Ferrous metals includes any metal that is “magnetic” due to the iron content. This would include steel and cast iron. Pure nickel is magnetic but is considered a non-ferrous metal. Stainless Steel has iron alloyed into it but is also considered a non-ferrous metal.

Some items where you can find steel: Car parts, Washer, Dryer, Shelving, Cabinets and many other common items in the workplace and your home.

As a commitment to our community we also provide a place for you to drop off your unwanted iron (ferrous) and steel items. Steel is the easiest to determine because of it’s strong magnetic properties. Often you’ll find older steel items to have a trace, or even possibly a significant amount of rust. This is because of it’s iron base element. Without treatment or a protective coat exposure to other natural elements such as oxygen and water will rust iron very quickly. Popular items that will be recycled with our iron (ferrous) and steel include appliances, screws, nails, tin sheds, rain gutter and water heaters. Steel is never 100% iron and will contain other alloys, most often just trace amounts that will define texture, strength and hardness, “steel” being the finished product.

Although a magnet is a good reference in determining what will be defined as steel, there are other items that will have the same magnetic properties. Tungsten carbide and stainless steel may also be magnetic. Any magnetic stainless, usually 304 will be added to our steel material. Tungsten carbide is less common but found mainly in drilling or cutting bits and in most cases will have a dull black or grey look to it. If a drilling or cutting bit has a shiney silver appearance or is old and rusty, this is almost a sure sign of this being a steel product.