What Unused Household Metal Is Hiding Around Your Home?
- Marcie Rodriguez
- Jul 25
- 5 min read
A Homeowner's Guide to Recycling for Cash (or Giving Back)
Take ten minutes this week and walk around your property with fresh eyes.
You might be surprised by what you find.
We Tried It at Our House
This morning, I gave my kids a challenge.
"Go find every piece of metal we've been squirreling away around the house."
And they took it seriously.
We found "disposable" aluminum pans in the kitchen I'd been holding onto.
(Um... should they be called disposable if they are recyclable? 🤔)
A couple of bags of cans in the garage.
The leaky faucet my husband replaced a few weeks ago.
The old lead-acid battery from my Jeep that had been sitting in the garage for months.
The Christmas lights I put in my home office back in November because I said I was going to bring them to work.
(Don't judge me... please. 😂)
Then there was the broken toaster.
Two insulated stainless steel cups that somehow lost their lids.
(Seriously... where do those lids go?)
Plus a handful of other random metal odds and ends that had somehow found permanent homes around our house.
By the time we were finished, we'd earned enough to take the kids out for an ice cream date after work.
Not enough to retire.
But definitely not a bad reward for cleaning up around the house.
And here's the funny part...
If my family—who literally owns a scrap yard—can accidentally let recyclable metal pile up around our house...
I have a feeling yours might be hiding a few surprises too.
Unused Household Metal Has More Value Than You Think
One of the biggest misconceptions about recycling is that valuable scrap metal only comes from factories, construction sites, or large industrial projects.
The truth is, many of us have recyclable metal sitting right around our homes.
You might be surprised how much recyclable metal quietly accumulates around a home over the years.
Not because we're careless.
Simply because we don't recognize it.
Here in New Braunfels and the surrounding communities, we regularly meet homeowners who are surprised to learn that items they've been storing for years can be recycled instead of thrown away.
Helping people recognize value where they never thought to look is one of my favorite parts of what we do.
Household Metal You Can Recycle
Spend just ten minutes looking around your property. Here are a few places to start.
Around the Garage 🚗
Metal shelving
Exercise equipment
Car parts and lead-acid batteries
Metal ladders
Extension cords
Around the Backyard 🚲
Broken grills
Patio furniture
Swing sets
Chain-link fencing
Fire pits
Around the House 🏡
Washers and dryers
Water heaters
Gutters
Ceiling fan motors
Old plumbing fixtures
Some of these items may be worth more than others.
But every one of them deserves a second look before heading to the landfill.
💡 Did You Know?
Recycling aluminum uses about 95% less energy than producing new aluminum from raw materials.
That's one of the reasons aluminum remains one of the most valuable and sustainable materials to recycle.
Every Piece Has a Story
One of the things I love about working in the recycling industry is realizing that almost every piece of metal has already lived a full life.
That old grill probably cooked years of family dinners.
That bicycle may have taught someone how to ride.
That washing machine faithfully served a family for years before finally wearing out.
Its first job may be over.
But its story isn't.
Metal is one of the few materials that can be recycled again and again without losing its core properties.
That means today's broken appliance can become tomorrow's bridge, vehicle, building—or even another beverage can.
I think that's pretty incredible.
Not Sure If It's Scrap Metal? Just Ask.
If you're not sure whether something has value, ask us.
We'd much rather help identify recyclable metal than see something valuable end up in a landfill because no one realized what it was.
You can:
Send us a picture through Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok
Text us at 833-473-6543
Email us at info@comalironandmetals.com
Call us at 830-625-4920
Or simply stop by and ask
We love those conversations.
Two Ways to Recycle Your Household Metal
If you decide to bring your recyclable metal through our gates, it could put a little extra money back in your pocket.
Not interested in the money?
Or maybe you simply want it out of the house?
That's okay too.
We have a green metal recycling bin & hopper outside our gates that's available after hours or anytime you'd rather donate your scrap metal.
Instead of receiving payment, a portion of the proceeds from everything collected in that hopper is donated to a local nonprofit.
Right now, we're proud to support the Children's Advocacy Center of Comal County (CACCC) through that program.
They're currently in the middle of a capital campaign to expand their impact in our community. You can learn more about the Children's Advocacy Center of Comal County's capital campaign here.
Whether you choose to recycle for yourself or recycle to give back, the important thing is recognizing the value before it becomes waste.
One Last Thought
I've often said that once you work in metal recycling, you never look at the world the same way again.
You stop seeing junk.
You start seeing opportunity.
You begin looking past the obvious and recognizing potential where others see trash.
So this weekend...
Open the garage.
Look behind the shed.
Check that corner of the backyard you've been meaning to clean up.
You might discover that what you've been stepping over isn't just old metal.
It might help pay for an ice cream date with your family.
Or it might become a donation that helps someone else in our community.
Either way...
Its story isn't over.
It's the beginning of something new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recycle an old water heater?
Yes. Water heaters are primarily made of steel and are commonly accepted for recycling.
Can I recycle a broken grill?
Absolutely. Most grills contain recyclable steel and other metals. Just be sure propane tanks are removed before bringing one in.
Do you take broken toasters and air fryers?
Yes! We accept small household kitchen appliances for their recyclable metal, regardless of their size or whether they still work.
What about those "Yeti-style" insulated cups?
Absolutely! Once the lid is lost or broken, many people throw them away. Don't do that. Stainless steel has value, and we'd be happy to recycle them.
Do you pay for aluminum cans?
Yes. Aluminum cans are one of the most commonly recycled household items. While one bag won't make you rich, they absolutely have value—and every can recycled helps save energy while keeping aluminum in use instead of in the landfill.
Can I recycle lithium-ion batteries?
Yes—but not with us.
If the battery plugs into the wall to recharge, we don't accept it.
Instead, you can take rechargeable batteries to Lowe's or The Home Depot, where they have collection stations to ensure they're recycled safely and responsibly.
We'll gladly recycle the metal item itself—just remove the rechargeable battery first.
What if I'm not sure whether something can be recycled?
That's what we're here for.
Send us a picture.
Give us a call.
Text us.
Or stop by.
We'd be happy to help.
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