Declutter Your Shed: What Metal Tools and Equipment Can Be Recycled?
Your shed is probably hiding more cash than you think! Over the years, sheds become storage spaces for broken tools, old equipment, and forgotten metal items that we can’t quite bring ourselves to throw away.
The truth is, many of these items contain valuable recyclable metals that can put money back in your pocket. From rusty hand tools to old garden equipment, your shed cleanout could turn into a profitable trip to Inland Steel Products.
In this blog, we’ll help you identify the most common recyclable items hiding in your shed and show you how to turn clutter into cash.
What Metal Can Be Recycled From Your Shed?
You’d be surprised how much scrap metal is hiding in plain sight. Here are some common items we accept at Inland Steel Products:
- Hand & Power Tools – Broken wrenches, hedge trimmers, saws, and other tools made of steel or aluminum can be recycled
- Aluminum or Steel Ladders – Bent or damaged ladders are ideal candidates for recycling
- Garden Tools – Shovels, hoes, rakes, clippers, and even wheelbarrows typically contain ferrous metals like steel
- Nuts, Bolts, Screws & Metal Fasteners – That random bucket of mixed hardware? It’s all scrap metal. Gather it up and bring it in
- Metal Shelving or Cabinets – Whether rusted or intact, old metal shelving units are accepted
- Old BBQs, Lawnmowers & Trimmers – These larger items often contain steel, copper, and aluminum. Just be sure to drain any fuel or fluids first
- Metal Patio Furniture – Wrought iron chairs, aluminum tables, or even rusty bench frames can all be recycled
How to Prepare Your Scrap Metal for Recycling
To get the best return for your scrap metal and make drop-off smooth, it pays to do a little prep work.
Start by sorting your metals. Keeping copper, aluminum, and steel separate helps us process your metal load faster and ensures you get the best possible payout for each type.
Next, strip off any non-metal parts where you can. Removing plastic handles, rubber grips, or wooden components from tools and appliances helps increase the value of your scrap.
If you’re bringing in equipment like lawnmowers or trimmers, be sure to drain all fluids and remove any batteries before arriving. This keeps our facilities safe and compliant with environmental standards. Visit this page for more information on Prohibited items.
Lastly, if you’ve got a lot of small pieces like screws, wire, or copper offcuts, bundle them together in containers or bags. It makes unloading easier and helps ensure nothing gets missed during weighing.
Why Choose Inland Steel Products?
For over 55 years, Inland Steel Products has been helping homeowners, contractors, and businesses across the Prairies recycle their scrap metal with confidence. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Get Paid On The Spot – We offer competitive pricing with instant cash or cheque.
- Fast, Drive-In Drop-Offs – Pull in, unload, and get paid—it’s that simple.
- Bin Service Available – Cleaning out a big shed or tackling a seasonal project? Our bin service makes it easy to handle larger loads.
- No Load Too Big Or Small – Whether it’s a box of bolts or a trailer full of tools, we pay cash for that.
- Eight Convenient Locations – Visit us in Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Swift Current, Lloydminster, Bonnyville and Medicine Hat
RECYCLE YOUR SCRAP METAL FOR CASH
If you have scrap metal you’d like to recycle for cash contact our team today! We are open Monday to Friday and have eight locations across Western Canada with convenient drive-in and drop-off facilities.
