$4.20/lb · top yards
How to spot itBright, shiny, copper-orange. Bare wire, no green, no insulation, no solder. 16-gauge or thicker.
Where you find itStripped Romex, motor windings, demo'd buildings, electrical contractor scrap.
$3.90/lb · today
How to spot itClean copper pipe, no solder joints, no paint. Sometimes called "tube/flash." Bend test: does NOT break.
Where you find itDemo'd plumbing, AC line sets, refrigeration coils with fittings removed.
$3.65/lb · today
How to spot itCopper with green oxidation, paint, light solder, or other contamination. Still mostly copper by weight.
Where you find itOld plumbing, gutters, AC condensers, downspouts that have weathered.
$1.85/lb · 75% rec.
How to spot itCopper or aluminum wire still in its plastic jacket. Strip it when you can — bare pays 2×.
Where you find itExtension cords, Romex, computer cables, lamp cords, anything with PVC insulation.
$2.30/lb · today
How to spot itGold-yellow color. Magnet test: does NOT stick. Faucets, valves, threaded fittings.
Where you find itDemo'd plumbing fixtures, water valves, locks, door hardware, instruments.
$2.85/lb · today
How to spot itReddish-orange tint vs yellow brass — more copper content. Heavier. Old radiator cores.
Where you find itOld car radiators, fire-protection fittings, marine hardware, antique fixtures.
$0.60/lb · today
How to spot itSilver, very light. Magnet does NOT stick. No paint, no steel rivets, no other metals attached.
Where you find itSiding, window frames, gutters, patio furniture, ladder rails, screen doors.
$0.45/lb · today
How to spot itDull, slightly grainy surface. Often shaped, not sheet. Lawn mower bodies, engine parts.
Where you find itLawn mower decks, engine blocks, transmission cases, BBQ grills, patio chairs.
$0.55/lb · today
How to spot itUsed beverage cans. Keep separate from sheet aluminum — same metal, pays more on its own.
Where you find itBars, events, festivals, roadsides. Don't crush — yards pay by weight, not volume.
$0.40/lb · today
How to spot itShiny, silver, doesn't rust. Magnet: weakly sticks (304) or doesn't (316). Heavier than aluminum.
Where you find itRestaurant kitchens, sinks, commercial appliances, brewing equipment, industrial scrap.
$0.13/lb · prepped
How to spot itHeavy. Strong magnet pull. Cut under 5ft, free of attachments (no tires, no wood, no glass).
Where you find itI-beams, rebar, structural cuts, demo'd buildings. Prepared = cut down to size by you.
$0.08/lb · loose
How to spot itAnything ferrous (magnet sticks) that isn't prep steel. Appliances, sheet metal, fencing.
Where you find itCurbside on bulk days, water heaters, dryers/washers, BBQs, file cabinets, lawn furniture.