Scrap Metal Worth a Pickup
Grills and patio metal
Gas grills, charcoal kettles, smokers and wrought-iron patio sets are mostly steel. The propane tank is the exception: unhook it and keep it out of the scrap pile; even the 3RC EnviroStation refuses propane tanks (see what haulers won't take). Empty the grease tray and ash pan before the pickup.
Bikes, bed frames and metal furniture
Steel bed rails, old bikes, metal desks, filing cabinets and folding chairs go as scrap once they're past using. A metal filing cabinet should be emptied first, since paper and folders aren't scrap. Upholstered pieces with metal frames, like a futon or a recliner, usually go as furniture instead.
Shelving, ductwork and pipe
Garage shelving, old ductwork, water heater pipe and the copper left over from a plumbing job pile up in basements and crawl spaces. Copper and brass are worth keeping apart from steel, since yards grade nonferrous metal separately. North Carolina is strict about copper: no cash sales, and more than 25 pounds on the road needs a bill of sale. An outdoor central air condenser is another special case; state law lets yards buy those only from people in the business of installing or removing them, so ask the hauler before adding one.
Fencing and metal sheds
Chain-link fabric, top rails, posts and the panels of a metal shed are all steel. Rolled and stacked, they load quickly. Posts set in concrete need the footing broken off or dug out first, which is a teardown job, not a pickup; if the fence is still standing, see fence removal.
Why Winston-Salem homeowners call Winston-Salem Junk Co.
- Your request goes to a single independent hauler
- Hear the all-in figure before anything is carried out
- Calling is free; the hauler bills only the job you OK
- Mention stairs, a gate code or a hot tub when you call
Where Scrap Metal Goes in Winston-Salem
Two yards inside the city buy scrap from the public:
OmniSource, 3415 North Glenn Avenue (27105)
Ferrous and nonferrous processing, auto recycling and public recycling; 336-725-8333.Foss Recycling, 3459 Thomasville Road (27107)
Buys ferrous and nonferrous metals and recycles scrap appliances; recycling hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon; 336-788-9122.
Selling to either yourself means a truck, a photo ID that the yard copies, and a signed receipt at the scale. A hauler handles all of that and can mix scrap with other junk on one trip.
What Scrap Changes About the Price
Cost guides list scrap resale as one of the factors that can lower a junk removal quote, especially for appliances and other heavy metal. How much depends on what's in the pile and that week's scrap prices, which nobody can promise ahead of time. A load that's already sorted saves the hauler time at the yard. Ask whether the hauler credits scrap value against the price, and keep the white goods separate: refrigerators, freezers and AC units have their own refrigerant rules, explained on the appliance removal page.
See lawn mower disposal for mowers and small engines, which need their fuel and oil drained before they're scrapped.