Christchurch  +64 3 349 2780 Ashburton  +64 3 308 6930

Metal Recycling – ‘Bigger than the Can’

When people think about metals recycling, they often envision an aluminium drink can. Indeed, many will remember cashing in cans for pocket money during their childhood (a practice that is still alive and well today!), but the aluminium can is just the tip of the metals recycling iceberg.

As a general rule of thumb, if it’s made of metal (or substantially of metal) then we can recycle it. The only metals we do not handle are hazardous metals such as mercury. Metals are priced according to current market demands for that commodity. Below are some of the most common types of questions we receive - if you can’t find the answer you are looking for give us a call and we will be more than happy to answer your question.


Does Metalcorp accept complete cars for recycling?

Yes, we do! Please note that all vehicles must be drained of oil and fuel, have the tyres removed and be deregistered.

Click below to see our full requirements for vehicle recycling

Vehicle Acceptance Criteria

Does Metalcorp accept washing machines, fridges and microwaves?

Yes! These are all accepted as 'Lightgrade - Dirty' - Please check our pricing page for our current rates.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Please ensure refrigerators are free of:
- Refrigerant gases -they must be degassed to be accepted for recycling. If you are unsure how to check this please talk to our staff.
- Old food scraps
- Other rubbish

Does Metalcorp accept air conditioning units and heat pumps?

Yes! These are all accepted as 'Air Conditioning Units' - Please check our pricing page for our current rates.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Please ensure heat pumps and air conditioning units are free of refrigerant gases -they must be degassed to be accepted for recycling. If you are unsure how to check this please talk to our staff.

Do you take complete hot water cylinders?

Yes! These are graded according to their cylinder size and paid out at a nominated rate. Please check our pricing page for current rates.

If you choose to strip the casing and insulation from your cylinder, it will be purchased as copper domestic at a per kg rate.

I had some metal stolen from my property, what can I do about it?

You can report stolen metals through the NZ Association of Metal Recyclers (AMR) website at: www.scrapmetal.org.nz, click on the tab that says, “report stolen metals”. Once submitted, your report will then get circulated around the metal recyclers who are members of the association in your region.

Do you take televisions or computer monitors?

No, unfortunately we no longer accept these. We recommend you take these items to your local refuse station.

Do you sell metals to the general public?

Due to Health & Safety restrictions we are no longer able to offer public sales.

Do you accept gas bottles for recycling?

Yes! They do however need to be de-valved and empty 

Do you recycle steel wire

Yes, we accept it for recycling, however at this moment there is no payment for it.