Wasatch Metal Recycling

Metals Guide

We buy a variety of different types and grades of scrap metals. Each grade or category has a different price. The purpose of this guide is to help you determine what type or category you may have and how to best prepare it for recycling.

Copper

Bright & Shiny Copper	Copper wire that is not corroded or burned and must be shiny in its appearance. No contamination in any form. Must be thicker than a pencil lead. (10 Ga.)
#1 Copper	Clean uncontaminated with no paint, solder, insulation, dirt, etc. Can be tubing or wire. Wire must be bare and thicker than a pencil lead.
#2 Copper	Copper that has paint, dirt, solder, corrosion, etc. Insulated copper is not accepted as #2 copper. Can be tubing or wire. Bare wire under pencil lead thickness is accepted.
Insulated #1 Wire	Insulated Copper wire that is 16 gage or thicker (1/16 inch). If wire is stranded, each wire must be 1/16” or thicker. Must have a copper recovery of 70% or more.
Insulated #2 Wire	Insulated Copper wire smaller than 16 gage (1/16 inch) and has a copper recovery of 55% - 69%. The copper wire may be coated by tin or nickel. All stranded wire smaller than 1/16”.
Strippable Copper Wire	Copper wire that is at least ½” thick with one layer of rubber or plastic insulation.

Aluminum

Aluminum Cans	Any aluminum beverage container that has been emptied of its contents and is uncontaminated in any form.
Aluminum Extrusion	Consisting of window frames, door frames, structural type aluminum, with no contamination i.e., nails screws, staples, putty, paint, weather stripping, foam, etc. Must be 6063 series aluminum.
Painted Alum Extrusion	Same as regular extruded aluminum, however, may contain small amounts of paint, caulking, weather stripping, dirt, etc.
Clip Aluminum (MLC)	Most common grade of aluminum.  Mixture of various alum alloys. Consists of plate, bar, solids, chunks or machined parts. Must be free of contamination, paint, nails, screws, etc.
Painted Clip Alum	Same as regular clip, however, may contain small amounts of paint, caulk or coatings.
Aluminum Siding	Thin aluminum house siding, rain gutters, fascia, ect… May have paint but must be free of staples, nails or other contaminates.

Brass

Yellow Brass	Brass that has a yellowish look in appearance. Commonly valves, meters, faucets. No Contamination. Free of iron, paint, plastic, washers, glass, etc..
Red Brass	Brass that looks reddish in appearance. Has a higher copper content. Commonly valves, meters, faucets. No Contamination. Free of iron, paint, plastic, washers, glass, etc.. (78% – 82% Copper)

Steel

Tin & Light Iron	Light iron or sheet metal. Includes automobiles and appliances. Lower grade scrap steel.  Some Foreign attachments are permitted.  (Plastic, rubber, paint, etc…)
Heavy Melting Steel (HMS)	Scrap Steel ¼ inch or thicker. Free of foreign attachments.  If pieces are under 5’ long x 2’ wide its considered prepared.
Plate & Structural	Structural Steel Scrap including plate, Beams, angle, bar stock, tubing and channel. Free of foreign attachments. Prepared is cut under 5’ long x 2’ wide.
Cast Iron	Cast iron free of contaminates.