Zinc has a special place in Côte d’Azur architecture. A noble material par excellence, it guarantees the watertightness and longevity of roofs in the Plaine du Var region. For zinc roofers working in Carros, Nice, Vence and Saint-Jeannet, managing site waste is a logistical, environmental and financial challenge. At Eco-Relais Sclavo, located at 362 – 12ème Rue in Carros, we have designed a zinc buy-back service that goes far beyond a simple transaction: a genuine expertise dedicated to the roofing trade.

 

Zinc metallurgy: Why is it a valuable waste product?

Zinc (chemical symbol Zn) is a non-ferrous metal with exceptional anti-corrosive properties, thanks to its ability to form a natural protective layer known as patina. It’s this durability that makes it a first-rate building material. But it’s also what makes it so valuable for recycling. Unlike other materials that degrade, zinc retains 100% of its mechanical and chemical properties after remelting.

In Carros, we mainly receive two types of zinc:

  1. Rolled zinc (NF EN 988): Used for gutters, downspouts and ornaments.
  2. Pre-patinated zinc: widely used in modern architecture for its dark gray or anthracite appearance as soon as it is installed.

Zinc recycling at Eco-Relais Sclavo saves 95% of the energy required to produce it from the primary ore (blende). By bringing us your metals, you become a direct player in reducing CO2 emissions in the Alpes-Maritimes.

Buyback categories at our Carros counter

To get the best price per kilo, sorting is your best ally. At our Industrial Zone center, we distinguish several qualities that have a direct impact on your payment slip:

  • New Zinc (zinc roofing offcuts): These are clean offcuts, with no welds or traces of putty. This is the quality most sought-after by foundries, as it enables them to produce new, high-precision rolled products immediately.
  • Old zinc: These are elements recovered from old roofs. They are often covered with a natural greyish patina. Although perfectly recyclable, they need to be checked for “pollution” (iron nails, steel hooks, slate remnants).
  • Zinc with solder: Zinc workers often use a tin-lead alloy to assemble roofing elements. Although we buy soldered zinc, the price is adjusted slightly, as these soldered joints have to be specifically treated in a refinery to separate the different metals.

Practical guide for roofers: How to maximize your profits?

For building professionals in the 06 region, metal management needs to be optimized. Here’s our expert advice:

  1. Separate at source: Don’t mix zinc with lead roofing or copper scrap. Each metal has its own LME price.
  2. Clean your batches: Take a few minutes to remove galvanized steel gutter hooks. A “clean” batch of zinc avoids downgrading to “mixed zinc”.
  3. Intelligent storage: Use specific bins on your worksites. Sclavo Eco-Relais can provide you with suitable containers if you generate large volumes of zinc during major renovations in Carros.

A service designed for the responsiveness of craftsmen in the 06

Located in the immediate vicinity of the RM 6202, our Carros center is the ideal base. With non-stop opening hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., we take the hassle out of closing at lunchtime. You can drop off your metals between jobs, weigh your goods on our certified scales and leave with immediate confirmation of payment. Traceability is guaranteed, and for companies, we provide all the documents you need for your accounting and environmental monitoring.