in a place for things that are not wanted any more.
Congress is threatening to throw the president's budget on the scrap heap.
Etymology: from the literal meaning of scrap heap (= a pile of things that are no longer wanted)
on the scrap heap
Among other unwanted or unused things. Typically used after the verbs "throw" or "toss." It was disheartening to have something that took up so much of my time and energy end up on the scrap heap, but that's just the nature of the industry.It felt like I'd been thrown on the scrap heap after Janice left me.
on the ˈscrap heap
(informal) no longer wanted or considered useful: With the closure of the factory, thousands of workers have been thrown on the scrap heap.