Can you recycle general scrap metal?
Anything mostly metal that isn't packaging — curtain poles, tools, bike frames, shelving brackets, taps, door handles, nails and screws — goes in the scrap-metal skip at your household waste recycling centre, not in kerbside bins. Metal is one of the most profitable recycling streams, so nothing metal should ever go in general waste. Collect small fixings in a tin.
Tips
- Keep a 'metal box' in the garage for tip trips
- Even mixed/rusty metal is accepted
- Scrap dealers will collect larger amounts free
Which bin does it go in?
Scrap-metal skip at the recycling centre
🏭 Find the nearest suitable location
Check booking, proof-of-address and vehicle rules before travelling.
Background: Recycling symbols explained.
Also searched as: metal offcuts, taps, curtain poles, brackets, screws and nails.
✓ Checked against current UK guidance: 14 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?