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Using a Rainwater Tank

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Using a rainwater tank to collect water that you can then use for drinking can be a great way of being environmentally friendly. These tanks were traditionally used in the Outback due to the lack of water service to remote areas, but today, many homes make use of rainwater tanks as a way of saving money. However, it’s not quite as simple as buying a barrel and setting it up outside your home. Putting in a rainwater tank and using it to create safe water for your home use requires a little more than that.

Learn About Rainwater Requirements

Each local council in Australia may have their own requirements for installing a rainwater tank on your property. If you plan on connecting your tank to a washing machine or to a toilet, for example, you will need to make certain it contains a backflow prevention device. This device stops the water from flowing back into the city water supply. These devices have to be installed by a licensed plumber and must meet a number of different guidelines.

Your council may have additional regulations that must be adhered to before you can install and use a rainwater tank. Make certain you understand all of these requirements before you install a tank.

Drinking Water

In most cases, you may not want to actually use your rainwater tank for drinking. The Australia Department of Health stresses that any rainwater tanks that are used to collect drinking water need to be well-maintained and cleaned regularly so that the water is as pure as possible. Filtering this water before drinking it is also recommended. Many people who use rainwater tanks in Brisbane use the water for showering, for washing clothes, and for filling their swimming pool while continuing to draw on water supplied by the city mains for drinking and cooking.

Keep Your Rainwater Tank Topped Up

Many people don’t realise that they need to make sure that their rainwater tank doesn’t completely empty. If it does, the cleanliness of the tank can be compromised and the water can become contaminated. To make sure this doesn’t occur, most tanks are connected to the water mains to top them up during dry periods.

First-Flush Rainwater Tanks

If your rainwater tank is a flush-first tank, it will have a device attached to it that actually sends any collected water back into the stormwater system first. When it returns to your system, it will pass through the filters in place by the stormwater system, reducing the amounts of sediment and contaminants that the water may have picked up.

Why Use Rainwater Tanks?

With all these different requirements and regulations that must be followed, is using a rainwater tank really worth it? Honestly, yes. Collecting and reusing rainwater for your toilets and washing can save you a good amount on your water bill by reducing your overall water consumption. You can also use it for watering your plants and your garden. It also helps to remove water from your roof and from collecting in your yard, which can help reduce the risk of costly flooding.

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In Eco-Friendly

What Metal Items Are Eligible for Recycling?

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Although many people are motivated to recycle to reduce trash in landfills by finding creative uses for items instead of throwing them away, others are more motivated by the money they can make by recycling scrap metal. Aluminium, steel, copper, and other metals can be taken to recycling centres and sold at the current market value. If you’re interested in recycling scrap metal, here is some information to get you started.

Types of Recyclable Metals

Most non-ferrous metals, which are metals that do not contain iron, can be sold as scrap in Australia. Non-ferrous metals include aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, brass, and precious metals such as silver and gold. Even though some steel contains iron, which makes it a ferrous metal, stainless steel and steel parts such as radiators can also be sold.

Recycle Metal Items

Typically, when you sell scrap metal, recyclers only want the metal, but you don’t necessarily have to take it out of air conditioners, cars, appliances, or other items in which it is found. However, as a general rule, they do not buy items like computers, laptops, or other electronics due to the time it takes to extract the metal and the toxins present in some components. Since metals are used for many purposes, these items can be sold at most scrap metal recyclers.

Aluminium

Most scrap metal recyclers will buy aluminium cans, wire, extrusion, litho sheets, wheels, window frames, and guttering.

Copper

You can usually sell copper wiring, cables, electric motors, export containers, Buzz Bar No. 1, and transformers.

Brass

Many recyclers put brass into two categories: honey brass and Ali brass. Most brass parts are recyclable and may include pipes, fittings, wiring, sinks, and pans.

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If you have some non-ferrous metal items you want to get rid of, you should contact the nearest scrap metal recycler to find out if they will buy what you have.

Check Prices

Before you take your scrap metal to a recycling company, you can go online to check its value. Since metal is a commodity, the prices can fluctuate on a daily basis. Pricing is usually broken down into grams or kilos. Once you’ve checked the daily rate to get an idea of what scrap copper prices are, you can call recyclers to find out the prices they are offering.

The prices usually do not vary much among recyclers. They will usually be the same or within a penny or two of each other. If the market changes, then the prices may change accordingly. Unless you’re selling scrap metal on a regular basis, you may not care what the current market price is, so you can sell your metal items at any time.

Instead of throwing away metal parts, cans, or items you don’t want, make a little money back by selling them at a scrap metal recycling company. Depending on how much your items weigh, you may only make a few dollars. However, if the metal is in high demand, such as copper, you could make a good amount of money.

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