Copper is one of the most valuable common scrap metals, but not every copper load is equal. Bright copper wire, clean copper tube, copper tanks, copper radiators and mixed copper all differ in cleanliness, contamination and recoverable metal content.
If you have copper pipe, cable, tanks or mixed non-ferrous metal, keeping materials separated can make assessment clearer.
Clean, stripped copper wire with no insulation is generally one of the higher-value copper materials.
Common from plumbing, heating work and renovations. Value depends on cleanliness and attachments.
Often found during cylinder or heating system changes. May include fittings or insulation.
Usually assessed differently from clean copper because they contain mixed materials and construction.
Insulated cable contains copper, but value depends on insulation weight and cable type.
Mixed copper loads need assessment, especially where brass, steel or plastic attachments remain.