Not all copper scrap is treated the same. When a buyer looks at a pile of copper, the first question is how clean it is. Clean, unalloyed copper is worth more to a recycler than copper that is painted, soldered, burnt or mixed with other metals, because it needs less processing before it can be melted down again.
This guide explains the common copper grades in plain terms, so you know what you have before you call for a quote.
Bare bright copper
Bare bright is the cleanest grade. It is usually stripped electrical wire with no insulation, no coating and no tarnish. It should look bright and shiny, like a new coin. Small amounts of oxidation are often accepted, but painted, tinned or heavily corroded wire normally is not bare bright.
#1 copper
#1 copper is clean, unalloyed copper that is not quite bare bright. Common examples are clean copper pipe with no fittings, no solder and no paint, and thicker clean copper bus bar or offcuts. Light tarnish is usually fine.
#2 copper
#2 copper is still mostly copper, but it has something on it or attached to it. Typical examples are pipe with solder joints or paint, copper with some fittings still attached, and wire that is tarnished, coated or burnt. It is still recyclable, it just needs more work at the recycler.
Insulated copper cable
Copper cable that still has its insulation is a separate category. How it is treated depends on the type of cable and how much copper is inside compared to plastic. We cover this in more detail in our wire and cable page.
Copper mixed with other metals
Items like radiators, hot water cylinders, motors and air conditioner coils contain copper together with brass, steel or aluminium. These are normally graded separately from straight copper. See our pages on electric motors and air conditioners.
Why sorting before pickup helps
- A clean pile is easier and quicker to assess on site.
- Mixing bare bright wire with dirty pipe can mean the whole pile is treated as the lower grade.
- Separating brass fittings from copper pipe keeps both materials clean.
You do not need to be an expert. A rough sort into clean pipe, dirty pipe, stripped wire and insulated cable is usually enough.
Getting a quote
Oz Scrap Recycling is a mobile scrap buyer. We come to you across Sydney, NSW and the ACT. Send a photo of your copper, a rough quantity and your suburb, and we will let you know if we can collect. Payment is by bank transfer (EFT), and photo ID is needed for every purchase. You can read more on our copper scrap page or see how our quotes work.