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Aluminum recycling guide
Cans go curbside. Siding, gutters, and cast parts go to a scrap yard.
12 min read
$0.72/lb national average (August 2026)
Can aluminum be recycled?
Yes. Aluminum beverage cans are widely accepted in curbside programs. Clean foil and trays are recyclable only where the local program accepts them. Siding, gutters, window frames, cookware, and cast aluminum belong at a scrap yard rather than in a household bin.
Empty and clean
Remove food, liquid, and heavy residue. Rinse cans and accepted containers.
Separate other materials
Remove steel screws, plastic handles, rubber, glass, and other attachments from scrap aluminum when practical.
Check the destination
Use curbside service for accepted packaging and a scrap yard for construction pieces, cast items, and larger quantities.
95%
Less energy than new metal (U.S. EPA; Aluminum Association)
50.4%
U.S. aluminum can recycling rate (EPA 2018 Facts and Figures)
~31
Cans per pound
$0.72
U.S. national average/lb (August 2026)
What are current aluminum scrap prices?
RecycleFind publishes U.S. national averages. These are market benchmarks, not guaranteed local offers. Know which grade you are holding and confirm it with the buyer.
| Grade | Price (August 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum cans | $0.72/lb | RecycleFind national average |
| Painted siding | $0.83/lb | RecycleFind national average |
| Clean aluminum sheet | $0.70/lb | RecycleFind national average |
| Cast aluminum | $0.67/lb | RecycleFind national average |
| Aluminum foil | $0.45-0.65/lb | RecycleFind range on this page |
| Mixed/dirty aluminum | $0.15/lb | RecycleFind national average |
| Clean 6063 extrusion | $1.13/lb | RecycleFind national average |
RecycleFind also lists bare bright copper at $5.12/lb on the same August 2026 table. Check the current scrap price guide before you haul a load.
Cans, sheet, and foil
Aluminum cans
$0.72/lb reference
- Sources: Beverage cans, food cans
- Prep: Empty, rinse, labels optional
- Notes: U.S. national average, August 2026; local offers vary
- Quantity: ~31 cans = 1 pound
Crush cans to save space. Yards pay by weight, crushed or not.
Clean aluminum sheet
$0.70/lb reference
- Sources: Siding, gutters, trim, flashing
- Prep: Remove screws, paint OK
- Notes: Higher volume per piece
- Common finds: Home renovations, construction
- Weight: Gutters ~1-2 lbs per 10 feet
Lightweight, will not rust, non-magnetic.
Aluminum foil
$0.45-0.65/lb
- Sources: Kitchen foil, food containers
- Prep: Remove food residue, ball up
- Notes: Lower price because of contamination risk
- Volume: Very light weight per item
- Collection: Save over time in a container
Real aluminum foil crinkles and stays crinkled.
How do you tell aluminum from steel?
Bring in galvanized steel as aluminum and the yard will catch it and dock the whole load.
Four checks
1
Magnet test: Aluminum is non-magnetic. If a magnet sticks even slightly, the piece is not aluminum, or steel is attached.
2
Weight test: Aluminum is lighter than steel of similar size.
3
Scratch test: Fresh aluminum scratches show bright silver metal under oxidation.
4
Spark test: When ground, aluminum produces white sparks (orange for steel). Use only with proper safety equipment.
Metals that get mixed in by mistake
- • Stainless steel: Heavier, slightly magnetic in some grades
- • Zinc/galvanized steel: Much heavier, magnetic underneath the coating
- • White metal/pot metal: Much heavier; some alloys contain lead
- • Chrome-plated items: Magnetic base metal underneath
- • Anodized aluminum: Colored coating, still aluminum
- • Aluminum-coated steel: Magnetic, heavier than aluminum
If the test is unclear
Bring questionable items separately and ask the yard to grade them. RecycleFind lists scrap yards that buy aluminum.
What do cast and dirty aluminum pay?
RecycleFind's August 2026 table prices dirty aluminum at $0.15/lb, cast at $0.67/lb, clean sheet at $0.70/lb, and painted siding at $0.83/lb.
Cast aluminum
$0.67/lb reference
- • Engine blocks, transmission cases
- • Lawn mower decks and housings
- • Outdoor furniture frames
- • Tool housings and equipment cases
- • Cookware (pots, pans)
Remove steel bolts and attachments before you ask for a cast or clean-sheet grade.
Mixed/dirty aluminum
$0.15/lb reference
- • Aluminum with steel attachments
- • Painted aluminum (multiple colors)
- • Aluminum with plastic components
- • Window frames with hardware
- • Storm doors with glass removed
Ask whether cleaning moves the load to a higher grade before you spend the time.
Does cleaning aluminum change the grade?
RecycleFind lists dirty aluminum at $0.15/lb and clean sheet at $0.70/lb (August 2026). Whether preparation moves a load into the cleaner grade depends on the buyer's rules. Confirm the upgrade before you invest the work.
Prep that yards actually grade
- Remove steel screws and bolts.Steel left on the load keeps it in the dirty grade.
- Pull off wire and non-aluminum attachments.Weigh copper separately. RecycleFind lists bare bright copper at $5.12/lb (August 2026).
- Keep cans, sheet, cast, and dirty piles apart.Mixed piles get the lowest grade in the mix.
Tools that help
- • Magnet: If it sticks, the piece is steel or has steel on it.
- • Socket set: Removes steel screws from siding, gutters, and appliances.
- • Bins: One container per grade so the scale ticket matches what you sorted.
- • Cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses: Metal edges cut skin.
Example: one storm door, two grades
As mixed/dirty aluminum
- • Complete storm door with glass: 15 lbs
- • Grade: mixed/dirty aluminum
- • Value: $0.15/lb dirty-aluminum national average = $2.25 total
After removing glass and hardware
- • Clean aluminum frame: 12 lbs
- • Grade: clean aluminum sheet, if the yard accepts it as that
- • Value: $0.70/lb clean-sheet national average = $8.40 total
- • Gross difference: +$6.15 before labor and tool costs
That spread is arithmetic from RecycleFind's August 2026 averages. The yard still has to accept the cleaned frame as clean sheet. Ask whether glass and hardware have a separate reuse path.
Where does household aluminum show up?
Walk the house once and write down cans, foil, window frames, patio furniture, and old siding. Then set up separate bins for each grade.
Kitchen
- • Beverage cans: soda, beer, energy drinks, sparkling water
- • Food cans only when confirmed aluminum; food cans can be steel or aluminum, so check the can or use a magnet before sorting
- • Foil, food containers, pie plates
- • Old toasters, coffee makers, blenders (test the housing with a magnet)
- • Pots, pans, baking sheets, muffin tins
- • Bottle caps from glass bottles (some are aluminum)
Garage and basement
- • Automotive: wheels, engine components, trim
- • Ladder sections, tool housings, equipment cases
- • HVAC ductwork, vents, old units
- • Electrical conduit, wire housings, junction boxes
- • Baseball bats, bike frames, golf clubs
- • Mower decks, trimmer housings
Exterior
- • Siding panels, trim, corner pieces
- • Gutter sections, downspouts, fittings
- • Window frames, storm doors, screen frames
- • Roofing flashing and vents
- • Fence posts, rails, gates
- • Outdoor furniture frames
Other indoor pieces
- • Bathroom: towel bars, shower frames, fixtures
- • Desk legs, filing cabinets, lamp bases
- • Picture frames, candle holders
- • Computer cases, speaker housings
- • Light fixture housings, track lighting
- • Table legs, chair frames, cabinet handles
Collecting aluminum that is not yours
Restaurants, job sites, and apartment bins are common aluminum streams. Material that belongs to someone else is a legal and tax question, not a recycling tip.
- • Check local rules on waste collection and business licensing
- • Get written permission from the property owner
- • Tax treatment of recycling income depends on jurisdiction
How much energy does aluminum recycling save?
RecycleFind charts energy saved by recycling versus making new metal. Sources: U.S. EPA; Aluminum Association; Copper Development Association.
Frequently asked questions about aluminum recycling
Can aluminum cans, foil, and scrap aluminum be recycled?
Yes. Beverage cans are widely accepted curbside, while clean foil and trays depend on the local program. Larger items such as siding, gutters, window frames, and cast aluminum belong at a scrap yard. Empty and clean each item, keep steel and plastic attachments separate, and confirm local acceptance before setting material out.
How can I tell if something is aluminum vs other metals?
Aluminum is lightweight and non-magnetic. If a magnet sticks, the piece is not aluminum, or steel is attached. Fresh scratches show bright silver metal. When the test is unclear, keep the piece separate and ask the scrap yard to grade it.
Should I clean aluminum before recycling it?
Yes. Cleaning and separating aluminum can qualify it for a better yard grade. Remove labels, adhesives, and other materials where practical; rinse cans and remove screws or steel attachments from siding and gutters. Ask the yard which preparation changes the grade before doing time-intensive work.
How much aluminum do I need to make recycling worthwhile?
Ask the yard for a minimum load. RecycleFind's August 2026 national average for aluminum cans is $0.72/lb, so 10 pounds (roughly 310-320 cans) is about $7.20. That figure is not a guaranteed local offer. Confirm the grade and minimum load with the buyer.
Does recycling aluminum save energy?
The U.S. EPA and the Aluminum Association report that recycling aluminum uses about 95% less energy than producing new aluminum from bauxite ore. RecycleFind publishes that comparison on this page.
Related resources
Aluminum scrap value calculator
Estimate value by aluminum grade, weight, and cleanliness.
Current aluminum prices
Review U.S. national averages and confirm current local yard quotes.
Home recycling setup
How to set up recycling for every material at home.
Aluminum centers directory
Find aluminum recycling facilities near you.