Steel/Iron

  • Prepared Steel: Steel no longer than 4 feet and no wider than 18 inches, and no thinner than 1/8 inch.
  • Unprepared Steel: Steel longer than 4 feet or wider than 18 inches, and no thinner than 1/8 inch.
  • Tin (ferrous): Steel that is thinner than 1/8 inch, bulky items should be crushed or broken down flat. Note: Steel that meets the prepared or unprepared dimensions but has non ferrous or non metals attached would be purchased as Tin.
  • Cast Iron

Stainless Steel

  • 316 Stainless Steel
  • Dirty Stainless Steel
  • Stainless Steel (mixed 300 series)
    Note: 400 series Stainless Steel alloy is purchased as ferrous material.

Misc. non-ferrous

  • Aluminum-Copper radiator (clean and dirty)
  • Brass-Copper radiator (clean and dirty)
  • Carbide
  • Die Cast (clean and dirty)
  • Heating Elements
  • Lead
  • Nickel
  • Tin (non-ferrous): Pure Tin alloy
  • Titanium
  • Zinc

Brass

  • Ammo Brass
  • Red Brass
  • Yellow Brass
  • Dirty Brass
  • Sprinklers

Aluminum

  • 5% Aluminum: Extruded aluminum with less than 5% (total weight) of foreign materials attached (e.g. putty, plastic, screws, rubber, heavy paint).
  • 6061 Aluminum: Structural aluminum such as pipe, angle, flat bar, etc. that is mill-marked (stamped) as 6061.
  • 6063 Aluminum: Extruded aluminum free from all foreign materials (e.g. putty, glass, screws, rubber, plastic). Note: Anodized 6063 and painted 6063 should be separated from clean 6063.
  • ACSR Aluminum: “Aluminum Conductor, Steel Reinforced.” Aluminum cable with a steel core; use a magnet to distinguish from solid aluminum cable such as EC wire.
  • Aluminum Clips: Structural aluminum used in new production such as pipe, angle, flat bar, plate, etc. that have no defining mill marks.
  • Aluminum Sheet
  • Auto Wheels (clean and dirty)
  • Beverage Cans
  • Cast Aluminum
  • Dirty Aluminum
  • EC Wire (insulated and bare): “Electrical Conductor” wire. All-aluminum stranded cable; use a magnet to distinguish from steel-reinforced aluminum cable such as ACSR.
  • Irrigation Pipe

Copper

  • #1 Copper: Bare copper (wire, tube and solids) with no solder, paint or heavy oxidation. Must have individual strands at least ‘pencil lead thick.’
  • #2 Copper: Bare copper (wire, tube and solids) with solder, paint and/or heavy oxidation. Note: Any wire, regardless of its condition, with individual strands that are less than ‘pencil lead thick’ is classified as #2 copper.
  • #3 Copper: Thin gauge copper sheet.
  • Bright Wire: Bare #1 copper wire that is completely free from oxidation (i.e. bright and shiny) and has individual strands that are at least ‘pencil lead thick.’
  • CBM: “Copper Bearing Material.” Items that contain low amounts of contaminated or mixed copper and brass such as electronic circuit boards, VCRs and CPUs.
  • Low Grade Insulated Copper Wire: Insulated copper wire with 40-55% copper to insulation ratio. Common examples: phone wire, computer cables, extension cords, etc. with plugs removed. Note: Plastic and metal connectors should be removed. Insulated wire with plastic or metal connectors still attached may be purchased as Insulated Copper Wire with Plugs (minimum 30% copper recovery) or as CBM (less than 30% copper recovery).
  • Compressor Motors
  • Copper with Brass attached
  • Electric Motors
  • Insulated #1 Copper wire: Insulated copper wire in which the individual strands are at least ‘pencil lead thick’ and there is estimated to be at least a 60% copper to insulation ratio.
  • Insulated #2 Copper wire: Insulated copper wire in which the individual strands are less than ‘pencil lead thick’ and there is estimated to be at least a 60% copper to insulation ratio.
  • Romex
  • Starters and Alternators
  • Transformers

Glossary

  • Clean: Metal that is “pure” and completely free of any foreign metals or non-metals.
  • Dirty: Metal that has other foreign metals or non-metals attached.
  • Ferrous: Metals that have high iron content such as steel and cast iron. Ferrous metals can be verified with a magnet; iron has a strong attraction to magnets.
  • Non-ferrous: Metals that contain no iron. Most non-ferrous metals are not attracted to magnets