If scrap metals had royalty, copper would probably wear the crown. It’s one of the most valuable and versatile metals you’ll find in everyday life, and recycling it is smart—for your wallet, your community, and the planet. In this post, we’ll explore common copper items you can recycle, how much recycled copper is worth, and how Sutter Metals can help you make the most of your copper scrap.
Let’s get started—because your old wires and pipes deserve a comeback.
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Why Copper Recycling Matters
Before we dig into what you can recycle, let’s talk about why copper recycling is so important. Copper is nearly 100% recyclable—you can melt it down and reuse it over and over again without it losing its core properties (no “downcycling” here).
Recycling copper uses far less energy than mining and refining new copper ore. It reduces demand for resource-intensive mining, lowers environmental impact, and helps close the loop in a circular economy. Plus, with rising demand for electric infrastructure, renewable energy, and electronics, recyclable copper is in greater demand than ever.
In the U.S., roughly 32% of the total copper supply comes from recycled sources (as of recent data) — so your scrap truly contributes to the national copper ecosystem. But the more people recycle, the higher that number will get, and the better off our planet will be.
Common Copper Items You Can Recycle
You might be surprised how many things in your home or garage contain copper. Here are some everyday examples, so you can start hunting in your closets and drawers.
- Copper wire and cables — stripped bare wire, insulated wire (which can often be stripped), Romex, THHN, and older wiring
- Copper plumbing tubes and pipe — from plumbing work, air conditioners, refrigeration lines
- Copper gutters, downspouts, flashing, and roofing materials
- Copper tubing from gas lines or HVAC systems
- Copper heat exchanger cores, copper coils, and radiators (though many of these come with mixed metals, which may lower value)
- Copper components inside motors, transformers, and electrical devices
- Copper connectors, bus bars, and copper sheet or plate
When you bring in these items, the value depends on how “clean” and pure the copper is—in other words, how free of insulation, solder, coatings, or mixed metals it is.
Copper Recycling Prices: How Much Is Recycled Copper Worth?
Copper is one of the top-paying non-ferrous metals, and those prices fluctuate. It’s always worth recycling your copper to save it from the landfill. But some types of copper can actually fetch you decent cash, too.
Bare bright copper wire (the cleanest, uncoated, no insulation) and #1 copper (clean tubing, bus bars, etc.) typically gets the best recycling price. #2 or mixed copper (insulated, slightly tarnished, or lower grade) is slightly less valuable. Insulated copper wire or communication wire (with plastic jackets still on) will probably bring the lowest copper recycling prices.
Of course, the specific price at your local scrap yard (including Sutter Metals) depends on market conditions that week, volume, and how clean your scrap is. Always call ahead to get a current quote.
For construction and electrician companies that end up with a lot of scrap copper, recycling it can add up to impressive payouts. But anyone can and should recycle copper, even if it’s just a small haul from their garage. That old spool of wire from a remodel? That rusted copper downspout? Don’t toss it—turn it in.
Tips for Recycling Copper (and Maximizing Value)
Here are some tricks to get more from your copper recycling:
- Strip the insulation when possible. Clean, bare copper wires (without plastic coating) command better rates.
- Separate your copper types. Don’t mix bare bright wire with insulated wire or mixed metals.
- Remove non-metal attachments. Nuts, bolts, solder, paint, or other metals lower the purity.
- Bundle or group like items. Larger quantities and clean bundles are easier to process and may get better rates.
- Clean off grime. A quick wipe to remove heavy dirt or grease helps.
- Watch market trends. Copper prices change daily. If prices are high and you have a haul ready, it might be worth timing your drop-off.
By prepping your copper, you help the recycling facility, reduce sorting time, and may even get paid more.
Why Recycle Copper (Beyond the Cash)
- Energy savings: Recycling copper uses much less energy than mining and refining new ore—some estimates suggest up to 90% energy savings compared to primary production.
- Conservation: The more copper we reuse, the less we need to strip new deposits from the earth, reducing disruption, habitat loss, and pollution.
- Circular economy support: Recycled copper helps feed the demand in wiring, electronics, renewable energy infrastructure (like solar panels), and more.
- Waste reduction: Copper doesn’t break down in landfills; recycling keeps it in use and out of the trash pile.
Recycle Copper with Sutter Metals
At Sutter Metals, copper recycling is one of our core services. Whether you’ve got bare bright wire, copper tubing, or mixed copper scrap, we’re ready to help you turn that scrap into cash and keep valuable metal in the recycling loop.
We serve customers throughout the Puget Sound area with facilities in Tacoma, Lacey, and Centralia. We even offer hauling services for those who need help moving junk vehicles or large quantities of scrap.
If you’re using scrap metal recycling to recoup some cash, Sutter Metals is the place to go. We stay current with market trends and offer competitive copper recycling prices. Our team will inspect, grade, and pay fairly based on the purity and quality of your copper.
And, we’re always here to help. Unsure what grade your copper is or how to prep it? Our staff will help you sort and clean for maximum value. You can always give us a phone call with questions or concerns.
When you bring in copper, we process it responsibly, turning it into raw material for manufacturers and systems. Your scrap becomes part of the next generation of wires, pipes, coils, and electronics.
Bring Your Copper Scrap Today
Copper is one of the most valuable metals you probably have lying around, hiding in wires, pipes, gutters, and appliances. Through copper recycling, you can not only clear out clutter but also earn some extra cash and help reduce environmental harm.
Whether you’re cleaning out a renovated wall, ripping out old wiring, or collecting bits of copper tubing, bring it to Sutter Metals. We’re here to make recycling copper easier, more profitable, and more sustainable for you.
Want help identifying your scrap, estimating value, or prepping it for drop-off? Just reach out—we love geeking out over copper, and we’re always happy to help.