Scrap metal is just one of many items that can be recycled, often beginning a new life as a car, lawnmower, stove, construction material and even a bridge!

However the bulkiness of some items can take up a lot of valuable space. 

The steel industry’s yearly recycling saves the equivalent energy to electrically power approximately 18 million households for a year. 

Did you know more than 5400 BTU’s of energy are preserved for every pound of steel recycled? For those not up with their energy jargon, a BTU is a British Thermal Unit a measure of the quantity of heat, defined as approximately equal to 1,055 joules, or 252 gram calories. 

When considering bigger items of scrap metal, while it is ideal to deliver it to council waste depots, items can takes up a lot of room and with so many people doing the right thing, space quickly becomes an issue.

This has prompted Warrumbungle Shire Council to clear scrap metal stockpiles form their waste depots. A similar process was undertaken in late 2020. 

“Warrumbungle Waste has found that one of the bulkiest items collected at the landfill and transfer sites is scrap metal and it is now time for this scrap metal to be removed,” said Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor Ambrose Doolan.

“This scrap metal is currently being removed from Council waste depots. This will ensure that there is adequate available land for future disposal of scrap steel and other bulky waste items as well as safeguarding the waste depots for residents while disposing of these large items.”  

Mr Doolan said the scrap metal material was offered for sale through an expression of interest process.  

"A number of scrap metal merchants expressed an interest with material being sold as price per tonne and transported to market. The proceeds of the sale of the material will be invested back into Warrumbungle Waste, allowing further improvements to be made to Council’s waste facilities,” he said. 

“The successful contractor has commenced the removal of scrap metal from Coolah Transfer Station and will move onto the waste transfer stations in Baradine, Binnaway, Mendooran, Dunedoo, Ulamambri and Coonabarabran Landfill over the coming weeks,” Cr Doolan said.  

It is expected the process will take approximately five weeks to complete. 

Residents planning to use the facility during this time should note there may be some restricted movements at the Landfill and Transfer sites to ensure the safety of both staff and residents while the machinery is collecting the steel.  

Staff onsite will inform residents of any changes to the drop off areas.