Please Note: Prices shown are approximately 2 months old and serve as a general market reference. Actual prices vary by location and yard. Always contact recycling centers directly for current rates.
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Search Near Me →Manual ($30-50), drill-powered ($100-150), or automatic ($200+). Automatic models process 50+ ft/min for serious volume.
Identify ferrous vs non-ferrous instantly. Never mix steel with copper/aluminum again.
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View scales →Download our complete beginner's guide with identification tips, safety guidelines, essential tools, and realistic income expectations. Perfect for first-time recyclers!
Move beyond daily pickups and learn the professional strategies used by the industry's top 1%. This blueprint reveals the insider knowledge required to secure industrial contracts, master commodity trading, and build a highly profitable recycling empire.
Winter
Dec-Feb
10-15% below avg
Spring
Mar-May
15-25% above avg
Summer
Jun-Aug
Near average
Fall
Sep-Nov
5-10% above avg
#1 Bare Bright Copper
$3.80-4.20/lb
Clean, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire and cable. No oxidation, solder, or attachments. Minimum 1/16" diameter. This is 99%+ pure copper.
Example: Stripped building wire with no corrosion or coating.
#1 Copper
$3.60-4.00/lb
Clean copper with minor oxidation allowed. Can have minimal solder. Bus bars, clean tubing, clippings. 95-98% pure.
Example: Cleaned copper plumbing pipe, copper bus bars.
#2 Copper
$3.20-3.60/lb
Oxidized, tarnished, or has coatings/solder. Small attachments allowed. Paint or minor insulation OK. 85-94% pure.
Example: Old wiring with some insulation left, painted copper.
Insulated Copper Wire
$1.80-2.40/lb
Wire still in plastic insulation. Price based on copper recovery percentage. Thin wire yields less copper than thick wire.
Example: Romex, extension cords still in jacket.
The difference between #1 Bare Bright and Insulated Wire is $2/lb. On a 100 lb load, that's $200 difference. Spending an hour stripping wire pays $200/hour - that's why preparation matters.
Visual Inspection
First check for obvious contamination, attachments, or wrong metals mixed in. Experienced buyers can identify most metals by sight and weight.
Magnet Test
Separates ferrous (magnetic) from non-ferrous. Stainless steel is slightly magnetic despite being non-ferrous. This is the quickest sorting method.
File/Scratch Test
Files through surface coatings to reveal true metal color underneath. Helps identify plated metals vs solid metals.
Density/Weight Test
Copper is heavier than brass, brass heavier than aluminum. Buyers develop a feel for this over time.
XRF Analyzer (High-End Yards)
X-ray fluorescence gun provides instant metal composition. Used for brass alloys, stainless grades, and verifying high-value loads. Accurate to 0.1%.
Spark Test (For Steel Grades)
Grinding different steel types produces different spark patterns. Helps separate mild steel from stainless or tool steel.
Throwing everything into one container to save time? Bad idea. Mixed metals get the lowest price tier. A load worth $400 when separated becomes $150-200 mixed. You just lost $200+ to save 10 minutes of sorting time.
Driving to the nearest yard without checking prices or hours first is a gamble. They might be closed, might not accept your material, or might pay 30% less than the competitor 5 miles away. A 15-minute phone call saves hours and hundreds of dollars.
Making trips with 20-50 lbs whenever you collect some scrap means you're leaving money on the table. Small loads get standard rates. Wait to accumulate 500+ lbs and you'll often unlock 10-15% higher rates, plus save on gas and time. Our beginner's guide covers this in detail.
Selling immediately without checking if prices are rising or falling can hurt. Winter slumps (December-February) often mean 10-15% less than spring prices. If you're serious about scrapping, our monthly market reports help you time sales better.
Trusting the yard's scale without verification is risky. Even a 5% discrepancy on a 500 lb load costs you $25-40. Always weigh at home and watch the yard scale during weighing.
Most common for small loads under $500. You get paid immediately which is convenient, but carrying large amounts of cash can be risky.
Standard for loads over $500 or business accounts. Safer for large amounts and creates a paper trail, but you'll wait 1-3 business days for it to clear.
Increasingly common at modern yards. Fast, secure, and keeps automatic records, but you'll need to set up an account in advance.
Many states require scrap yards to hold materials for 3-10 days before processing to help law enforcement recover stolen goods. This doesn't affect your payment, but it's why yards track everything carefully.
Building a relationship with one yard means faster processing once you're a known, trusted seller. They'll still verify everything, but the process becomes routine.
Cleaning out a garage and basement over a weekend:
Time investment: 4-5 hours. Hourly rate: $25-31/hour. Get started with our beginner's guide.
Full kitchen and bathroom renovation scrap:
Plus dumpster fee savings ($200-400). Learn professional strategies in our professional scrap metal guide.
Monthly earnings from dedicated sourcing (15-20 hours/week):
Hourly rate: $17-29/hour. Many part-timers earn $1,000-2,000/month. Track market trends with our monthly market reports.
Want to estimate your own earnings? Use our interactive calculator with current market prices:
Calculate Your Scrap ValueClean, separated materials
Knowing what you have
Being ready with ID and paperwork
Patience during busy times
Following their procedures
Regular, consistent business
Disclaimer: This is general information, not tax advice. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Hobby vs. Business
Selling your own household scrap occasionally is typically considered personal property sale, not taxable income. But if you're actively sourcing scrap to resell (buying from others, regular pickups, advertising services), the IRS may consider it a business.
The $600 Threshold
If you earn $600+ per year from a single yard, they're required to file a 1099 form reporting your income. You'll need to report this on your tax return as self-employment income.
Multiple Yards
Even if you stay under $600 at each yard, you still need to report total income if scrapping is a business activity. Spreading sales across yards doesn't avoid tax obligations.
If you're running a scrapping business, you can deduct legitimate business expenses:
If scrapping is a business, you'll owe self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) on top of regular income tax. Many part-time scrappers are surprised by this.
Quarterly estimated tax payments may be required if you expect to owe $1,000+ in taxes. Set aside 25-30% of profits to cover tax obligations.
1. Get a dedicated notebook or spreadsheet for scrap income
2. After each yard trip, record: Date, Yard name, Materials sold, Weight, Price per lb, Total paid
3. Keep all receipts in a folder or envelope (physical or scanned)
4. Track expenses separately with receipts
5. Review monthly to see if you're on track for $600+ threshold
Curbside Pickup Days
Check your city's bulk trash schedule. Drive through neighborhoods on collection day morning. Good finds: washers, dryers, water heaters, swing sets, lawnmowers. Get there early before other scrappers.
Appliance Stores
Offer to haul away old units during delivery. Many stores pay for disposal, so you're saving them money. Build relationships with delivery drivers who can call you directly. Best items: refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers.
Construction & Demolition Sites
Always get permission from the foreman first. Many sites have dumpsters full of wire, pipe, ductwork, and metal framing. Offer to clean up their scrap piles for free. Visit during lunch breaks to ask.
Property Management Companies
Contact companies managing apartments and foreclosures. They often need appliances, water heaters, and AC units removed. Some will pay you to haul it away. This can become a steady source.
Auto Repair Shops
Brake rotors, catalytic converters, radiators, wheels, and batteries. Build relationships and offer to pick up weekly. Some shops already have scrap arrangements, but many don't.
HVAC Companies
Old AC units and copper coils from changeouts. HVAC techs often leave old units behind. Offer to pick up from their shop or job sites. Peak season is summer.
Central Air Conditioners
20-40 lbs of copper coils per unit. Worth $80-150. Look for old units during HVAC upgrades.
Electric Motors (Large)
Industrial motors, pool pumps, compressors. Can contain 5-20 lbs of copper windings. Worth $20-80 each.
Copper Pipe & Fittings
Old houses often have all-copper plumbing. 1/2" pipe runs $3-4/lb. Renovation projects are gold mines.
Brass Fixtures & Valves
Old faucets, doorknobs, decorative items. Heavy brass pieces worth $2-5 each. Victorian homes have the best finds.
Commercial Kitchen Equipment
Stainless steel tables, sinks, hoods. Restaurant closures and remodels. Heavy stainless commands good prices.
Computer Servers
Corporate IT refreshes. Aluminum heatsinks, copper components, gold-plated pins. Clean the e-waste route.
Industrial Shelving & Racks
Warehouse liquidations. Heavy steel racks, often 500+ lbs. Load is worth $40-80 in steel alone.
Aluminum Wheels & Rims
Tire shops often have piles. 15-25 lbs each. Check behind tire shops - many give them away.
Leave Business Cards
Drop cards at contractors' offices, property managers, appliance stores. Include "Free Appliance & Metal Removal" as your service.
Join Local Groups
Facebook groups for contractors, landlords, and estate sales. Offer cleanup services. Many will call you directly.
Estate Sale Follow-Up
Visit on the last day when they're desperate to clear out. Offer to take everything metal for free. Older homes have better scrap.
Seasonal Timing
Spring cleanups (March-May) and fall yard work (Sept-Oct) generate the most curbside scrap. AC units peak in summer.
Want more sourcing strategies? Our beginner's guide covers networking in detail, and the professional guide includes templates for contacting businesses.
Looking for scrap metal prices in other regions? Check out international pricing data and resources:
Now that you know the value of your materials, find the best recycling centers in your area that accept scrap metals and offer competitive prices.
