Scrap Smart: 10 Most Valuable Metals You Can Recycle

• Copper

Copper is one of the most valuable and commonly recycled metals. Its high conductivity makes it essential in electrical wiring, plumbing, roofing, and electronics. Because of its widespread use, copper scrap always has strong market demand.

• Aluminum

Aluminum is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and used in everything from soda cans to cars, window frames, and appliances. While its per-pound price is lower than copper, aluminum’s abundance makes it highly profitable when collected in bulk.

• Brass

Since brass contains a large amount of copper, it tends to be more valuable than aluminum and steel. Sorted, clean brass brings a higher payout, making it worth separating from other metals when recycling.

• Stainless Steel

While stainless steel has a lower scrap price than copper or brass, its widespread presence makes it profitable, especially in large quantities. High-grade stainless steel containing nickel and chromium can fetch a higher rate, so it’s worth identifying different grades before recycling.

• Lead

Lead has been phased out of many products due to health risks, but it’s still widely used in batteries, roofing materials, and certain types of pipes. Lead recycling is highly valuable because it’s dense and heavy, meaning you get paid more per pound. However, due to its toxicity, it’s essential to handle lead carefully and work with a licensed scrap metal company that follows safe disposal practices.

• Nickel

Nickel is in high demand globally, especially with the rise of electric vehicles that rely on nickel-based batteries. While not as common as aluminum or steel, finding nickel scrap in batteries, coins, and industrial equipment can bring you a solid payout.

• Titanium

Titanium is lightweight yet extremely strong, making it a top choice in aerospace, medical implants, and high-performance sports equipment. While less common in everyday items, titanium scrap carries a high price per pound due to its value in manufacturing and engineering.

• Bronze

Bronze is commonly found in plumbing fixtures, sculptures, bearings, and ship components due to its strength and resistance to corrosion. While less common than brass, bronze typically has a similar or slightly higher scrap value, making it worthwhile to separate and recycle when possible.

• Gold

It may not be as abundant as other metals on this list, but gold is one of the most profitable metals to recycle. Often found in electronics, circuit boards, connectors, and old jewelry, gold retains extremely high value because of its rarity and conductivity.

• Platinum

Platinum is one of the most valuable metals on Earth, commonly used in catalytic converters, electronics, medical equipment, and jewelry. It’s rare and difficult to mine, which keeps prices consistently high.

Recycle Your Scrap Metal with Just Scrap It

Scrap metal recycling can be a lucrative endeavor if you know what you’re doing. Most importantly, you need to look for a reliable scrap metal company that offers fair pricing, accurate weight measurements, and hassle-free services. At Just Scrap It, we pride ourselves on offering fair prices for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals. We also offer same-day payment, convenient scheduling, and hassle-free removal. Whether you’re looking to recycle aluminum cans, household appliances, junk cars, or electronics, you can rely on us to make the process smooth and rewarding.