Copper scrap is any copper-containing material that has reached the end of its useful life or is generated during manufacturing, construction, demolition, electrical work, plumbing or industrial production. Instead of being discarded, it is collected, sorted, processed and recycled into new copper products. Copper is one of the most valuable recyclable metals because it keeps its electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance even after repeated recycling.
Key properties:
Major industries using copper: electrical & power distribution, construction, automotive, electronics, telecommunications, renewable energy, marine and manufacturing.
What the material physically is.
The highest-quality, highest-value everyday copper scrap: clean, bright, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire with no insulation, paint, solder or oxidation.
Sources: Electrical wiring, cable manufacturers, contractors, building rewiring, industrial wiring.
Note: 99%+ copper
Clean unalloyed copper free of excessive oxidation, paint, insulation or attachments — does not have to be wire.
Sources: Copper pipe, tube, busbars, thick plate, heavy sections.
Note: ~99% copper
Copper with light contamination such as solder, paint, tarnish, oxidation or minor attachments.
Sources: Old plumbing, roofing copper, fabrication scrap, used industrial equipment.
Note: Darker, solder/oxidation allowed
Copper pipe and tube recovered from plumbing, heating, refrigeration and HVAC; hollow, high copper content, easy to recycle.
Sources: Residential plumbing, commercial buildings, refrigeration, AC units.
Electrical wiring from residential, commercial and industrial installations.
Sources: Bare wire, insulated wire, communication cable, automotive wiring.
Power and communication cables containing copper conductors.
Sources: Twin & Earth, single core, SWA (steel wire armoured), underground, flexible cable.
Note: Sold on copper recovery
Solid copper bars used to distribute electricity in switchboards and substations.
Sources: Thick, heavy, high purity, excellent conductivity.
Small copper particles produced after processing and granulating insulated cable.
Sources: Used in smelting, alloy production and copper refining.
Copper windings recovered from electric motors.
Sources: Industrial motors, pumps, compressors, machinery.
Note: Value depends on copper recovery vs steel/aluminium
Copper recovered from electrical transformers.
Sources: Utilities, industrial plants, renewable energy installations.
Radiators made from copper and brass, common in older vehicles and industrial equipment.
Sources: May contain brass tanks, steel brackets and solder.
Copper windings and armatures removed from motors and generators.
Sources: Motor and generator recycling.
A mixture of copper products not sorted into separate grades — mixed purity and form, lower value than clean segregated copper.
Sources: All copper sources combined.
Note: Requires sorting
Copper trading combines common market names with ISRI specifications. A product only qualifies for an ISRI grade when it meets the detailed requirements for contamination, dimensions and preparation.
| Trading Grade | Typical Material |
|---|---|
| Bare Bright | Clean, bright uncoated copper wire |
| No.1 Copper | Clean heavy copper pipe, busbars, solids |
| No.2 Copper | Copper with solder, paint or oxidation |
| Berry | High-quality prepared copper wire meeting specification |
| Candy | Prepared heavy No.1 copper meeting specification |
| Product Category | Trading Grade (if prepared to spec) |
|---|---|
| Bare Copper Wire | Bare Bright / Berry |
| Copper Pipe & Busbar | No.1 Copper / Candy |
| Copper with Solder or Paint | No.2 Copper |
| Insulated Copper Cable | Usually sold by recovery % rather than as Bare Bright |
| Mixed Copper | Requires sorting before qualifying for a higher grade |
| Type | Colour | Magnet Test | Typical Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Bright | Bright orange-red | Non-magnetic | Highest |
| No.1 Copper | Clean reddish-brown | Non-magnetic | High |
| No.2 Copper | Dark brown / oxidised | Non-magnetic | Medium |
| Copper Cable | Plastic-covered | Usually non-magnetic | Depends on copper recovery |
| Mixed Copper | Mixed appearance | Varies with attachments | Lower |
No. Bare Bright refers specifically to clean, bright, uncoated wire. No.1 Copper includes other clean copper forms such as pipe and busbars.
Yes. Buyers pay based on the recoverable copper content, so insulated cable generally sells for less than clean bare copper.
Because solder, paint, tarnish and oxidation increase processing costs and reduce the amount of immediately usable copper.
To classify copper correctly, ask three questions:
1. What is the material? (wire, pipe, cable, motor, radiator)
2. How clean is it? (bare, insulated, soldered, painted, oxidised)
3. Is it prepared to a recognised trading spec? (Bare Bright, Berry, Candy)
We pay top, transparent prices for every grade — from bare bright to insulated cable. Get a quote today.
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