ACCEPTABLE SCRAP
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Guidelines for Acceptable Scrap Material
Updated 5/2026
The key to successfully recycling scrap metal is that the material be acceptable scrap metal. In order to comply with various state and federal regulations dealing with the protection of the environment and the safety of people and equipment, the subject of shipping scrap which may contain hazardous materials or rubbish must be understood by all personnel who are responsible for the loading of containers, trucks, or trailers which will be received by Joseph Freedman Co., Inc.
The Joseph Freedman Co., Inc. maintains a comprehensive inspection program that will reject hazardous items or rubbish, and possibly complete loads of scrap if necessary. Rejected items will be placed back on the supplier’s truck or held for return to the supplier. A fee will be charged to cover our extra costs incurred relative to the rejected material.
If the rejected material is a suspected hazardous substance, regulations require its removal from the Joseph Freedman Company property by a licensed hazardous waste disposal contractor. In the event of such an occurrence, we would request that you contact the services of a licensed contractor for prompt removal of the hazardous substance.
It is the policy of the Joseph Freedman Company to not accept any radioactive or asbestos containing materials (ACM). Should any suspected radioactive material or ACM’s be found on Joseph Freedman property, please see the Joseph Freedman Guidance for the Identification and Control of Safety and Health Hazards in Metal Scrap Recycling located in the main lobby.
The following materials cannot be accepted:
- Asbestos or any material covered with or containing asbestos.
- Wet or dry transformers, capacitors, fluorescent lights, ballasts not labeled as PCB free or any other materials which may contain PCBs.
- Units previously containing CFCs or HCFCs unless purged and certified. (See CFC guidelines.)
- Excessively oily material from which oil flows or drips.
- Machinery containing hydraulic, cutting or lubricating oils or sealed motors.
- Any radioactive substances or gauges marked with a radioactive symbol.
- New condition/undamaged beer kegs or shopping carts. Damaged units are acceptable.
- Paint and paint thinner.
- Automobile air bag canisters.
- Safes.
- Ovens.
- Boilers.
- Any other hazardous material or substance as defined in Section 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 SC 9601(14), except “hazardous substances” which are integral constituents of the metallic fraction of the scrap metal.
The following materials cannot be accepted without prior special arrangements:
- Gasoline tanks and other closed vessels which contained hazardous or combustible substances. To be accepted, they must be thoroughly drained with an adequately sized inspection hole.
- Propane tanks must be purged with shut offs removed or with an adequately sized inspection hole.
- Drums that are not properly cleaned and labeled, showing that they have been properly washed and rinsed in accordance with EPA regulations, and are suitable for our acceptance.
- Loose batteries and parts of batteries.
- Complete whole cars (send to EVR).
- Loose wire or cable exceeding five feet in length.
- Metal turnings and borings. (These loads must be separate and cannot be co-mingled with other materials.)
- Heavy equipment, trucks, and farm equipment must have oil plugs out of engine and hole in transmission case.
- Refrigerated trailers must have Freon removed.