 per can at a price of R12 per kg.
Another item that can be recycled for money is plastic bottles. One would need to gather and sort plastic bottles into various plastic types in order to make money recycling plastic bottles. PET and HDPE are the two plastics that are used for bottles the most frequently. Currently, HDPE costs about R2.50 per kg, compared to roughly R1.50 for PET bottles. These kinds of plastic bottles can be gathered and sold to make some extra money while reducing waste.
In conclusion, the cost of scrap metal varies in South Africa based on the type of metal and the state of the market. The four metals that are most frequently recycled in this country are steel, copper, aluminum, and brass. Recycling used plastic and aluminum cans is another option to get extra income while minimizing trash.