Metals, Scrap & Critical Materials
Scrap Metal Recycling: What's Worth It
Updated 2026-07-04 · 5 min read
Metal is endlessly recyclable without losing quality, which makes it one of the most valuable materials to recover. Knowing your metals helps you recycle responsibly and fairly.
Ferrous vs non-ferrous
A simple magnet test tells them apart:
- Ferrous (magnetic): steel and iron — lower value, high volume
- Non-ferrous (non-magnetic): aluminium, copper, brass — higher value
- Copper and brass are typically the most valuable common scrap
Recycle responsibly
- Separate metals by type where you can
- Remove obvious non-metal attachments
- Use registered, verified scrap processors
- Never strip cabling or infrastructure illegally — buy/sell only legitimate scrap
Find a processor
The Metals, Scrap & Critical Materials stream lists processors and collectors. Verified and certified listings help you deal with credible, compliant operators.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell steel from aluminium?
Use a magnet: steel and iron are magnetic; aluminium, copper and brass are not. Non-magnetic metals are usually worth more per kilogram.
Does metal lose quality when recycled?
No — metals like steel and aluminium can be recycled repeatedly with essentially no loss of quality, which is why recovery is so valuable.