Aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, and zinc are among the many base metals that are referred to in the industry as nonferrous scrap. These materials have a variety of uses and maintain their chemical properties through repeated recycling and reprocessing. This trait makes nonferrous metals infinitely recyclable and important to maintaining sustainability in resource conservation.
Pound for pound, nonferrous scrap is highly valued. ISRI estimates put nonferrous at less than 10% of the total volume of recycled materials processed in the US but at more than 50% of the total value of recycled materials traded.
Sheet Metal: This is by far the most common. Our cars, office furniture, shelves, soup cans, are all made from sheet steel. The rate for sheet steel is one of the lowest because if it is painted or plated the recovery rate of pure alloy is less than with the other forms mentioned.
CLIPPINGS: These are the sheet metal slugs from industrial stamping operations. These are generally worth more money then clean steel solids, because they are already in size the mills can use.
Metal turnings: These are the shavings left from machining operations. This material is worth slightly less that construction steel because of contamination from cutting oils, and foreign materials.Copper and Alloys – Brass and Bronze, have a high cost per pound for non-precious metals. – copper pipe, plumbing fixtures, bronze bearings, copper wire, transformers, electric motors, copper trim, buss bars, light ballasts, cooking pots, door knobs, circuit boards