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Copper
Accepted at 4 locations
Copper is a reddish-brown metal found in electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, and electronics that can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality.
Source: downloads.regulations.gov : EPA Draft National Recycling Strategy (1)
Copper Summary
Also known as: Scrap Copper
Parent material: Scrap Metal
Accepted Locations
Last updated on May 31, 2026 by Green Star GM

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Cut large pieces down to manageable sizes
Don't leave paint, solder, or plastic attached
Don't burn copper wire to remove insulation
Last updated on June 21, 2026 by Green Star GM

Last updated on June 5, 2026 by Green Star GM
About Copper
What it is
Copper in all scrap contributed to about 34% of the U.S. market's demand for refined copper in 2018. This valuable non-ferrous metal is highly recyclable and commonly found in household items like electrical wiring, plumbing fixtures, and appliances. Copper stands out as one of the few materials that can be recycled indefinitely without any degradation in quality, meaning that copper retains its properties, regardless of how many times it is recycled.(2, 4, 8)
How it’s recycled
The preparation process starts with careful sorting to categorize copper scrap based on purity and composition, with recyclers using various techniques to separate copper into distinct grades, from high-purity bare bright copper to lower-grade materials with contaminants. Large pieces of copper scrap are then shredded into smaller, uniform sizes using industrial shredders with powerful cutting blades, creating pieces with consistent dimensions, typically ranging from 1 to 3 inches depending on facility requirements. The waste management industry covers collection, separation, and sorting of a variety of different waste and scrap types, and copper scrap is usually just one of several output streams, while copper smelters and semi fabricators take in the copper scrap and deal with the actual metallurgical recovery.(1, 3, 7)
How to prepare it
Separate your copper by grade and type, with common grades including bare bright copper, No. 1 copper, and No. 2 copper, as sorting your copper helps ensure accurate grading and pricing. Take the time to remove any non-copper attachments or contaminants from your scrap metal, which may include detaching fittings from pipes, or separating other metals or materials from your copper. Strip copper wire to maintain the value of your scrap, as stripping the insulation from copper wire will reduce the amount of time required to process it and can result in your scrap being evaluated as a higher-grade copper.(3, 6, 7)
Common mistakes
Do not burn copper wire – ever, as burning copper wire is illegal in many places, releases toxic fumes and taints your copper, which reduces its value and lowers the efficiency of the recycling process, and is also bad for the environment. Common mistakes also include mixing different grades of copper together, which reduces overall value, and failing to remove non-copper attachments like steel fittings or insulation.(6, 7)
Environmental impact
Copper produced from recycled materials can save up to 85% of the energy needed for mining and extraction. Copper mining and processing generate significant environmental pollution, with open-pit mining disturbing large tracts of land, while smelting operations release sulfur dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Recycling copper reduces the need for energy-intensive mining and helps preserve natural resources.(4, 5, 8)
Sources & additional reading
- EPA Draft National Recycling Strategy downloads.regulations.gov
- Copper Recyclability and Recycling Statistics - The Copper Bath Company copperbathcompany.com
- Copper Recycling Process: Collection, Melting, Purification, and Industrial Applications | Okon Recycling okonrecycling.com
- How Recycled Copper Plays a Pivotal Role in the Energy Transition | World Resources Institute wri.org
- The Environmental Impact of Scrap Copper | Okon Recycling okonrecycling.com
- A Complete Guide To Recycling Your Scrap Copper generalrecycling.com
- Copper Scrap Recycling: A Step-by-Step Guide for Maximum Returns - Inland Steel Products inlandsteelproducts.com
- Recycling - International Copper Association internationalcopper.org
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