The ban on selling scrap metal for cash comes after an estimated 15000 tonnes of metal was stolen and sold in the UK last year.Half of this amount was from the metal industry but the other 7500 tonnes was stolen from public places such as railways, other transport networks, electricity wires, war statues and even church roofs.

The ban is expected to go before a House of Lords committee today (30th January) in order to get approval. Lord Henley the home office minister for crime prevention is expected to speak in support of the ban.

Many cash transactions that take place at yards for scrap metal do so without any form of ID being needed or proof that the individual actually owns the metal they are selling. As well as this because of the high number of cash transactions that are taking place some scrap yards are using this in order to evade tax.

The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) strongly opposes the ban and says that if it is made law then the trade will be driven underground to illegal scrap yards. However the BMRA do say that the theft of metal is a big issue for the industry and do welcome the Government’s focus on it.

The Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said that the Police need the power to close scrap yards who are breaking the rules, if the ban was to come in the Police would not be able to find any illegal scrap yards to close them down. She also thinks that a cashless system would push scrap dealing underground and make policing much harder.

Its expected that Labour will propose alternative options to a complete ban including creating a license scheme for scrap traders instead of the current local authority registration or giving Police better powers to close dodgy scrap yards.

Modern metal recyclers have invested millions of pounds in the last decade in advanced research in order to achieve much better recycling and recovery rates on scrap cars. This research has helped to divert thousands of tonnes of metal from ending up at landfill.

Scrap yards say they do work by the rules and do have the right security procedures already in place with most of them reporting to take photo ID or proof of address. All transactions are recorded on TV and anyone turning up in a taxi or on foot will be turned away so a full number plate can be taken down. Legitimate scrap deals say they suffer significantly from metal theft and will inform the police if anything they receive is considered suspicious.

There are many recycling websites in the UK that now offer great cash or voucher payments for old and even broken gaming consoles and handhelds. The most popular and highest paying recycling sites for gamers are as follows:

Gadgets 4 Everyone

Gadgets 4 Everyone is a brand new recycling site where you can sell many different electronic devices including games consoles. At present they will buy all models of PSP, XBox, PS3, Wii, DS and retro consoles including the Nintendo 64 and Gameboy. They pay cash of up to £125 which is sent via BACS, Paypal or cheque once they have received your item.

Payment: Cash

Sell your old gaming consoles or other electronic gadgets at Gadgets 4 Everyone here

O2 Recycle

O2 Recycle is one of the biggest and most popular gadget recycling sites in the UK. Both O2 and non O2 customers can sell unwanted electronic items in return for cash. As well as SAT NAVs, mobile phones, MP3 players, tablets and digital cameras they will also buy old handheld games consoles. The handheld devices they will currently buy include all Sony PSP and Nintendo DS models.

At O2 Recycle all the profits they make go to their Think Big initiative which aims to help turn around the lives of young people living in the UK. By recycling your goods here not only are you helping the environment but you will also be helping the initiative.

Payment: Cash

Recycle your unwanted electronic goods at O2 Recycle here

Trade Your Games

Tradeyourgames is a brand new unique site where you can sell used console games, Blu-Rays and console systems for either cash or to trade in and receive credit for them to buy games or Blu-Rays off their site. This is the only site in the UK that works like on the high street where you are given credit to buy video games for your unwanted ones. You can also choose to get payment in cash via cheque rather than credit.

They do not buy loads of different consoles but the list is always changing so worth a look for the latest prices, also a great site to check out if you have games to sell. They do buy accessories such as Singstar mics.

Recycle your games and consoles for cash at Trade Your Games here

The two mobile recyclers listed below allow Irish consumers to get the most money for their old mobile phones and do a little more towards helping the environment in a positive way:

Get up to €246 at Money4urMobile Ireland

Money4urMobile is part of Redeem PLC who are one of the market’s leading mobile recyclers with more than 10 years experience in the industry. They offer cash payments of up to €246 per old mobile handset you send in via either cheque or bank transfer. All payments are processed once your old items have been received and sent out the next working day.

Money4urMobile IE will also pay cash for your unwanted Apple iPods, iPhones and other Apple devices.

Once the company receives your old handsets they will refurbish them and then sell them on in developing countries where mobile phones are the main form of communication. Any mobile phones that are beyond repair will have the precious materials removed and then the remaining materials will be melted down to help recover energy.

Recycle your old mobile phone for cash at Money4urMobile Ireland here

Get up to €474 at Envirofone Ireland

Envirofone is one of the largest mobile recycling companies who have operated in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland since 2006. Envirofone is by far one of the most popular online recyclers and you may have seen one of their recent advertising campaigns online, in the newspaper or on TV.

Since launching 5 years ago they have paid out millions of Euros to over 2 million Irish customers and recycled or re-used hundreds of thousands of mobile handsets for their customers.

They will pay up to €474 per mobile phone you send in and payment is sent via Cheque, Paypal or gift card within a couple of days of them receiving your old stuff. They offer freepost delivery for your unwanted items and will even buy damaged handsets. If you choose to accept gift vouchers then you will get a higher value than the standard cash price. They are currently offering Argos e-cards which can be used in Argos or Homebase stores.

Recycle your old mobile phone for cash at Envirofone Ireland here

Not only has the site paid out millions of pounds in cash but they are also approaching their hundred thousandth customer. In order to celebrate Post Gold for Cash are offering a special £1000 prize to the person who sell their unwanted items in the hundred thousandth place. All you need to do to get involved is request a free gold selling pack from their website and send in some gold or other precious metals that you no longer want. Once it’s received you will be contacted within 24 hours with an offer, if you are the hundred thousandth customer then they will tell you over the phone and send you your extra £1000 with your money by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

As well as the £1000 that is up for grabs at the moment, Post Gold for Cash also paid out a huge £2000 to the winner of their Christmas competition. The customer that won the prize sold a ring earlier in the year and was delighted to have won £2000 so close to Christmas.

Postgoldforcash was founded by Ashley Faull and Ian Corica and managed by Ian’s son, Michael making it a great family business to deal with. The site has been buying gold and unwanted jewellery from people in the UK for many years and have become one of the most trusted online gold recycling companies with many happy customers. The team behind it have been trading in the gold and jewellery industry for over 20 years.

Anne Diamond the TV and radio presenter also works with the site to host their TV advert and their ‘how to do it’ video. In the past Anne Diamond has hosted Good Morning Britain for TV-AM and Good Morning with Anne and Nick on BBC1.

With gold prices still at an all time high and a great prize currently on offer now is a great time to dig out your unwanted jewellery, broken jewellery or other items made of precious metals and send them in for the biggest cash payments.

Request your free gold selling pack here and get cash for your gold and jewellery at Post Gold for Cash

The new Facebook store allows users to earn cash for their unwanted CD, DVDs and console games whilst using the social network to chat to friends, post on their walls and read their news feeds.

Just like on the Music magpie website Facebook users can use the new store to get an instant valuation for their unwanted goods by entering the barcode number. They can also get a quick valuation for numerous items by scanning it in using their webcam. All transactions can be completed in full without leaving Facebook. All the details of the transaction can later be posted with a customizable message to users walls so friends and family can sell their unwanted items too.

Users can also arrange a free courier collection or download a postage paid label from the application whilst carrying out the transaction.

Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Music Magpie said “These days social networks are where most people spend the majority of their time online, we’re really excited to have launched a Facebook application where users can trade in games, CDs and DVDs for cash without having to leave their online conversations.”

The company is always working on new social applications and believes that their new Facebook store and iPhone app will help people to get rid of any unwanted items from their homes that they may have knocking about after Christmas. It’s also a great way for people to earn some extra money.

As well as offering cash for unwanted CDs, DVDs and games Music Magpie have also recently announced that they will be paying M&S e-Vouchers as an alternative. The great thing about getting e-Vouchers is that they will come much faster than a cheque so can be used straight away on the M&S website in the January sales.

As well as the Facebook application the site also has an iPhone app which up to now has been downloaded over 350,000 times. The iPhone app has also been recently updated with a free leave safe service which allows users to leave their items in a safe place whilst they are out for a free collection. It’s also possible to scan in the bar-codes using the iPhone’s camera and donate the worth of old items to charities including the RSPCA and The Teenage Cancer Trust. There is also an Android app currently in production.

You can use Music Magpies new Facebook store here.

The new 30 second advert has been produced by WEEE Connect who are founded by the UK’s largest WEEE producer compliance schemes and processors. Non financial support has also been provided by the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) who have allowed their ‘Recycle Now’ branding to be used on the advert. The national campaign is also being supported by a number of recycling bodies.

The Christmas period is very much a time when people get new presents and so dispose of all their old stuff. The message that the advert is trying to put across to the public is not to just throw unwanted gadgets and gizmo’s in the bin but to take them to local recycling banks and depots where they will be disposed or re-used correctly.

In the advertisement viewers are shown how waste is diverted from landfill sites and sent to be recycled correctly and eventually made into new products. It also advises people to use Recycle Now’s WRAP website to help them find their local council recycling centre.

Last year people in the UK bought over 1.2 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment. Only 38.4% of the waste created by this equipment was recycled correctly. Recent changes to the European Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive means that from 2016 substantially more electrical waste has to be recycled correctly in order for the UK to hit their targets.

All companies and stakeholders from the recycling industry are welcome to join WEEE connect in order to help them achieve their goal of making as many people as possible in the UK aware about the need to recycle electronic goods. At this point in time WEEE Connect have managed to spread their message to as many as 14 million people in the country.

If you have any unwanted electronic devices and gizmo’s knocking about after Christmas as well as taking them to your local recycling depot to dispose of them correctly you can also sell mobile phones, SAT NAVs, tablet computers, digital cameras, MP3 players and laptops for cash here.

Rather than paying out a load of cash why not use the following tips to help you keep warm, do your bit for helping the environment and above all keep a little bit more money in your pocket over the Winter months.

Turn Off Electrical Items

When your TV or any other electrical item is not in use switch it off completely at the wall or switch, do not leave them on standby.

Also remember to switch off your lights when you leave the room.

Only Charge Electrical Devices When You Have To

Only charge your mobile phone, laptop or tablet computer when the battery is under 10%, do not keep it plugged in all the time. Not only will doing this save energy but it will also help to conserve the battery life on your device.

Use Energy Saving Light Bulbs

By now you should be using energy saving light Bulbs in all the rooms in your house. Even though they may be a little bit more expensive to buy than standard bulbs they last 10 times longer and so will save you as much as £55 over the lifetime of the bulb.

Use Solar Lighting in the Garden

Buy solar powered lights to light up your garden rather than plugging them into the mains.

Use a Full Load

Always fill up the washing machine and dishwasher before switching it on. One full load uses less energy than 2 half loads so it’s always worth filling it up.

Shut Your Windows and Curtains

Always keep your windows shut especially if you have the heating on or are cooking in the kitchen, this will stop heat from escaping.

Also it’s a good idea to shut your curtains when it goes dark to stop any heat from getting out.

Turn Your Thermostat Down By One Degree

By turning your thermostat down by just one degree it could save you up to as much as 10% off your energy bills every year.

Turn Off The Tap

Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or doing the washing up. A running tap uses 6 litres of water every minute so if you have a water meter you could save loads on your bill just by switching it off.

Check for Dripping Taps

Always check for dripping taps or pipes in your home. A dripping tap can waste up to as much as 5000 litres of water a year and can massively increase your water bill. If you find a dripping pipe then replace the washers immediately, a few pound on a new washer could make you a huge saving over the year.

Don’t Boil Water You Won’t Use

Rather than boiling a whole kettle full then not using it, why not just boil what you are going to use. By doing this you could save £7 per year off your electric bill, if everyone in the UK did this then it would power all the street lights in the country for one month.

2011 has seen a huge growth in the amount of new recycling websites that will recycle your old and even broken gadgets in return for cash or high street vouchers, the best of these recycling sites are as follows:

O2 Recycle - O2 Recycle will pay you cash by cheque or BACS for recycling your old digital cameras, mobile phones, MP3 players, games consoles and SAT NAVS. You do not have to be an O2 customer to use this site. One of the great things about O2 recycle is they don’t keep any of the profits, all the money they make is donated to their Think Big charity which helps to change the lives of young people who need help and support in the UK. By using O2 Recycle not only will you get some extra money in your pocket for your unwanted electronics but you will be doing your bit for the environment and the Think Big Charity.

Money4urMobile – Money4urMobile are part of Redeem Plc who are one of the oldest and most popular recycling companies in the industry. They are definitely worth checking out as they offer some of the highest prices for mobile phones, iPods, iPhones and iPads which a lot of people will have received over the Christmas period. Payment is sent via cheque or bank transfer within 2 days.

Other than gadgets and mobile phones many people may have received items such as CDs, DVDs, video games and new jewellery for Christmas. Any old items that you have knocking about can be recycled for cash at the following places:

Post Gold for Cash – Gold is currently at an all time high so now would be a great time to dig out any unwanted jewellery and send it in to be recycled and re-sold. For doing this you can earn a whole heap of cash. Post Gold for Cash provide you with a free £500 insured envelope to send your unwanted jewellery in. Once it’s received it will be checked over, weighed and valued and your money will be sent out via cheque, BACs or cash within 48 hours.

Music Magpie – This is the first website in the UK that allows you to turn your old CDs, DVDs and even video games into cash. Since the site launched they have already paid out millions of pounds to their users. By entering the bar-code of each CD, Game or DVD on their site they will provide you with an instant valuation. Payments are sent via cheque within 2 days.

Rather than typing each barcode in manually users of Music Magpie can simply download and install the new software then use their webcams to quickly scan each item that they want to sell. Using webcams to scan items is expected to significantly speed up the process especially if users have a lot of items to sell.

Its estimated that every home in the UK has at least £30 worth of unused CDs, DVDs and video games lying around that they could sell at Music Magpie for cash payments. The company which has thousands of users daily has already paid out millions of pounds since launching a few years ago.

Music Magpie has also recently announced that they will now pay an extra 33% for old DVDs.

As well as a webcam scanner the game trading site has recently launched a new app for the iPhone and iPod Touch that allows you to trade your old items quickly and easily via your Apple devices.

The new app allows anyone with an iPhone to scan barcodes, complete trades for unwanted CDs, DVDs and games, edit details and check the status of any orders that have already been sent in.

In order to scan barcodes the iPhone camera can be used as a scanner, alternatively the barcodes can be keyed in like on the Music Magpie website.

The app also lets you check the status of your order whilst you are out and about by going to the menu and clicking on order history. It’s also easy to change your details or password from the menu.

Up to as many as 500 CDs, DVDs and video games can be sent in on every order. So start making money today by digging out any unwanted items you have and sending them into Music Magpie here.

As of December 2011 Music Magpie have also recently announced that they will be paying M&S e-Vouchers as well as cash for any of your old CDs, DVDs and console games. These vouchers are sent instantly via e-mail as soon as the trade is complete, on the run up to Christmas these vouchers are expected to be a big hit with their customers.

The new app is available to download from the Apple iPhone app store or from the Music Magpie site.

A brand new site has recently been launched called Trade Your Games which allows users to sell their unwanted console games, consoles and Blu-Rays for cash payments. Although this has been done before on other sites including Music Magpie, the thing that makes Trade Your Games unique is that it is the only place in the UK where users can sell games for credit to buy games off the same website just like the model that is used on the high street.

The TradeYourGames website was created as it was found that there was very few other websites that made the process of buying and selling console games easy and user friendly. As well as making the process of selling video games much simpler, the prices they pay for your old games are as much as 40% higher than on the high street.

We’ve also had a look through the prices that they sell consoles and video games for and found that they are not only lower than many shops on the high street but also lower than many other big gaming websites. In order to offer even more competitive prices all games and consoles are sent out via a free delivery service.

Currently you can sell or trade in games from many consoles including the Playstation 3, PSP, Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube, Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii. TradeYourGames also have a huge range of pre-owned, new video games and console systems that you can buy or part exchange. In the near future they are also planning to have a section where you can trade in your unwanted Blu-Ray movies for cash or credit, at this point in time you can only buy Blu-Rays from them.  According to their website they will also be looking at other items that you can trade in, in the future, any updates will be posted on their blog.

If you want to sell your old games for cash payments then once your old video games have been received and checked over the money will be added to your account. To get the cash rather than credit you can request that it is sent directly to your bank account, Paypal or via cheque.

They have also recently launched a pretty cool referral scheme where you enter your friend’s e-mail address and then get 5% of the order value in cash once their old games have been received. In order to help encourage them your friend will also get an extra 5% on their order.

Whether you are looking to sell console and handheld video games to earn some extra money or sell and buy different games at the same time then Trade Your Games is definitely a great site to use.

Sell or Part Exchange your Unwanted Games, Consoles and Blue-Rays at TradeYourGames here