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I am pretty jazzed about this company https://www.brightmark.com/

However, I don't know what their plastic stream is and I doubt it is anything that they are willing to pay small operators for.

Perhaps some of the objectionable metal in computer cases comes from the embedded brass nuts used to hold small bolt ends. I remove these just for sh@#ts and giggles and have a container of them I sometimes use as beads in recycled jewelry making. I doubt anyone bothers to remove them before sending computer cases in. It's rather tedious. I found a fairly easy way to do so is with a metal pick tool or scratch awl. Simply spear the center and pry it out of the plastic. You also get a nominal amount of brass scrap in the process if you don't care for jewelry making. I've been thinking of taking my container to a local bead shop to see if they'd like to sell it.

I certainly would not want to recycle material containing the amount of metal these inserts have if I were a scrap yard.

That’s a great method. I use a hex punch for prying them out.
When that failed I flip the plastic over and hammer it out with a circle punch. Making dirty brass (brass and plastic).

The problem with brass rings is they can’t be pulled out of shred easily. They are non magnetic. They are too small to be conductive. And they neither float nor sink in the melting process. Staying suspended.

It’s not just computers either. Those brass rings are in so many electronics cases. From really tiny ones in watches to alarm clocks, stereo equipment, game systems, coffee makers….!!!!

The price adds up fast recovering them. I’m surprised more people don’t.

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I was dropping the so called brass rings in with my other brass til the scrap yard pointed out that most of the small rings from the plastic cases were magnetic.
Joe

I've always pulled those brass screw mounting points.

Typically I use one of my torx bits... which can be a bad idea occasionally.

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Here to learn more so I can recycle more
My grades are my own opinion and not an official grade from Boardsort

Yes!
Sometimes you find painted or electroplated screw mounts and standoffs that are steel. Good point: remember your magnet.

I also noticed the smaller devices like watches, fitness devices, use copper to help in frequency leakage. Some older cell phones use gold plated copper. Especially candy bay phones, our see the various antennas end mount to a gold plated standoff.
I’ve found silver ones in old Motorola style brick phones.
But generally they are brass.

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