How to Recycle Scrap Metal for Money and Scrap Metal Prices

Recycling scrap metal plays a vital role in protecting our environment by keeping usable metals away from landfills and giving them a new life. Aside from the fact that it is good for the mother earth, you could actually earn from scrap metals.

But how much can you actually make from scrap metal? Find out where to recycle scrap metals and find out the latest scrap metal prices here in this article.

Scrap Metal Prices Today

To find the best prices of scrap metal in the US, you would need to know first the kind of scrap material you are looking for. Copper, Brass or Aluminum. It's better that you know the differences between the three types of metal material before you can find the best prices on the internet. You can usually find prices on market conditions of national averages and references.

For people who like to scrap, copper is their favorite because of its constant high value it can bring out similarly to tubes and wires. It can range between $2 and $4 per pound, which is undoubtedly higher than other based scrap material. 

Copper is mainly found in plumbing, electromagnetic components and electrical wiring. Its high in usage value; nonetheless, not all copper is the same. They differ in value, with #1 bare bright copper wiring dominating top dollar. Generally, to get the best price for copper wiring, you have to take out the insulation. Take note that removing insulation takes time, and every minute counts, which could result in higher profits.

Brass is not considered a treasured metal, but it's craved for scrap purposes. Many scrappers get their top value from brass metal due to its not widely available, unlike stainless steel or copper. The current average price of brass in the market is $1.65 per lb. it's more profitable to recycle brass than to create it, given the cost of items to make one, such as zinc and copper. You can find brass in a few primary sources such as furniture, bolts, household antiques, locks, pins and light fixtures.

Aluminum may be worthless on its own when it comes to the price per pound. Still, the metal is cost-effective in scrapping when it comes to its widespread availability.

Tips and Tricks for Metal Scrappers

If you are thinking about getting into the scrap metal game, you would need to know the scrapping's ins and outs. Aside from having a reliable truck with a big bed and knowing the scrap metals prices, here are the following tips that might help you a beginner in metal scrapping.

Start from Home

You might want to start decluttering your home if you're going to start with metal scrapping. Many household items like electrical wires, pipe fittings and pressure cookers have recyclable metals inside them.

You would be surprised at how much you can make by sending these items to scrap yards compared to reselling them in a garage sale.

Magnet

Equip yourself with a nice magnet and learn how to find metals by sight. Knowing if you have non-ferrous or ferrous metal is an essential step before recycling a metal. One of the easiest and most common ways to find out what kind of metal you have is by using a magnet.

Ferrous metals stick to a magnet. Examples of ferrous metal are steel and iron. Do not expect to make a lot of money from this type of metal when you bring it to the scrap yard.

On the other hand, ferrous metal like copper, brass, stainless steel and bronze are very valuable to recycle.

Sort and Clean Your Metal

No, we are not saying that you must scrub your metals with soap and water. But scrap yards prefer, and they even pay extra for trimmed scraps that do not have additional attachments.

Sorting your metal into different types can help you get an idea of how much you can make from them. If you have a lot of copper, then you could make a lot of money from it.

Find Scrap Yards in Your Local Area

There would be no place to take your scrap metals without local scrap yards and exchange them for money. So making a list of scrap yards near your area is a must. You can find a directory of scrap buyers and recycling locations on your state government website.