The price you get for scrap metal depends on three things: what it is, how clean it is, and how much you have. You control two of those three.
Sort by type
Mixed metal is always priced lower than sorted. A pile of mixed steel and aluminium might fetch €0.10–0.20/kg. The same metals sorted could be worth €0.50/kg for the steel and €1.20/kg for the aluminium. Sorting takes minutes and can double or triple what you get.
Clean means valuable
"Clean" in scrap means free of contaminants — no plastic, rubber, oil, concrete, or other metals attached. Bright copper wire (stripped of insulation) is worth more than the same wire with insulation on. Clean aluminium extrusions are worth more than painted or anodised ones. Removing non-metal attachments is the single most effective way to increase your payout.
Volume matters
Yards pay more per kilo for larger quantities because handling costs are spread over more material. 100 kg of copper will get a better per-kg price than 10 kg. If you have small amounts, consider accumulating until you have a meaningful volume, or team up with a neighbour.
Know the market price
Scrap metal prices track commodity exchanges — LME for non-ferrous, and regional indices for ferrous. Prices move weekly. Knowing the current market price for your material gives you a baseline to negotiate from. European Scrap Market shows reference prices per material class.
Timing
Prices fluctuate. If you can hold your scrap for a week or two, check the trend. But don't hold too long — storage has costs too, and metal can degrade if left outside.
Get multiple quotes
Submit your scrap to the European Scrap Market network and you get bids from multiple verified yards. Comparing offers is the simplest way to ensure you get a fair price.