What scrap metal can you recycle? This question surfaces constantly in industrial facilities, workshops, and households where metal accumulates daily. People ask this because sorting recyclable metals from waste streams directly impacts both profitability and environmental responsibility.
Having spent fifteen years processing everything from automotive components to aerospace alloys in my mechanical engineering career, I’ve witnessed firsthand how proper metal identification transforms potential landfill waste into valuable revenue streams. The key lies in understanding which metals recycling facilities accept and how to prepare them correctly.
What scrap metal can you recycle?
Nearly all metals can be recycled, including both ferrous metals (containing iron) and non-ferrous varieties (without iron). Virtually all metals can be recycled into high-quality new metals, with over 10 million tonnes of metal recycled annually in the UK alone.
Understanding recyclable metals starts with two fundamental categories that determine both acceptance and pricing at recycling facilities.
Ferrous metals: The magnetic category
Ferrous metals include steel and iron and are easily identified because they stick to magnets. These iron-containing metals form the backbone of construction and manufacturing industries.
Steel varieties accepted:
- Carbon steel in prepared grades (#1 prepared scrap steel smaller than 5 ft by 18 inches with heavy gauge of 1/4 inch or more)
- Lower-grade steel (#2 prepared scrap containing gauge of 1/8 inch or more)
- Stainless steel (non-magnetic varieties, including 300 series clean stainless steel)
- Light iron and sheet metal with small amounts of plastic or rubber
Common steel sources: Steel appears in appliances, automotive parts, construction materials, and industrial equipment. Steel can be endlessly recycled because its material qualities won’t be compromised, as iron atoms are indestructible.
Cast iron applications: Cast iron includes auto rotors, drums, and household items like pots and pans. This heavy, durable material maintains value despite lower per-pound pricing compared to non-ferrous alternatives.
Non-ferrous metals: The premium category
Non-ferrous metals include aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, and stainless steel, which are quite valuable when following scrap yard guidelines. These metals resist corrosion better and command higher prices.
Aluminum in multiple forms: Aluminum includes beverage cans (free of foil, tin, plastic), extruded aluminum tubing, clean cast aluminum without steel attachments, and aluminum siding. Aluminum cans are typically recycled directly into new cans, repeating this process indefinitely.
Copper: The premium performer Copper categories include bare bright copper wire free of attachments, #1 copper pipe (bare, uncoated copper), and #2 copper pipe with light tin coating or solder. Globally, around 8.7 million tons of copper come from recycling each year.
Brass varieties and applications: Red brass (free of high lead contamination) and yellow brass (including mixed brass castings, taps, valves, rod brass, and chrome plated brass) both maintain strong recycling demand. Yellow brass contains around 60-70% copper content, while red brass has about 85% copper content along with tin and lead.
Specialty and precious metals
Lead processing requirements: Clean lead must be free of iron and dirt, including auto batteries (lead acid/gel types) and wheel weights with steel clips. Lead-acid batteries achieve a 99.3% recycling rate, making them the number-one recycled item in the U.S.
Advanced alloys and rare metals: Titanium recycling, though more challenging and expensive, proves beneficial since titanium can be infinitely recycled without losing quality. Nickel, zinc, and specialized alloys also qualify for recycling, particularly from batteries and electronics production.
Preparation requirements for maximum value
Cleanliness standards: Remove contaminants including food residue, grease, and hazardous materials before recycling, ensuring metal is clean and dry. This preparation reduces contamination risk and improves recycled material quality.
Separation protocols: Separate different metal types and remove non-metallic materials like plastic or glass to make recycling more efficient and improve resulting material quality. Use handheld magnets to distinguish ferrous from non-ferrous metals, keeping separate containers for each type.
Size and processing considerations: Dimensional requirements vary by metal type, such as stainless steel maximum sizes of 4 ft by 4 ft for certain grades. Understanding these specifications prevents rejection at recycling facilities.
Metals to avoid
Some metals require special handling due to toxicity, including radioactive materials, fuel containers, and certain cookware that may leach harmful substances. Metals contaminated with hazardous materials or those mixed extensively with non-metallic components may face recycling restrictions.
Electronic waste containing mixed materials often requires specialized processing rather than standard scrap metal recycling channels.
Conclusion
In 2021, while helping a local manufacturing facility audit their waste streams, I sorted through three tons of mixed metal scraps that had been destined for disposal. Within two hours, we identified valuable copper transformers, clean aluminum extrusions, and separated stainless steel components that generated over $4,000 in recycling revenue. The facility manager later mentioned this exercise completely changed their perspective on waste management, proving that proper metal identification transforms overhead costs into profit centers while supporting environmental sustainability goals.
Ready to turn your scrap metal into cash? Start by using a simple magnet test to separate your metals, clean them thoroughly, and contact your local recycling facility for current pricing and specific acceptance criteria.