Non-Ferrous materials are a large portion of our business. These materials do not contain iron(fe) and are typically referred to as non-magnetic materials. Examples of these materials are listed below:

Copper

Bare Bright
Bare bright is expected to be very clean and pure. This usually will include any 12 gauge solid strand sized wire or larger that has been stripped from it’s shield and is free from tarnish or any other impurities that keeps it from being “bright and shiny” in appearance. Most often MCM stripped wire is the item commonly bought as bare bright but could include other wire that has been stripped also, as defined above.

#1 Copper
This is usually copper pipe that has a “new appearance look” without any solder, paint or corrosion visible and no other foreign material. It is ok for this copper pipe to contain small amounts of typical chemical build up inside the pipe as long as the outside still has a new copper appearance. New copper pipe discolored from just being old still may qualify as a #1 copper. Common material would be copper tubing and HVAC line set.

#2 Copper
This is copper pipe that contains any solder, paint or visible corrosion. Because this contains solder (lead and tin), this copper is often bought from foundries that make brass since it already has some of the the base elements. Some refineries also refine this into pure copper.

#1 Insulated Heavy or MCM
This wire has excellent recovery and usually is very close in price with #2 copper. Common size is ranged from 100 MCM to 1000 MCM, 100 being the smallest.
#1 Insulated
There is a wide range of electrical wire that may be classified as #1 insulated. Included is any wire that has strands the size of a 12 gauge solid strand wire or larger and has the defined recycling market recovery. Often 1 through 6 AWG will qualify along with 10 and 12 AWG solid strand wire.
#2 Insulated Heavy
This wire is uncommon but still recycled. This will usually have a recovery similar to #1 insulated and includes MCM like wire that has a tin layer over the copper. There are other less common types of #2 insulated heavy also.
#2 Insulated
As mentioned with #1 insulated and the wide range of different wire types, there is even a wider range with #2 insulated. Most all wire that has smaller strands than a 12 AWG solid wire or a less defined recovery than #1 insulated will be #2 insulated. This includes but not limited to 8 through 12 AWG stranded and any 14 through 30 AWG wire. Most telecommunication wire will also be placed into #2 insulated such as cat4, cat5, cat6 and other ethernet and standard phone cords. Another example of #2 insulated are most 110 outlet cords and extension cords. There is #2 high, #2 medium and #2 low in this category.
Romex
Very common wire used in wiring homes and is considered a mid recovery insulated grade. Often you’ll find the price to be in between that of #1 insulated & #2 insulated wire.
Copper Radiator
We also purchase copper radiators. These usually are a combination of copper and brass. The copper is the “fins” of the radiator but the rest usually is brass. These are being less commonly used in modern vehicles as aluminum radiator technology seems to be taking over in cooling engines.
Copper Bearing
This is low recovery copper that includes motors and other electronic devices. Prices are extremely lower than other copper items.

Brass

Yellow Brass
This is the most commonly used brass. Used in household plumbing including popular items such as your faucets and “under the sink” plumbing. Most keys will also be yellow brass. Although many different alloy percentages can be found, yellow brass usually contains around 60% to 70% copper, 30% to 40% zinc and trace amounts of lead and tin. Yellow brass gets it’s name because the very apparent yellow color. Yellow brass prices often reflect the price of copper but demand is also key, as with any alloyed metal.
Red Brass
Although diminishing in use, this brass is still commonly recycled. The reddish pink tint gives this brass its name. The red tint is due to the high amount of copper that will usually will be found. red brass is commonly made up of 85% Copper, 15% Zinc and very small traces of Lead and Tin. Common uses are sprinklers and shut off valves but there are many other items that can be found.
Semi-red Brass
This has modernly replaced red brass as we’ve known it. Cheaper element mixture and equally as useful, it’s defined use has made this all but replace red brass. The common element alloys are 80% copper, 10% zinc, 5% tin, 2-3% lead and other trace elements. It’s common uses are similar to red brass that includes shut off valves, sprinkler’s and other not so common items.

Aluminum

Aluminum ASCR
ASCR (Aluminium Conductors Steel Reinforced) conductor is used for river crossings, overhead and ground wire installations or also used just as a ground wire.
Aluminum Breakage
Casting alloys containing more than 5% foreign material are divided into high or low recovery. This item is commonly found in aluminum engines and transmission parts but also used in other products.
Aluminum Cans
As a new pre consumer product this is a 1100 alloy, once used it is known as UBC (used beverage can) or RBF-UBC.
Aluminum Cast
Cast aluminum can be produced using several different casting processes that include sand, permanent mold, die, lost foam, or squeeze. Common products will be found with engine parts, transmissions as well as other not so common products. Cast can be bought as clean as long as all foreign material has been removed, if not it could be bought as a breakage.
Aluminum Clips
A very common mix of 1100, 3003, 3004, 5005, 5052, 6061 and 6063. This mixture of alloys may also be found with aluminum MLC. This is can be familiarized as an aluminum product with a sheet like appearance, free of any foreign elements.
Aluminum Dirty Sheet
This category is for almost all alloys of sheet aluminum that contain a small amount of foreign element. Common material would be sheet aluminum that may have screws, nails or a small amount of plastic. This can include lawn chairs, rain gutter, siding and other sheet aluminum products.
Aluminum EC Wire
A common conductor found in different gauged wire that is shielded with a rubber or plastic outer layer. The aluminum used in most of this product is no less than 99.5% pure giving it a high value if it’s stripped of it’s outer shield.
Aluminum Extrusion
Aluminum extrusions will commonly be found in the alloys of 6061 and 6063. Using magnesium and silicon in various proportions to form magnesium silicone thus, creating a heat treatable aluminum alloy with durable strength. Common uses include ladders, window frames, and screen doors.
Aluminum Foil
This familiar household product is also recyclable and like a beverage can this is also 1100 alloy but because of the thinness not all the aluminum is recovered in the smelting process, dramatically affecting the price of this material.
Aluminum Litho Plate
This is commonly used in printing shops and usually has better value over other aluminum. The alloy is either 1100 or 3003 but most likely 3003. Manganese is the major alloying element.
Aluminum MLC
As with clips this is a very common mix of 1100, 3003, 3004, 5005, 5052, 6061 and 6063. Unlike clips, MLC is usually the thick solids instead of the thin clean sheets. MLC is the initials for mixed low copper.
Aluminum Painted Sheet
Any sheet or clip aluminum that has been contaminated with paint will be bought in this category unless the paint is unusually thick or contains other foreign material, then the materiel will have to be downgraded.
Aluminum Radiators
You will find an aluminum radiator in most modern cars. These are purchased for recycling with or without the plastic ends, of course increasing the value by removing the plastic.
Aluminum Rims
Usually a 6061 alloy and found on most modern cars.
Aluminum Thermo Bond
Thermo bond is usually bonded by two pieces of extrusion with a thermo adhesive, creating a better insulation around windows and doors. This type of material must be kept separated from other extrusions.
Aluminum Turnings
Turnings or shavings are usually found at machine shops and left after drilling holes into a block or sheet of aluminum. These turnings have less value than aluminum sheet because recovery is less in the smelting processes and also more likely to be contaminated with oil used for cooling the drilling tools.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is technically defined as a ferrous alloy because of its iron base. Unlike iron in a steel products, stainless contains an alloy of nickel that stabilizes iron and it’s magnetic property. Alone, each nickel and iron are both

magnetic. Stainless is very popular for use in restaurant counters, restaurant equipment and cooking/eating utensils. This is because stainless is non-porous and eliminates the harbor of contamination. Another key ingredient in stainless that helps with the sanitary properties is chromium. This gives stainless the shiny appearance and the ability to protect the metal from water and oxygen. Found in the forms listed below
Extruded Piping
Turnings
Fittings
Machinery
Foodservice Equipment

Lead

Common Lead products and recycling termsHard lead, soft lead, wheel weights, pewter (mostly black tin), 10/90 solder (10% tin), 30/70 solder (30% tin), 40/60 solder (40% tin), 50/50 solder (50% tin), 60/40 solder (60% tin and 63/37 solder (63% tin)