Scrap Metal Recycling FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Scrap Metal Recycling
What are your scrap metal prices?
Answer- Prices change all the time, so we do not post them.
What types of material do you buy?
Answer- Anything metal or mostly metal, including things like car batteries, appliances, and computers. From Industrial companies, we also buy cardboard recycling and plastics.
Where are you located?
Answer – We have several locations in North Carolina. Visit us in Raleigh, Durham, Wilmington, Apex, Goldsboro, Wilson, and Franklinton.
Will you pick up from my Home?
Answer- Yes, in the Raleigh area only. Contact us to arrange for pick up of your material, only you have more than just one appliance meaning more than a pick-up truck full.
What hours are you open? Are you open Saturday?
Answer- Hours vary for each location. Yes, open Saturday!
Do I need a special license, or papers to sell material to Wall Recycling?
Answer- No. For scrap metal recycling, you just need a valid (current) State or Federal photo ID.
How do I get my money? Cash or check?
Answer- Cash, from our ATM machines that pay you fast and accurately. You can get a check on request.
Descriptions and Specifications
Copper
Bare Bright Copper – New looking, shiny wire (not pipe). “Pencil lead” thickness or more (Barley)
#1 Copper – Stripped wire (no insulation) or pipe with no solder. No copper attachments. OK if not shiny. If wire, each wire strand must be “Pencil lead”, thickness or more. Can be burnt, but not brittle, but must be free of burnt insulation (Berry)
Sheet Copper – Sheets that are thin, typically from roofing
Copper mixed with other material
#2 Copper – Wire or pipe with has some lead, tin coating, brass attachments, ‘hair wire’ (very thin), burnt and brittle, with burnt pieces attached (Cliff)
#1 Large Insulated – Insulated copper wire (no tin plating) that is about 85-88% copper. (Droid)
#1 Insulated (House wire) – Insulated wire (not tined) with each strand solid (at least 12 gauge). Also called House wire or Romex
Drop Cords – Heavy insulated wire that is less than about 50%-60% copper
Christmas Lights – Yes as it reads! With or without bulbs. Less that 35% copper
Wiring Harnesses from vehicles, equipment – Harnesses with all attachments ok
#2 Large Insulated – Plated or ‘hair’ strands. 80%+ copper
#2 Insulated – Insulated wire ok if tinned. Phone, communication wire, etc.
Aluminum (flexible) shielded cable with #1 Insulated wire inside – ABX
Steel (flexible) shielded cable with #1 Insulated wire inside – GBX
CATV – Cable TV wire
CATV Insulated – Above with insulation on exterior
Helaix-Solid – Exterior insulated-Copper shell/foam/copper/foam center
Helaix-Hollow – Exterior insulated-Copper shell/foam/copper/hollow center
Aluminum
Aluminum Can (UBCs) – Beverage Cans (example Soda/Pop/Beer), with or without pull. Can be crushed or not crush. (Talc)
Aluminum can pull tops – From above and pays the same as cans
Aluminum Rims – From cars, not chromed. Can have weights and stems, but pays slightly less with them. (Troma)
Aluminum Rims Chromed – From cars or trucks. Can have weights and stems, but pays slight less with them
Aluminum Rims Trucks/Equipment – From trucks
Old Sheet Aluminum – Various types of Aluminum with maximum 2% total of AL– steel screws, plastic, vinyl, rubber caulk
Painted Siding – Free of all screws, insulation, caulking, etc. New or old OK. (Tale)
Aluminum Signs – Free of all screws, insulation, caulking, etc.
Extruded Aluminum – Free of all screws, insulation, caulking, etc. (6061 or 6063)
Irony Aluminum (Secondary)-50% – 97% Aluminum- outside Furniture, small engines
Breakage Aluminum – Less than 50% Aluminum
Cast Aluminum – Many car parts. Must be made by casting method; 2% max non-Aluminum (Tense)
Litho Aluminum – Sheets used in printing industry. Free of paper, plastic and other contaminants (Tablet)
Clip Aluminum – No paint, new production, sheets or bars, plates; can be bent
Aluminum Wire – Clean, no insulation (Talon)
Aluminum Wire Insulated – Triplex-Aluminum wire, no steel, with insulation (Twang)
Batteries
Lead Acid Batteries (Pb) – From Cars, Trucks, Lawn equipment and Power Pack ups.
Lead Acid Industrial (Pb) – From Forklifts or other heavy equipment, can be 800 lbs.+
Li-Ion Batteries – Lithium Ion-Typically from Laptop computers and power tools
Ni-MH Batteries – Nickel Metal Hydride-Typically from Power tools and toys
UPS-Uninterrupted Power Supply (Lead Acid) – From Computer installations and other
Alkaline Batteries – SORRY WE DO NOT ACCEPT – Flashlights and toys
Brass
Yellow Brass – Tubing, plates, castings, not including munitions. No iron. (Honey)
Yellow Brass turnings – no more than 3% foreign material
Yellow Brass Shells – with primers, without primers – 70/30 brass shells, clean, no foreign material (Lace and Lady)
Red Brass – No Foreign material, valves, bearing, machine parts, etc. (Ebony)
Irony Brass – Attachments of steel, or other
Stainless Steel
304 Stainless (18-8) – Minimum of 7% Nickel, 16% Chrome-Most common type
316 Stainless – Minimum of 10%-14% Nickel-Higher end material
200-400 Stainless – Low end stainless, magnetic
Radiators
Aluminum Radiators – Low end, plastic, steel (Tally)
Auto Radiators – Copper and Brass, no steel, rubber or plastic attached
Aluminum/Copper Radiators – Aluminum and Copper, from AC units (Talk)
Steel/Ferrous
#1 Prepared – 3′ or 5′ long x 18″ wide; ¼” thick or more
#2 Prepared – 3′ or 5′ long x 18″ wide 1/8″ thick to ¼”
Mixed #1-2 Prepared – 80% #1, 20% #2 with the above dimensions
Unprepared – Mixed Metal over 3′ x 18″
Shred/Appliances – Materials with mixed metals-steel/stainless/aluminum, with glass, plastic, insulation, rubber.
#1 Busheling – Clean scrap, including new production stampings, sheets
Cast Mixed – all grades, except burnt iron; not over 24″ x 30″, no piece over 150 lbs.
Cast-Clean Auto – Auto blocks, brake drums, no steel parts except camshafts, valves
Heavy Torching – Large equipment or parts that are typically over 3/8″ thick that must be cut manually by torches
Machine shop Turnings – Clean wrought iron turnings, free of iron borings, nonferrous metals or excessive oil
Plate & Structural – Clean steel plates or structural shapes, crop ends, not less than ¼” thick
Car Engines – No oil
Diesel Engines -No oil
Zinc
Die Cast – Miscellaneous parts with less than 30% iron (Saves)
Die cast Irony – Above with steel attachments
Other
Alternators – From vehicles
Compressors – from equipment and AC units
Electric Motors – Whole; No excessive steel attachments, such as iron bases
Sealed Units – Free of excess steel attachments
Starters – From vehicles