If you have brass that recyclers won't take and you have set up for melting lead already with propane just get another cast iron pot with a cover. Melt them down and skim the plate off the top and then you have brass blocks that they WILL take. You do have to heat things hotter (1700*) but it can be done with an insulation wrapped cast iron pot. The pot is just below starting to glow at that point. I have played around with casting things with zinc, aluminum, and brass but it takes a lot of heat for brass (1700*) and aluminum (1220*) so most will not bother.