<\/p>\n
No, you don\u2019t have to the Midas touch to turn scrap metal into gold.<\/p>\n
Scrap metal recycling<\/a> is a big business. And if you know what are the most profitable items to scrap, you can make decent money.<\/p>\n In fact, the market for scrap metal recycling is expected to hit $29.9 billion in 2020<\/a>, an increase of 3.2% from last year!<\/p>\n Well, you\u2019re in the right place!<\/p>\n Here are the eight most profitable scrap metals!<\/p>\n There are a couple of key pieces of information to know before we you get started selling scrap metal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here is one key thing to remember before we start with our list.<\/p>\n These prices are current as of the writing of this article.<\/p>\n Keep in mind the prices you see listed here are NOT set in stone.<\/p>\n Just like the price of a stock, a barrel of oil, or a gallon of milk, these prices can and will change.<\/p>\n They can vary significantly month to month, week to week, even day to day.<\/p>\n So, before you take a haul of scrap metal it\u2019s probably best to double check the price before you go.<\/p>\n If the price has dropped and is lower than you would like, just set it aside and wait for the price to rise again.<\/p>\n You can check the most current prices of common scrap metals here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another key thing to keep in mind before you go to a scrap yard near you<\/a> is there are two categories of scrap metal.<\/p>\n They are:<\/p>\n When it comes to items with high scrap value, as a general rule, the non-ferrous get higher prices than the ferrous.<\/p>\n How can you tell the difference between the two?<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy, just get a magnet.<\/p>\n If the magnet sticks to the metal, it\u2019s ferrous.<\/p>\n If it doesn\u2019t it\u2019s non-ferrous.<\/p>\n When we say clean, we don\u2019t necessary mean free from dirt.<\/p>\n What this mean is the metal is free of any non-metal items (like plastic).<\/p>\n So, in order to maximize your profit you will want to separate the metal from any non-metals.<\/p>\n And then sort the metals by type.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll end up getting more money by doing a little extra work.<\/p>\n Every savvy shopper knows to shop around before you buy an item.<\/p>\n The same principle applies here.<\/p>\n Call around to the different scrap yards in your area and see who offers the best price for the scrap metals you have.<\/p>\n If they\u2019re all about the same, then go with the closest to your home.<\/p>\n If one offers significantly better prices, go with them.<\/p>\n You never want to leave money on the table.<\/p>\n And with these words of advice out of the way, let\u2019s get on with the list.<\/p>\n Since the non-ferrous are the most profitable, we\u2019ll start there.<\/p>\n Copper is the metal that will get you the biggest bang for your buck.<\/p>\n #1 bare bright copper wire will get you $1.95 per pound.<\/p>\n While #1 copper tubing will get you $1.73 per pound, #2 copper tubing will get $1.58 per pound, and insulated copper wire will get $0.44 per pound.<\/p>\n There are a lot of things to scrap around the house. You\u2019ll find copper in pipes, AC parts, electrical wiring, and circuits.<\/p>\n So don\u2019t throw away those old Christmas lights that no longer work!<\/p>\n To make money selling scrap copper<\/a>, take the copper wiring, collect enough to make a good profit, and take to the scrap yard for some cash.<\/p>\n Brass is another non-ferrous metal that can get you some money.<\/p>\n Brass is currently going for just under $1.00 per pound.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re a hunter or like to go to the shooting range on the weekend, brass shells are going for $0.78 per pound.<\/p>\n You can also find brass in keys, light fixtures, and faucets.<\/p>\n We encounter or use aluminum cans on a daily basis.<\/p>\n But you should think twice before throwing that soft drink can<\/a> in the recycling bin.<\/p>\n Collect them and take them to the scrap yard for cash.<\/p>\n Aluminum cans are going for about $0.25 per pound right now.<\/p>\n And if you or someone you know is addicted to Diet Coke, this can net you some decent money.<\/p>\n Also, aluminum siding is going for $0.19 per pound and aluminum radiators are going for $0.20 per pound.<\/p>\n You can also find aluminum in window frames, bicycles, and roofing materials.<\/p>\n These metals won\u2019t get the returns like the others we\u2019ve mentioned so far.<\/p>\n But some money is better than none.<\/p>\n And if you accumulate enough over time, you may be surprised with what you end up making.<\/p>\n As far as the ferrous metals go, iron will get you the most money.<\/p>\n But you have to collect a lot for it to be cost effective.<\/p>\n Cast iron is going for $103 per ton, and light iron will get you $78 per ton.<\/p>\n You can find iron in household appliances like washing machines, lawn furniture, and items like lawn mowers.<\/p>\n And to get this to the scrap yard you may need to borrow a friend\u2019s truck or rent a van.<\/p>\n Stainless steel will likely get you one of the lowest returns per pound.<\/p>\n Right now, stainless steel is going for $0.18 per pound while steel BX is going for $0.12 per pound.<\/p>\n So it will take a lot for it to be cost effective.<\/p>\n You can find steel in cars and most appliances.<\/p>\n But, as you\u2019ll see later in this story, there may be a better way to get a return for the steel in your old car.<\/p>\n In addition to the metals listed above, there are other common items you can take to the scrap yard and make some money.<\/p>\n And these are probably items you have around the house or you see on the curb in your neighborhood.<\/p>\n Do you have an old, out-of-date computer just sitting around taking up space and collecting dust?<\/p>\n If so, take it apart and take the parts to the scrap yard for some cash!<\/p>\n Hard drives can get $0.30 per pound.<\/p>\n A PC tower will get you about $0.11 per pound.<\/p>\n And motherboards will fetch about $0.80 per pound.<\/p>\n So be on the lookout for old computers on the curbside, pick them up, take them apart, and get some cash for those parts!<\/p>\n Do you have an old, beaten-up car just sitting in your driveway?<\/p>\n Does it cost you more to keep the thing running than the thing is actually worth?<\/p>\n And is it so old and beaten up that no one will buy it?<\/p>\n If so, then just scrap it!<\/p>\n You might be able to get more money than you think.<\/p>\n As of this writing, taking your car to the scrap yard will get you $95 per ton.<\/p>\n And according to Pennsylvania\u2019s Department of Transportation<\/a>, the average car weighs about 1.5 tons, and your standard truck is about 3 tons.<\/p>\n So you could easily turn that old car in your driveway into a couple hundred dollars easily.<\/p>\n Also, individual car parts can be taken to the scrapyard and exchanged for cash.<\/p>\n Car batteries get $0.17 per pound.<\/p>\n Alternators go for about $0.10 per pound.<\/p>\n Meanwhile aluminum rims will get you about $0.34 per pound.<\/p>\n Catalytic converters contain platinum or palladium (depending on manufacturer) and scrapping one will be worth $50-$100.<\/p>\n So if you a person who likes to work on their car, you can easily make some extra money taking your old parts to the scrap yard.<\/p>\n You can probably find other items to take to the scrapyard for profit after doing some Spring cleaning or some remodeling of your house.<\/p>\n Power supplies (batteries) will get you $0.10 per pound.<\/p>\n Ballasts will get you $0.80 per pound.<\/p>\n And, as mentioned earlier, aluminum siding will get you $0.19 per pound.<\/p>\n Keep this in mind after you do some work on your house.<\/p>\n So be on the lookout for discarded items.<\/strong><\/p>\n While you\u2019re out driving, be on the lookout for things people have thrown away.<\/p>\n Those items they\u2019re throwing away you could break down and trade in for a nice profit.<\/p>\n Old appliances, computers, building materials, and lawn furniture can be scrapped for a nice little sum.<\/p>\n And check out construction sites.<\/p>\n If they have any leftover materials, ask if you can take it.<\/p>\n And if they say yes, then take that unused copper wire or aluminum siding to the scrap yard to trade in for cash.<\/p>\n You might not think much of a pile of scrap metal.<\/p>\n It may look like nothing more than a pile of trash.<\/p>\n But a savvy person like yourself knows that discarded pile of trash can be your treasure<\/a>!<\/p>\n So now that you know what scrap metal is worth the most money, take that pile of scrap metal and turn it into a nice little profit!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nSelling Scrap Metal for Cash: The Basics<\/h2>\n
Prices can fluctuate<\/h3>\n
There are two different categories of Scrap Metal<\/h3>\n
\n
\u201cClean\u201d metals get more money<\/h3>\n
Shop around with different Scrap Yards<\/h3>\n
Best Items to Scrap for Money: Non-Ferrous Metals<\/h2>\n
1. Copper<\/h3>\n
2. Brass<\/h3>\n
3. Aluminum<\/h3>\n
Common Ferrous Metals<\/h2>\n
4. Iron<\/h3>\n
5. Stainless Steel<\/h3>\n
Other Common Items You Can Scrap<\/h2>\n
6. Computer Parts<\/h3>\n
7. You can scrap your own car or car parts for cash!<\/h3>\n
Other things to scrap around the house<\/h3>\n
8. Power Supplies<\/h4>\n
9. Ballasts<\/h4>\n
10. Aluminum Siding<\/h4>\n
One Person\u2019s Trash Really is Another Person\u2019s Treasure!<\/h2>\n