Did you spend last weekend cleaning out the garage, finishing up that backyard project, or demolishing that old rusted metal storage shed? After the dumpster is full, you might be staring at a huge pile of junk, wondering what to do with it all. All of that old pipe, electrical wiring, broken appliances, and twisted metal junk is easy to write off as weekend-chore overload.

All that “stuff” is secretly very valuable. Every weekend, people throughout the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area are pocketing cash from junk that other people throw away. Knowing how Dallas’ local salvage industry works is the key to unlocking hidden income from a Saturday cleanup. You don’t need to hire junk removal to take your old materials away from you — you can let those old materials pay YOU back instead.

Learn the Lingo: Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap

Before loading up the pickup truck and hauling it away, you need to know the first rule of sorting scrap: separate your pile into ferrous and non-ferrous materials.

All metal goods are divided by industries based on iron content, which dramatically alters how much your junk is worth.

Grab a kitchen magnet and test any questionable materials before spending time sorting. If your magnet sticks, you’re dealing with ferrous metals that contain iron. All home appliance steel structures fall into this category, as do most ‘bulk weight’ items like washing machine drums, lawn mower decks, steel rods, and angle irons, or cast iron plumbing.

These objects are great for padding out a small junk pile to maximum weight, but their value is the lowest of low since steel and iron are abundant. If your magnet easily slides across the surface without attracting, congratulations! You’ve got yourself some non-ferrous metals. 

Non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum, brass, and stainless steel are where the real money is at. Re-melting recyclable aluminum and copper costs considerably less energy than mining for new material, giving the local scrap yard more bang for their buck.

High Dollar Dumpsters: Scrap Metal That Pays The Best 

If you’re trying to earn as much money as possible from a haul, these items should be priority number one when dismantling a shed or cleaning out a garage.

Copper | King of the Scrap Heap 

High-purity copper is always going to be in demand by local scrap yards, thanks to never-ending commercial construction and infrastructure developments. Look for bare copper pipe, old water heater tanks, and inside your walls! Electrical wiring is often overlooked, but stripping the plastic casing off your insulated copper wires can net you some major cash.

Aluminum | Lightweight and Abundant 

Just like copper, aluminum scraps are some of the easiest to salvage and process at a recycling facility. While you’ve probably got dozens of throwaway beer cans in your trash bin already, keep an eye out for older aluminum siding that might have been used on past home improvement projects. Window frames, screen doors, and even older-style car wheels can be heads or tails over sweaty aluminum cans.

Brass & Bronze | Plumbing’s Golden Twin 

Another often ignored material is brass—specifically old yellow and red brass plumbing fixtures. Bathroom sinks, faucet handles, old radiators, and anything brass can add some serious weight to your haul very quickly.

Best Practices: Getting Top Dollar For Your Scrap Metal 

Bring in a mixed bag of materials that aren’t sorted or prepared, and you’re cutting into your profits before you even dump that truck. Recycling centers are businesses too, so the less work they have to do after you leave, the more they’ll pay you for your stuff.

Tip #1: Strip Your Wire 

Electrical wire is literally made of money, but the rubber coating needs to come off before you cash out. Wire insulation is considered ‘bulk weight’ and must be separated from the copper before processing. Take a few minutes with wire strippers or a simple utility knife to prepare your load ahead of time, and you’ll double (if not triple) your payout.

Tip #2: Clean Your Aluminum & Brass 

Likewise, do your alloys a favor and take two extra minutes before dumping them in the pile. That sheet of aluminum that was hung on your home has probably been welded to a thousand rusty screws, brackets, and steel strips. Take those screws out. Likewise, that shiny brass faucet is probably attached to a rubber-handled faucet wrench.

Dumping a truck full of “dirty aluminum” or encumbered bronze pieces will downgrade your potential payout. Make it easy on yourself and the metal buyers by stripping extraneous materials away from anything that isn’t copper or steel.

Tip #3: Separate Your Load 

Trying to weigh a giant heap of mixed copper wire, brass shavings, and raw steel is a headache for anyone. You don’t want the buyers arguing over your payout at the window. Make three clear piles or bins for your clean copper wire, stripped copper, aluminum goodness, and remaining bulky steel items. Taking five extra minutes to organize will save you 10 minutes arguing down at the scale.

Tip: Bring your ID. 

Look, don’t drive metal anywhere in Texas without a valid form of identification. The recycling regulations were put in place to prevent theft, so expect to be asked for some sort of photo ID before you dump your truck.

Scrap Metal Values Always Fluctuate 

As much as we would like to give you solid numbers, scrap metal rates change more often than newspaper headlines. A lot of it has to do with international demand for repurposed industrial materials.

Overproduction of copper cables overseas can decrease domestic value. Gas prices going up means transportation companies have higher costs, lowering their demand for bulk materials.

Monitor market conditions if you’re hoping to maximize your return but don’t sweat it if you just want to unload some junk. On average, you’ll get a better payout when our local housing and manufacturing markets are thriving.

Call the Pros: Where To Sell Scrap Metal in Dallas-Fort Worth

We know it can be confusing trying to keep track of scrap metal values and Dallas recycling regulations. When you’re ready to turn your Saturday afternoon trash into cold hard cash, you should feel confident in who you bring it to.

Action Metals is proud to do business face-to-face with our neighbors in Fort Worth and throughout greater Dallas. We are committed to honest weights, transparent process, and market-value payments for your household recycling needs. We’ll go the extra mile to help you understand how you got your price and answer any questions you’ve got about refining your pile before your next visit. Instead of throwing junk to the landfill, let us help you profit from hiding treasure in your own backyard.

FAQ

Question: Do copper pipes need to be cleaned before recycling?

Sort copper pipes from fittings and other iron trash that can contaminate the copper’s value. Dirt, solder, and paint are all okay, but if your copper is glued to pipes or saddled with steel fittings you’ll lose value. Ask us how to prepare your pipes! 

Question: Can I receive cash for my scrap metal in Dallas, Texas?

Answer: Under Texas regulation, all secondary metal recyclers must supply patrons with a card that allows them to load up to $10,000 in non-transferable cash at a time. All other metals will be paid out via check or electronic deposit.

Question: Which household items hold the most money for scrap metal?

Answer: When cleaning house, look for old extension cords, electrical outlets and breakers, copper pipes, brass doorknobs and faucets, aluminum window frames, stainless steel refrigerators, and cooking ranges. Copper wires are also easy to strip out of your heat or air conditioning condenser coils!