Often we need to replace our aluminum screen door. One way to save money on your purchase of a new door and/or the installation of it would be to recycle the old door at the local recycling station.

Aluminum doors consist of materials that must be disassembled and removed before you will get top dollar for your screen door. Glass, rubber and plastic must be removed and discarded of properly. Often the recycling station or salvage yard will accept your glass for free, but I usually try to find an alternative use for the glass and the small frame attached to it. I am building a pretty unique greenhouse that I feel is a wonderful way to recycle the glass.

The handles are usually made of pot metal (die cast aluminum with a low value), and I used to keep this separated by keeping a bucket that I tossed them into. At some later time I would turn in enough to make it worth a buck or two. Pot metal has a very low price and must be separated from your door. Once you remove these items (glass, rubber and pot metal), you can proceed to remove the thin aluminum sheet at the bottom of the door. This is the part of the door that is not extruded (it is still recyclable aluminum). The main frame is extruded aluminum (most of the time) and removal of the screws may not be necessary. Call your local station or scrap yard for more details and requirements. Usually extruded can be 5% metal or iron (screws).

A good hefty aluminum door can usually fetch ten dollars and upwards. Separating the sheet and extruded from each other makes the frame worth more. Extruded price is usually worth up to a dime more per pound.

If your neighbors have one or two lying around, who knows? You can make a good penny recycling that door with a couple more added. Remember that recycling pays and you should never have to pay to recycle.