Scrap metal is one of the easiest materials to recycle because unlike plastic, they require minimal processing. Metals can be recycled for virtually an unlimited amount of times, as they do not lose any of their properties once they are reprocessed.

This is why scrap metal recycling can be a great way to earn a bit of extra money — scrap metals are easy to sell, and there will always be recycling plants looking for scrap metal. Here at LKM Recycling, we purchase scrap metals of all types. You can use our Quick Quote calculator to get a good estimate of how much your scrap metal is worth.

Scrap metal can be sorted into ferrous and non-ferrous metals. From there, they can be sorted into sub-categories.

Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals

Many of the metals that we use on a daily basis, though not all of them, are primarily alloys — alloys are mixed metals that consist of pure or elemental metals. Alloys are preferable to pure metals because they tend to be stable and more durable than their pure counterparts are.

Many of the alloys that we encounter contain iron or ferrum in Latin. It is an elemental metal. Alloys with iron are ‘ferrous’ metals, which also happen to be magnetic. Some examples of ferrous metals include cast iron, sheet iron, carbon steel, and other alloys. You can find ferrous metals in washing machines, fencing, and vehicle scrap, among others.

Non-ferrous metals contain no iron and cannot be magnetised. They can be a pure, elemental metal, such as aluminium, tin, copper, lead and zinc, or an alloy, such as brass and some types of aluminium alloys.

Separating Scrap Metals

Different types of metal are processed differently. Generally, metals are processed with like metals and purified in different containers.  Sorting your scrap metal by type, grade and cleanliness help make the recycling process much easier.

Most recycling plants only buy metal that has been sorted and weighed, as it makes it easier to weigh the metals accurately. It will help them give a fair price to the seller.

To learn more about scrap metal recycling and sorting, contact LKM Recycling and we will be happy to assist you.

One of the best ways businesses can practise proper waste management is by using waste skips. These can hold light or heavy waste or unwanted items that are transported to waste segregation sites. There are skip hire companies in the UK that help you manage your waste.

We have an ever-growing multi-functional fleet of vehicles that is ready to help you with your waste management needs. We have over 1000 waste containers for hire which are available from eight to eighteen-yard skips and twenty-five to forty-five roll on roll off’s.

Practising Proper Waste Management  

So, why should you hire our waste skip services? Well, if you and your staff want to be more environmentally conscious and be recognised as a ‘green’ business, you can start by practising proper waste management. As “Green” concerns become increasingly important to consumers, it pays to understand your client or customer. Hiring our skip services prevents your staff from illegally dumping rubbish in unauthorised areas. It can also encourage your staff to become more aware of the effects of proper waste disposal.

Safety and Convenience

Our team of professionals fully adhere to waste management regulations and laws, which means that we prioritise the safety and health of our clients when delivering the best possible waste disposal service. For your convenience, our waste skips are delivered right to your location. Our waste transport services can save your company time and money since you do not have to travel to a disposal site and pay extra fees for the disposal.

LKM Recycling has over 40 years of extensive experience in waste recycling and scrap metal industries. We offer one of the South East’s leading Total Waste Management Solutions that caters to small to large companies. If you want to inquire about our skip hire service, call 01795 439393

The idea of criminals rummaging through your rubbish bin or scavenging a landfill for personal data seems far-fetched, but crime involving stolen confidential documents could harm your company’s reputation. The proper disposal of confidential documents is crucial to protect your employees and customers.

Avoiding a Breach of Data

Based on government statistics, 90 percent of large and 75 percent of small UK businesses have experienced a breach of confidential data. Keeping classified corporate information secure is not something that should be taken lightly, and should be considered a necessity for any business.

Although shredding services are one of the safest ways to dispose of business documents, there are alternative methods you can utilise to destroy or render documents unrecognisable so that it would be difficult to reconstruct usable information.  

Pulping Corporate Documents

Submerging your company’s confidential documents in bleach water destroys the colourants of the ink, making them unrecognisable. Depending on the quantity of your waste, you can use either a small or large bin to place all the documents that will be pulped.

First, remove the documents from any envelopes or folders, and make sure the bundle of paper is free from staple wires and paper clips. Next, place the bundle inside the bin and pour in the bleach and water. The quantity of bleach water depends on how many documents you intend to pulp, but the average proportion of the liquid should consist of 80 percent water and 20 percent bleach.

Make sure all documents are submerged so that they are completely saturated. If you need to push down on the papers, use a broomstick or wear rubber gloves. Finally, let the papers sit in the bleach water for twenty-four hours so that they will be easy to pulp. The following day, drain the bleach water from the bin, pulp the soaked papers and place them in a garbage bag.  

Incinerating Confidential Papers

Another method of disposing of your papers is by burning them. In most cases, your company needs a waste management license, a registered waste exemption or a pollution prevention and control permit for burning waste.

If your company decides to not get a license or permit, you can always resort to recycling companies that offer incinerating services. However, this may also require you to obtain a permit for the recycling company to incinerate your confidential papers.  

Safely Shredding Documents

Although prolonged soaking and incinerating are effective methods, they are both time consuming and can cost extra. If you are looking for a fast and efficient method, LKM Recycling offers safe and secure shredding services. We follow a safe process of collecting and shredding paper waste. Our high-tech shredding machines are routinely maintained, which ensures smooth operation all the time. After the shredding process, we adhere to our Zero Waste advocacy by recycling the paper into biodegradable products.

At LKM Recycling, you do not need to remove your confidential documents from folders or envelopes. You only need to organise all paper waste and separate the confidential material. To discuss your shredding requirements, call 01795 439393.  

Scrap copper is one of the most valuable recyclable wastes. Many businesses in the UK gain extra profit from sending their copper waste to trusted scrap collectors. Scrap copper sells for high prices since they can be reused and re-purposed without altering the metal’s quality. In fact, around 80 per cent of all copper used today is recycled and re-purposed. Scrap copper can normally be classified as either just copper metal or copper cable.

Here is a summary of the different types of scrap copper 

• Dry Bright Copper
• Greasy Bright Copper
• No 1 Burnt Copper Wire
• No 2 Burnt Copper Wire
• Heavy Copper
• New Copper Tube
• Braziery Copper 
• Copper Turnings
• Copper Radiators
• Compo Rads 
• Electric Motors

Here is a summary of the different types of scrap copper cable 

• Low Grade Armoured Cable 
• VIR (Vulcanised Indian Rubber)
• Household Cable
• MICC (Mineral Insulated Copper Clad) Cable (Pyro)
• Clean MICC Cable (Pyro)
• Single Core
• Twin & Earth

A lot of factors are considered when it comes to pricing scrap copper. One such factor is the copper’s different grades that will all fetch different prices.

Bare Bright Copper

The most valuable type of scrap copper is bare bright copper. This uncoated and unalloyed copper is stripped off of insulation, paint and other impurities, making it easy to reuse or recycle. As such, it is usually the first thing that scrap collectors look for.

#1 Copper

The second most profitable grade is #1 copper. Copper under this category is similar to bare bright copper but has traces of oxidation. Scrap materials in this grade include bus bars, clippings and clean copper tubing free of fittings, insulation, paint and solder.

#2 Copper

Scrap copper that has a dirty appearance falls under the #2 copper grade. To qualify for this category, the material’s copper content should be 94 to 96 per cent. Any unalloyed wire or pipe that has solder, paint, coating and other types of tarnishing falls are classified as #2 copper. Copper fittings with oxidation are generally accepted as long as the damage is not extreme.

#1 Insulated Wire

This type of scrap copper covers clean, unalloyed, uncoated and untinned copper wires. Plastic insulation with a gauge thickness of 16 or above is acceptable. Insulation does not need to be stripped.

#2 Insulated Wire

This category consists of an unalloyed copper wire with a gauge thinner than 16. This includes heavy, double or plastic insulation. Wirings from electronics, extension cords and other gadgets are acceptable. Number 2 insulated wires usually have tin and nickel coatings. When the insulation is removed, the wire should look like #2 copper grade.

These are the types of scrap copper recycling centres and scrap collectors accept. If your business produces any of the mentioned scrap waste, sending them to recycling centres can be an additional source of profit for your organisation.

Commercial Copper Recycling Services in the UK

Consider recycling your scrap copper through LKM Recycling. As part of our total waste management solutions, we collect, purchase and recycle non-ferrous metals from businesses across the country.

Our weighbridge facility allows us to weigh recyclable scrap and determine each grade of metal to determine your pay-out. Apart from the type of scrap metal, we also base our prices on the current market value. In a few seconds, we can give you a quote for your pay-out.

Apart from scrap copper, we also collect aluminium, mixed brass, lead, batteries and zinc among many others. We accept any quantity of metal for recycling. You can deliver it to our site or you can ask us to pick it up at your location. Just talk to one of our assistants and we will discuss your needs.

Get in touch with us today on 01795 439393

See also : Different Types of Scrap Aluminium

One of the UK’s leading providers of waste management & recycling services LKM Recycling in Sittingbourne is moving into a larger, secure unit with a higher capacity shredding machine to cope with the increasing volume of confidential waste that the firm is processing.

The service provides businesses & individuals protection identity or intellectual property theft from documents or data storage through a controlled process starting with collection in our own dedicated vehicles though to shredding at our secure site. This is then confirmed with a certificate of destruction sent to the customer. Traceability is the key to ensure that nothing is lost & sensitive data is properly destroyed. This also supports GDPR compliance to protect you & your customers.

For both businesses & home owners, LKM’s service create more space in offices, lofts & garages which can deliver a cost saving in terms of using space more effectively. It also means that staff are not tied up putting paper through a small shredder & can be deployed elsewhere.

LKM Recycling Secured confidential shredding service complements its exiting one stop shop total waste & recycling management offering. The move offers increased capacity for customers with a new high-volume shredder & the space big enough to unload artic sized vehicles undercover.

The service offers regular pickups from premises & one-off clearance jobs with the added guarantee that all items are certified destroyed. LKM provide free consoles or bags which can take several items including folders, DVD’s, credit cards – making the service very easy for customers to use.

Commenting on the new premises, Ryan Eastwood Managing Director of LKM Recycling said, “This investment is on the back of strong confidential shredding growth due to people becoming more aware of data breaches & the recent introduction of GDPR.”

LKM offers free advice on confidential document security including a monthly newsletter.

One of the UK’s leading providers of waste management & recycling services LKM Recycling in Sittingbourne is taking delivery of a new three car transporter to meet the growing demand for its end of life vehicle service. LKM have worked hard to deliver a service that customers find simple to use, & which rewards the customer with both a cheque & an extra space on the drive or yard!

Customers of LKM have given a 100% 5-star feedback via their Facebook site & this is pushing more people to scrap their cars with the 40-year-old company which covers the whole of Kent for the service. This year they have invested in two new trucks & an industry leading baler which can crush 2 cars per minute into safe, stable, transportable blocks for recycling.

The new vehicle allows LKM to collect more cars in Kent with the guarantee of the customer endorsed service & the LKM process that makes recycling your car a breeze whether you are at home or a business. LKM is an authorised treatment facility which means that the fuels, oils & other hazardous substances are removed before the car is baled. This is important since it gives customers the peace of mind that the environmental impact is minimised & the car is recycled responsibly.

Commenting on the new investment, Ryan Eastwood Managing Director of LKM Recycling said “We have built our end of life vehicle business by making the process really simple for customers – we take care of the paperwork & picking up the car, the customer receives the cheque. We focus on staffing any expansion by employing local people in Kent who know area & the importance of great service.”

The company also work with garages to enable them to offer a scrappage scheme to their customers supporting their car sales & service departments.

One of the UK’s leading providers of waste management & recycling services LKM Recycling in Sittingbourne has taken delivery of its new Predator Car Baler which delivers LKM’s customers a choice on the format that they receive their baled car material & allows LKM to quickly fulfil orders.

LKM Recycling will be using the new baler to increase their end of life vehicle output capacity enabling them to speed up the turnaround to supply customers as well as offering them the options that suit their process such as tighter compaction, varying shapes such as logs & flat pressed shells. The tight compaction means safer storage in yards, more stable loading on vehicles that maximises the load capacity. This also enables LKM to take car shells at the site and will be offering this service immediately.

The Predator can bale 2 cars in less than 1 minute which also makes it one of the most powerful machines of its kind. This is part of a major investment plan that LKM have put in place to keep them at the forefront of the waste & recycling industry which in turn will continue to deliver strong growth.

Commenting on the new investment, Ryan Eastwood Managing Director of LKM Recycling said “We are really pleased to get the new baler commissioned. This gives both us & our customers some real benefits in terms of efficiencies, speed of turnaround & choice. We invested in the most powerful baler & car logger on the market to enable us to be more competitive in this market place.”

The company has recently added a new line of business with confidential certified shredding which aims to give companies and households a guaranteed simple, secure way to dispose of paper, hard disks, credit cards & other items.

LKM Recycling were featured on KMTV ‘Kent Tonight’ last night, discussing how LKM is contributing to recycling in Kent and how the company has changed over its 40 year existence.

One of the UK’s leading providers of waste management & recycling services LKM Recycling in Sittingbourne in Kent is celebrating its 40th year since its founder Gary Eastwood created the LKM brand in the late 1970’s.

LKM has since survived the challenging economic conditions of the 1980’s & 90’s & is now a leading Total Waste Management provider in the UK with services including car recycling, general waste, wood, metal, cardboard, paper, glass and confidential destruction. The firm employs over 70 people at its Sittingbourne and Chatham sites & has its eye on investing in further growth using technology and targeting local employment to drive its growth.

Gary Eastwood, LKM’s founder, stays true to the company’s origins by ensuring that the company provides a great place to work, offers the highest quality of service & remains at the cutting edge of the recycling industry. The company also supports several local charities with employees being encouraged to take part in events to raise money for key local charities such as Demelza House.

Commenting on the historic anniversary, Ryan Eastwood the son of founder Gary Eastwood & now Managing Director of LKM Recycling said “I am extremely proud of what my Dad has built in terms of LKM and am thankful to all our employees who work hard to deliver our customers a great service. I am aware that I have taken on the responsibility for the next phase in our history & am very excited to see our ambitious growth plans in Kent progressing well”.

The company has recently added a new line of business with confidential certified shredding which aims to give companies and households a guaranteed simple, secure way to dispose of paper, hard disks, credit cards & other items.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION APPRENTICE – KT&A1992

EMPLOYER DESCRIPTION

LKM is on of the UK’s leading Total Waste Management Solutions Companies.  We process waste material from our customers to produce raw materials to be used in other manufacturing processes.  LKM help their customers recycle Wood, Paper, UPVC, Metal and cars.  We also offer confidential and other shredding services.

DESCRIPTION OF VACANCY

This is a varied and busy role; the applicant will assist in all areas of business administration but will be based in finance. Duties will include answering the phones, filing, sending emails, compiling basic spreadsheets and processing invoices.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities will include (but not be limited to)

• Processing purchase ledger emails and post
• Contact suppliers and customers to confirm details
• Filing
• Answering phones
• General office duties
• Invoice matching and referencing
• Opening of new accounts on finance system
• Sales invoicing
• Credit control phones calls
• Outturn and Sales ledger email processing

WAGE

£3.70 per hour

£129.50

HOURS

9 to 5, Monday to Friday. With 1 hour lunch (unpaid)  and day release to study (paid)

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Computer literate
• Reliable
• Able to work alone and as part of a team.
• Good communication skills.
• Good work ethic

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Enthusiastic
• Willing to learn.
• Reliable
• Punctual
• Positive
• Focussed

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

A* – C Maths and English GCSE

TRAINING PROVIDED

On the job training with the employer whilst working towards the Apprenticeship Framework – consisting of the Intermediate NVQ Level, Technical Certificate and Functional Skills if appropriate.

Regular work based assessments/observations carried out by Kent Training & Apprenticeships Tutor Assessor, to determine competency and meet with Awarding Body standards.