How to Determine Scrap Metal Recycling Prices

Scrap Metal Recycling Prices  are a function of metal type, location, quantity of scrap metal recycling, and current market value for your materials. In other words, the price you get paid by a scrap yard will depend on what you are selling (copper, brass, aluminum, steel, etc), where you are selling (what side of town, which side of the world, etc), how much scrap metal recycling you are selling (pounds vs tons), and how much the material is worth once refined (“spot price”).

Scrap metal recycling is broken down into many different types of categories. For example, copper, lead, and stainless steel are all types of scrap metals that can be sold at a scrap yard, and each of these metals can get further sub-categorized into copper wire, lead wheel weighs, or 18-10 grade stainless steel, for example. Now, this is obvious to anybody who has sold metal before…But, what isn’t so obvious is the way your metal gets categorized! The category of your metal depends on the scrap yard you are at. For example, what one scrap yard considers bare bright scrap copper, another scrap yard will consider copper #1. Keep this in mind when shopping around for better prices, because the last thing you want is a quote for cast aluminum, only to find out the scrap yard considers your material to be pot metal, which is typically 40% less in price.

Without making too many generalizations, let’s assume that scrap metal prices will always be highest in areas where there is the more competition. This means rural areas, areas far away from refineries, areas too far inland, etc. will rarely have better pricing then those places where scrap yards can both fight for customers and haggle with refineries. Keep this in mind when searching for the best scrap yard – spending one more hour round trip and an extra $15 in gas to get to a further scrap yard may make you an additional 15% at the pay-out window.

On the surface, it is a simple concept; the more metal you have, the more it is worth. But further exploration shows that it really is a tool which can be used to your advantage.

These would be the prices that newly refined ore and scrap is being sold for. While not always the case, in general, the more money a refinery can sell the refined metal for, the more money you can sell your scrap metal for. The best way to keep up with metal spot prices is to check out Kitco spot price feeds.

At Scrap Mart Metals, we offer the best prices for scrap metal in the St. Louis area. Our customers can recycle ferrous metals by driving to our certified drive-on scale. After you weigh in (heavy), then take your metal to our steel yard to offload. After all of your ferrous metal has been taken out of your vehicle, then head back to the drive-on scale to weigh out (light). Then pull around the front and walk right into the main office to collect your payment.

We also offer top dollar payouts for all of your scrap metals. Since 2011 we have provided superior service to our customers and have assisted them in receiving the most money for their metals. With combined manpower of over 20 years of experience, our commitment to excellence has earned us the reputation as the best metal recycling company in the area.

Our new drive-thru and drop of metal recycling center makes it easier than ever to bring in the scrap metal recyclables from your home, business or organization. Collect all the recyclables from your home or business you would normally throw away and load them in your vehicle. Make a quick drive over to our new facility in Valley Park and pull in the clean and efficient drive thru. After sorting and weighing your materials we will pay you top dollar in cash. Now that’s recycling made easy! St. Louis’ first and only drive-thru scrap metal recycling.

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