If you’ve ever tipped a mixed load onto the scales at a scrap yard and walked away with less cash than expected, sorting — not price gouging — was likely the problem. Scrap yards pay by metal type, and every kilogram of copper mixed in with steel gets valued at the lowest rate in the pile. A bit of sorting before you arrive can be the difference between a disappointing payout and top dollar for your load.
Why Sorting Matters
Copper, brass, and stainless steel are worth far more per kilogram than ferrous metals like steel and cast iron. Mix them and most yards will either price the whole load at the lowest rate present, or spend time separating it for you, which slows your payout. Ten minutes of sorting at home is often worth more per hour than most side jobs.
Steps To Sort Scrap Metal Are:
Step 1: Split Ferrous from Non-Ferrous
Grab a fridge magnet. If it sticks, the metal is ferrous — steel, iron, structural offcuts, old machinery frames. It’s valuable in bulk but priced much lower per kilo. If it doesn’t stick, you’re likely holding copper, aluminium, or brass — set these aside in their own pile, since this is where the real value sits.
Step 2: Separate Copper by Type
- Bare bright copper — clean, unpainted wire with no insulation. Highest price.
- Insulated copper wire — worth less due to the non-metal weight.
- Copper pipe — keep separate from wire and remove attached brass fittings.
Stripping insulation with a proper wire stripper (never by burning, which is illegal) bumps wire into the top-paying bare bright category. See our guide on separating clean vs. insulated copper wire, and check our copper scrap page for accepted types.
Step 3: Don’t Lump Brass in With Copper
Brass and copper look similar once dirty, but they’re priced differently. Copper has a reddish-orange tone; brass leans yellow-gold. Common brass scrap items include taps, fittings, and valves. A light scratch test reveals the true colour underneath — keep brass in its own pile rather than guessing. For more details, read our copper scrap vs brass scrap guide.
Step 4: Check Aluminium for Grade
Sort into clean aluminium (sheet, extrusions, offcuts), cast aluminium (engine blocks, housings), and cans, which are usually weighed separately. Remove steel brackets or screws where possible, as contaminated aluminium is discounted. See current rates on our aluminium scrap page or our aluminium pricing guide.
Step 5: Handle Stainless Steel Correctly
Some stainless grades are magnetic, so the magnet test isn’t foolproof here. If you know an item is stainless — commercial kitchen gear, sinks, certain fittings — set it aside regardless of the magnet result. Mixed in with regular steel, it gets priced at the much lower ferrous rate. More on our stainless steel scrap page.
Step 6: Keep Batteries and E-Waste Separate
Car batteries and e-waste need different handling and pricing, so bring these as their own clearly separated load rather than mixing them with general metal.
Quick Pre-Sort Checklist
- Pull magnetic (ferrous) items into their own pile
- Separate bare bright copper from insulated wire
- Keep brass apart from copper
- Split clean aluminium, cast aluminium, and cans
- Set stainless steel aside, even if unsure of the magnet test
- Box batteries and e-waste separately
Bring Your Sorted Load to Universal Scrap Metal in Cannington
Sorting takes a little extra effort but consistently earns a better rate per kilo and speeds up your visit. We offer live-market pricing, honest weighing, and same-day cash payouts on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, batteries, e-waste, and catalytic converters — no middleman, no hidden fees. Not sure what’s accepted? Check our guide on what you can and can’t bring to a scrap metal yard, or see our services for tradies for larger volumes.
FAQs
- Does sorting scrap metal really make a noticeable difference in price?
Yes. Unsorted loads are often priced at the rate of the lowest-value metal present, so separating copper, brass, and aluminium from steel before you arrive can significantly increase your payout. - What’s the easiest way to tell ferrous from non-ferrous metal?
Use a fridge magnet. If it sticks, the metal is ferrous (steel, iron); if it doesn’t, it’s likely a higher-value non-ferrous metal like copper, brass, or aluminium. - Is it worth stripping insulation off copper wire before selling it?
Yes, if done safely with a wire stripper. Bare bright copper (no insulation) is priced higher than insulated wire. Never burn the insulation off, as it’s illegal and unsafe. - How can I tell copper and brass apart if they both look tarnished?
A light scratch on the surface helps: copper reveals a reddish-orange colour underneath, while brass shows a more yellow-gold tone. - Can I bring mixed, unsorted scrap to Universal Scrap Metal anyway?
Yes, we accept mixed loads, but sorting beforehand gets you a fairer price per metal type and a faster payout, since our team won’t need to separate everything on the spot.
Drop by 46 Hogarth Street, Cannington, WA, or get in touch via WhatsApp to check what your load is worth.