Three metals account for most of what comes through our scrap yard: copper, aluminium and brass. They look simple on paper, but the grade inside each category swings the price by 20–30%. Here is how the breakdown actually works.
Copper — grade is everything
Bare bright copper (clean No.1) is the top tier — uncoated, unsoldered, no oxidation. Copper pipe scrap and copper wire fall just below it. Insulated copper cable is rated lower because we have to strip the PVC before resale, and copper nickel and copper nickle alloys are quoted separately because their melt behaviour differs.
If you can keep copper dry and free of paint, putty or solder, you will land closer to the top rate. Mixed copper with brass fittings always comes down a grade.
Aluminium — extrusion vs casting
Aluminium extrusion (clean window frames, rods, profiles) is the cleanest grade and fetches the best rate. Aluminum casting scrap — engine blocks, gearboxes — is heavier, often contains steel inserts, and is priced lower per kilo.
Aluminum tense scrap (tensile aluminium from utility conductors), aluminium scrap exporters' grades, and ACSR conductor scrap all sit between these two depending on the steel core content.
Brass and bronze
Brass honey scrap (yellow brass turnings and shavings) is one of the most common categories from workshops and bathroom fittings. Solid brass — fittings, valves, taps — grades higher. Bronze is rarer and priced separately because of its tin content.
If you are not sure which alloy you have, do not split the lot yourself — bring it as-is and our team will grade it on site with you watching.
Related categories
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