Metal Recycling: Everything You Need to Know

Best Practices for Scrapping Copper for Cash

4 April 2022

Melissa Stanley

Copper is one of the most sought-after metals, thanks to its widespread applications. Since it is the third most consumed metal globally, recycling copper helps conserve the environment. The best part is that scrapping copper is not that difficult because you can find it almost everywhere. Moreover, copper can be recycled an unlimited number of times without degrading. The unrivalled versatility is why copper retains its value regardless of age or condition. Here are the best practices when preparing to scrap copper for cash.

Selective Stripping -- One of the most critical steps in preparing copper for cash is stripping off the insulation. The process makes it easy for a scrap metal dealer to process your pile because buying wire that is already stripped saves time. However, stripping all the wires you collect is challenging and time-consuming. For instance, thin wires or those with multiple insulations are stubborn to strip even if you have a wire stripper. Moreover, removing the insulation on thin wires significantly reduces their weight, affecting the amount of money you get from a dealer. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to be selective when stripping copper wires. Ideally, you should only strip the insulation of large cables since the weight difference is negligible. Additionally, it is easy to strip large cables than thin wires.

Stock is Best -- As you interact with seasoned scrappers, some will claim to melt or granulate their load before selling it to scrap metal dealers. While you might be tempted to do it, you should avoid melting or granulating your copper load. First, the steps prolong and add a significant cost to copper preparation. Secondly, a scrap buyer might pay less since they do not know what is in the copper bricks or granules you present. The best thing is to sell your scrap copper in its original form. Scrap metal buyers prefer stock copper because they are sure you have not impregnated it to add to its weight.

Time the Market -- Fear of missing out affects all industries, including the recycling business. Thus, it is easy to join the bandwagon when you see fellow scrappers selling their copper every other week. However, just because your competitors are always lining up at a scrap yard dealer does not mean they are getting the best price. Notably, copper prices are more volatile than silver or gold; hence, you should stack your copper load when the rates are low and sell when prices are high. Therefore, track current prices and only attempt to get cash for copper when the prices are up. Waiting also gives you room to negotiate a reasonable price.

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About Me

If you have a large amount of metal which you no longer need, you may be trying to figure out what you can do with it. While it may be tempting to dump old metal, if you do this you could be making a serious mistake. By recycling the metal you can enjoy two major benefits. The first benefit is that, because the metal will be reused, you will be helping to protect the environment. The second benefit is that you will receive some cash in return for the metal. Last year, I recycled some metal and I was surprised at how easy it was to do this. If you want to find out more, read on!