Every farm in Northern Ireland has one. That corner of the yard where things gather over time.
Old fencing rolled into a tight mess. A trailer that has not moved in years. Sheets from the last shed job stacked and forgotten. Maybe even a tractor that gave up a few winters back and has been sitting ever since.
Most of it is metal. Most of it can be recycled. And most of it stays put because clearing it never quite makes it to the top of the list.
At McKinstry Metal Recycling, we work with farmers across Northern Ireland. Dairy, beef, part time holdings, contractors. This guide reflects what we see day to day. It covers what farm scrap looks like, what we take, how to deal with vehicles and plant, and how to handle it all properly so everything stays above board.
Why Farm Scrap Builds Up
Farms do not run like most workplaces. Equipment is kept going as long as possible. Sheds are patched rather than replaced. Space is rarely an issue.
So metal builds up slowly. Year after year.
Here is what we commonly hear:
- A shed re roof leaves piles of old sheeting, purlins and trusses
- New fencing replaces older posts, wire and gates that end up stacked behind a hedge
- A tractor, loader or quad gets replaced and the old one stays parked in a corner
- Upgrades to parlours, slurry systems or feed setups leave tanks and pipework unused
- A farm changes hands or scales back and certain equipment is no longer needed
It adds up without anyone really noticing.
What Farm Scrap Metal We Accept
Most metal from a working farm can be recycled. It generally falls into two types. Ferrous, which is magnetic, and non ferrous, which is not.
You do not have to sort everything before bringing it in. But a bit of separation can help and may affect the value.
Ferrous Farm Scrap
- Old fencing posts, wire, gates and barriers
- Galvanised sheeting, purlins, trusses and shed frames
- Cattle crushes, pens and feed barriers
- Steel troughs, tanks and pipework
- Trailer chassis, drawbars and body panels
- Implements such as ploughs, harrows and toppers
- Old slurry tankers, milk tanks and feed bins
Non Ferrous Farm Scrap
- Copper pipe from parlours and farmhouses
- Brass fittings, taps and valves
- Stainless steel from dairy equipment
- Aluminium panels and tanks
- Electric motors from pumps and fans
- Cabling and wiring from sheds and yards
- Lead acid batteries from vehicles and equipment
If something is not clear, just ask. We deal with this sort of material every day and can usually give a straight answer over the phone.
End of Life Tractors, Vehicles and Plant
Old tractors, quads, pickups and loaders are some of the biggest items we handle. They are also the most regulated.
Any vehicle going for scrap should go through a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility. McKinstry Metal Recycling is a DVLA recognised ATF. That means we can legally depollute vehicles, dismantle them, and issue the correct paperwork.
Depollution covers removing oils, fuel, coolant, batteries and other fluids safely before processing.
For road vehicles such as pickups and vans, we notify the DVLA and issue a Certificate of Destruction so it is no longer in your name.
Tractors and farm machinery are not always on the DVLA system in the same way, but they still need proper treatment. We handle that as standard.
Up to 95 percent of a vehicle can be recovered or recycled when it is processed correctly. For farms upgrading machinery, that keeps a large amount of material in use rather than left sitting idle.
If you have a non runner pickup or van sitting in the yard, our scrap my car NI guide walks through the full process. Tractors and larger plant are handled separately. Just give us a call.
Duty of Care: What Farmers Need to Know
Farms are classed as waste producers. The same rules apply as any other business.
In simple terms, once scrap leaves the yard, responsibility still sits with the farm to make sure it is handled properly.
The key points are straightforward:
- Scrap should be taken by a licensed waste carrier or delivered to a licensed site
- Cash payments for scrap are not allowed in Northern Ireland
- Vehicles should go through an authorised treatment facility
- Keep records such as weight tickets and destruction certificates
If something goes wrong further down the line, it can trace back to where the waste came from. Using a licensed scrap yard Belfast farmers can rely on removes that risk.
Drop Off or Farm Collection
Most farmers either bring a load in themselves or arrange a collection.
Bringing It to the Yard
Our site in Mallusk is set up for trailer loads. If you can, keep higher value metals like copper and brass separate from general steel. Keep batteries and motors grouped together.
We will handle the weighing and sorting, and payment is made by bank transfer.
Farm Collections
For larger jobs or anything that cannot be moved easily, we collect across Northern Ireland.
The simplest way is to gather everything into one accessible area and give us a call. We will work around the day to day running of the farm. Calving, silage and harvest always come first. We understand that.
If a collection is the easiest route for your metal recycling Belfast or wider NI farm clearance, we can talk it through before anything is arranged.
A Few Practical Points
Some materials need to stay out of scrap loads:
- Asbestos cement sheeting must go through a licensed asbestos route
- Tyres and waste oils are not part of general scrap
- Agricultural plastics follow separate collection schemes
- Agrochemical containers should go through the proper disposal system
Keeping these separate avoids problems later.
Why Farmers Across NI Choose McKinstry
We are a family run business, and we deal with farmers directly every day. That shapes how we work.
We keep things simple. Straight answers. Turn up when we say we will.
What farmers tend to value:
- Fully licensed site and ATF status
- Collections across all of Northern Ireland
- Ability to handle anything from a single load to a full clearance
- A team that understands how farms operate
- Clear and fair pricing
Got Farm Scrap to Move?
Whether it is a small trailer of old fencing or a full yard to clear, we are here to help. It usually starts with a quick call.
McKinstry Metal Recycling
50 Trench Road, Mallusk, Newtownabbey BT36 4TY
028 9082 5362 (ext 4)
info@mckinstrymetalrecycling.co.uk
Drop in or get in touch to arrange a collection anywhere in Northern Ireland.
This guide was written by the team at McKinstry Metal Recycling. We work with farms, households and businesses across Northern Ireland, handling scrap metal responsibly from our Mallusk site. No matter the size of the load, we treat it the same way.