Scrap Metal Prices: Per Pound In California (updated)
Scrap metal prices in California have been on the rise this year, and scrap yards are reporting that they’re seeing a lot of increases for all kinds of metals.
The problem is that these increased costs will eventually get passed onto consumers, meaning we’ll end up paying higher prices at stores like Walmart or Home Depot when we buy things made from steel or aluminum.
For example, people who buy cars may soon find themselves spending thousands of dollars more than before if they want one with a new engine because the cost of scrap metal will likely be passed on to them. This is going to affect a lot of people until the price increases work their way through the economy.
The following are current prices for some metals out of California – these prices were taken from more than 50 different recycling centers in the state:
Prices of Scrap Copper
| Bare Bright Copper >99% | $2.98 – $3.3 |
| Copper 1 96-98% | $2.55 – $2.82 |
| Copper 2 94-96% | $2.24 – $2.48 |
| Copper 3 88-90% | $2.51 – $2.78 |
| Copper Radiators | $1.14 – $1.26 |
| Copper Yokes | $0.38 – $0.42 |
| Copper Transformers | $0.22 – $0.25 |
| Insulated Cable 1 (250-750MCM) | $2.04 – $2.25 |
| Insulated Cable 2 | $1.37 – $1.52 |
| Insulated Wire 1 (Romex) | $1.32 – $1.46 |
| Household Insulated Wire 2 | $0.53 – $0.58 |
| Computer Wire | $0.37 – $0.41 |
| Christmas Lights | $0.17 – $0.19 |
Prices of Scrap Aluminum
| Aluminium Wire Clean | $0.6 – $0.66 |
| Aluminium Rims | $0.53 – $0.59 |
| Aluminium Siding | $0.4 – $0.44 |
| Cast Aluminium | $0.33 – $0.36 |
| Sheet Aluminium | $0.33 – $0.37 |
| Aluminium Turnings | $0.25 – $0.27 |
| Dirty Aluminium (Irony) | $0.11 – $0.12 |
| Aluminium Transformers | $0.05 – $0.05 |
Prices of Scrap Brass
| Red Brass | $1.69 – $1.87 |
| Yellow Brass | $1.68 – $1.85 |
| Brass Radiators | $1.54 – $1.7 |
| Dirty Brass Faucets | $0.49 – $0.54 |
Prices of Scrap Catalytic converter
| XL Foreign Cat | $382.35 – $422.6 |
| Large Foreign Cat | $212.55 – $234.93 |
| Medium Foreign Cat | $160.06 – $176.9 |
| Small Foreign Cat | $103.56 – $114.46 |
| Foreign Pre-Cat | $52.57 – $58.1 |
| High Grade Domestic Cat | $160.07 – $176.93 |
| Regular Domestic Cat | $83.33 – $92.11 |
| Small Domestic Cat | $57.43 – $63.47 |
| Pre-Domestic Cat | $38.47 – $42.52 |
| Large GM Cat | $186.82 – $206.48 |
Prices of Scrap Iron
| Cast Iron | $0.1 – $0.11 |
| Light Iron | $0.05 – $0.05 |
Prices of scarp steel
| 316 Stainless Steel | $0.51 – $0.57 |
| 304 Stainless Steel | $0.42 – $0.46 |
Prices of scrap lead
| Lead | $0.51 – $0.56 |
| Lead Wheel Weights | $0.09 – $0.09 |
Guidelines to Sell scrap metal in California
There are certain guidelines that should be followed by those who want to sale scrap metal in California.
Documents to keep in hand while selling Scrap metal
The Scrap metal dealer should keep the following information in his records:
If you are a California resident and want to sell your metal at a scrap yard outside your city or state then you will need a valid ID from your local government that shows that you’re allowed to do so legally. Also remember that it’s illegal to sell scrap metal to a business that is not registered with the state of California.
Places to Sell Scrap metal in California
Conclusion
The prices of scrap metals have been going up recently, and this is likely to continue as demand for these metals increases. This has caused problems for recyclers and manufacturers who use these metals, as their costs have also increased.
While the prices of metals will eventually come down, it could take a while for this to happen. In the meantime, consumers can expect to see higher prices for goods that are made with these metals.
