Steel and iron are the backbone of the scrap metal industry. As ferrous metals, they make up the largest volume of recycled metal worldwide. Whether you are a contractor clearing a demolition site, a homeowner cleaning out a garage, or a business replacing old equipment, MOME Metals Recycling is your high-volume ferrous buyer in Fort Myers and all of Southwest Florida.
While steel and iron pay less per pound than non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminum, the value adds up fast when you consider the sheer weight involved. A single steel beam, a truckload of rebar, or a pile of old appliances can represent significant payouts. At MOME Metals, we have the heavy equipment, certified truck scales, and on-site industrial shredder to handle ferrous scrap of any size and volume efficiently.
We purchase every form of ferrous scrap metal. Understanding the difference between prepared and unprepared steel helps you maximize your payout.
Steel and iron that has been cut to size (typically under 5 feet long and 2 feet wide) and is free of excessive non-metal attachments. Prepared material can be loaded directly into processing equipment, which is why it commands a higher per-pound price than unprepared scrap.
Oversized steel and iron that has not been cut down, or material with significant non-metal attachments still in place such as concrete, wood, plastic, or rubber. Common examples include full-length steel beams, large tanks, and steel structures with mixed materials.
Heavy, dense iron castings including engine blocks, brake drums and rotors, bathtubs, radiators, sewer grates, manhole covers, wood stoves, and pipe fittings. Cast iron is easily identified by its weight, rough texture, and brittleness compared to steel.
Reinforcing bar from concrete construction and demolition. All sizes and lengths accepted. Rebar with concrete still attached is accepted but pays at the unprepared rate. Clean rebar cut to manageable lengths qualifies for the prepared rate.
Steel sheet, roofing panels, ductwork, automotive body panels, filing cabinets, shelving, and other flat or formed steel. Light gauge sheet metal from HVAC and roofing is common in Southwest Florida construction and renovation projects.
I-beams, H-beams, channels, angles, plate steel, and other structural sections from construction and demolition. These heavy pieces represent significant tonnage and value. We have the material handlers and equipment to unload and process structural steel efficiently.
The distinction between prepared and unprepared steel is the single biggest factor in your ferrous scrap payout. Understanding this difference can help you decide whether to invest time in cutting and cleaning your steel before bringing it in.
Prepared steel meets specific size requirements (generally under 5 feet in length and 2 feet in width) and has been stripped of non-metal attachments. This material can be fed directly into shredders and furnaces, saving processing time and cost.
Unprepared steel is oversized, still has mixed materials attached, or requires additional processing before it can be recycled. This includes full-length beams, steel with bolted-on wood or concrete, and large assembled structures.
Call for Today's Steel Prices
Prices change daily based on market conditions. Call 239-334-1191 for current pricing on all ferrous grades including prepared, unprepared, and cast iron.
Meeting these requirements qualifies your steel for the higher prepared rate. Cannot cut it down? Bring it unprepared and we will still buy it.
Whether you are a homeowner with a few items or a contractor with tons of steel, these tips and services help you get the most value.
If you have access to a cutting torch, reciprocating saw, or angle grinder, cutting oversized steel down to under 5 feet in length upgrades your material from unprepared to prepared pricing. For large volumes, the price difference per ton can be significant and well worth the effort.
Knocking off concrete from rebar, removing wood from steel frames, and pulling rubber gaskets off appliances all improve your grade. Non-metal materials add dead weight that you do not get paid for and can downgrade your entire load to the unprepared rate.
Use a magnet to pull steel and iron away from non-ferrous metals like aluminum, copper, and brass. Non-ferrous metals pay significantly more per pound and should be sold separately. Mixing them into a ferrous load means losing money on the higher-value materials.
Generating large volumes of steel from a job site? We deliver roll-off containers directly to your location. Fill them with scrap steel and we handle pickup, weighing, and payment. No need for multiple trips. Ideal for demolition projects, construction sites, and industrial cleanouts.
MOME Metals Recycling is built to handle the demands of commercial and industrial customers. We work with general contractors, demolition companies, roofing crews, HVAC contractors, plumbers, electricians, and manufacturing facilities throughout Southwest Florida. Our certified truck scales accommodate vehicles of all sizes, from pickup trucks to tractor-trailers. For recurring scrap generation, we offer scheduled container services with flexible pickup frequencies tailored to your workflow.
Volume pricing is available for large and consistent sellers. Call us at 239-334-1191 to discuss container placement, volume pricing, and scheduled pickups for your business or job site.
Steel and iron are ferrous metals, meaning they contain iron and are magnetic. This single characteristic makes them the easiest metals to identify and separate from non-ferrous scrap.
This is the definitive test for ferrous metals. If a magnet sticks firmly to the material, it is steel or iron. Carry a magnet when sorting scrap and test every piece. The magnet test is fast, free, and never wrong for separating ferrous from non-ferrous metals.
Steel and iron are dense, heavy metals. A steel pipe feels significantly heavier than a similarly sized aluminum pipe. This weight is one reason ferrous scrap adds up to large payouts even at lower per-pound prices.
Steel and iron rust when exposed to moisture, producing a characteristic reddish-brown surface. Aluminum does not rust, and copper develops a green patina instead. The presence of rust is a reliable visual indicator that the metal is ferrous.
Construction materials (beams, rebar, roofing), vehicles and auto parts, appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves), tools and equipment, fencing and gates, farm and agricultural equipment, filing cabinets and shelving.
Steel is magnetic, heavy, and rusts. Aluminum is non-magnetic, lightweight, and does not rust. The magnet test is the fastest separator. Some coated or painted items may look similar until you test them.
Regular carbon steel is strongly magnetic and rusts. Most stainless steel grades are weakly magnetic or non-magnetic and resist rust. Stainless steel also has a brighter, shinier appearance and is worth significantly more per pound.
Both are magnetic and heavy, but cast iron has a rougher, more porous surface texture and is brittle. Steel is smoother and can flex. Cast iron breaks or cracks when struck hard, while steel dents or bends. Both are ferrous and both are accepted.
Steel is the most recycled material on the planet. Recycling ferrous metals conserves natural resources, saves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and keeps massive volumes of heavy material out of landfills.
Recycling steel saves approximately 74 percent of the energy needed to produce steel from virgin iron ore. This represents an enormous reduction in fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions across the entire supply chain.
More steel is recycled annually than aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic combined. The steel industry has built one of the most efficient recycling systems in the world, making it easy and profitable to participate.
Every ton of recycled steel conserves approximately 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone. Recycling directly reduces the environmental impact of mining operations worldwide.
While steel pays less per pound than non-ferrous metals, the tonnage involved makes it highly valuable in aggregate. A single demolition site can yield tens of thousands of pounds of recyclable steel, translating into substantial payouts.
Roll-off container delivery and pickup for job sites, demolition projects, and industrial cleanouts.
Learn MoreView current pricing for all metals we buy including copper, aluminum, brass, steel, stainless, and more.
View all metalsAll grades of stainless steel accepted including 304, 316, and mixed stainless. Higher value than carbon steel.
Learn MoreFrom a pickup truck load to a tractor-trailer full of structural steel, MOME Metals has the scales, equipment, and capacity to handle your ferrous scrap. Walk-ins welcome. Containers available for job sites.