How to Prepare Your Scrap for Maximum Value

The Basic Rule

Mixed loads get priced at the lowest-grade material in the pile. If there's steel mixed into your copper, you're being paid copper prices on the copper and steel prices on the steel — but only if the yard separates it. Some yards will blend the price down for the whole load. Separation always pays.

Sort by Metal Type

Keep a separate bin or pile for each major metal: copper in one pile, aluminum in another, steel in another, brass in its own container. This takes the same amount of effort as tossing everything in one pile — just in different directions.

For ferrous metals, it matters less. Steel is steel. But separating cast iron from sheet steel, or heavy melt from light iron, can get you better rates for each grade.

Remove Non-Metal Attachments

Rubber hoses, plastic fittings, rubber insulation, wood handles, and glass all reduce your payout. Remove them where practical.

Copper pipe with brass fittings: you can sell them together, or remove the fittings and present them separately (brass prices vs copper prices).

Aluminum windows: pull out the glass if you can. The glass adds weight but pays zero.

Motors: if you can remove the end caps and pull the copper windings, the copper is worth more than the whole motor. Otherwise, bring the whole motor — we process them in-house.

Strip Wire When It Makes Sense

Bare bright copper (fully stripped, clean) is worth significantly more per pound than insulated wire. Stripping thin Romex or THHN by hand can be worth the time.

Leave thick cable and armored cable alone — the ratio of copper to total weight is lower, and the labor isn't worth it. We have machinery that processes it efficiently.

Never burn wire to remove insulation. It's illegal in Texas, it damages the copper (reducing its value), and it creates toxic fumes.

Drain Fluids

Engines, compressors, transmissions, and hydraulic equipment must have all fluids drained before we can accept them. This includes motor oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and hydraulic oil.

Refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician before compressors can be scrapped — this is a legal requirement, not just our policy.

Crush Cans

Aluminum UBC (used beverage cans) take up a lot of space. Crushing them increases your load density and makes the trip more efficient. A baler is ideal; a foot will work.

Bring Clean Material

Dirty, contaminated, or excessively rusty material gets priced lower. Steel with heavy scale or rust may grade as light iron instead of heavy melt. Copper that's been burned or heavily oxidized loses grade.

You don't need to polish anything — just avoid contaminating good material by mixing it with trash, dirt, or wet material.