Most people leaving a scrap yard think they got a fair price. Some of them did. A lot of them didn't — because they showed up without knowing what they had. If you're in Saint John or anywhere else in New Brunswick hauling mixed metal to the yard, the difference between knowing your materials and guessing can add up fast. This guide breaks down the most profitable types of scrap metal to collect, what makes them valuable, and how platforms like SMASH help you get competitive bids for your scrap in Canada instead of just taking whatever one buyer offers.
Why Not All Scrap Metal Pays the Same
Scrap metal gets priced on two things: how abundant it is and how much energy it takes to recycle it. Steel is everywhere and cheap to process. Copper is rarer, harder to extract from ore, and in constant industrial demand — so it pays more. Understanding this hierarchy is the foundation of profitable scrapping.
Non-ferrous metals (those without significant iron content) almost always outpay ferrous metals (steel, iron). That's not an opinion — it's basic metallurgy and market economics. If you want to sell your scrap metal in Canada on GetMyScrap for the best return, you need to sort your loads. Mixed loads get priced at the lowest common denominator. Clean, sorted loads get the material's actual value.
- Ferrous metals: Steel, iron, cast iron — measured in gross tons, lower per-pound value
- Non-ferrous metals: Copper, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, lead — measured in pounds, significantly higher per-pound value
- Specialty materials: Catalytic converters, circuit boards, high-temperature alloys — value varies wildly based on content verification
The goal isn't to ignore ferrous metal — volume adds up. The goal is to know what you have and separate it before you show up at the yard.
Copper: Still the King of Scrap Metal Recycling in Canada
If you find copper, you've found money. Full stop. Bare bright copper wire — clean, uncoated, unalloyed — sits at the top of nearly every scrap price sheet in Canada. Insulated wire, pipe, and sheet copper all pay less than bare bright, but they're still among the highest-value materials you'll handle. For anyone looking to sell scrap metal in Saint John, copper from old plumbing, electrical work, or HVAC systems is worth stripping and sorting before you sell.
The grades matter more than most sellers realize. Here's a quick breakdown:
- Bare bright copper: Clean, uncoated, unalloyed wire — top dollar per pound
- #1 copper: Clean copper pipe or wire, may have fittings, no insulation
- #2 copper: Pipe with solder, slightly oxidized wire, mixed copper goods
- Insulated copper wire: Priced on estimated copper recovery percentage — lower per pound, but still worthwhile in volume
Stripping wire before you sell it takes time. Whether it's worth your time depends on volume and current spread between insulated and bare bright. The bigger the gap, the more stripping pays off. Market prices fluctuate — always check current rates before making that call.
Disclaimer: Copper scrap prices change daily based on global commodity markets. Prices mentioned here are general guidance only. Always verify current rates before selling.
Aluminum: High Volume, Consistent Returns
Aluminum doesn't pay what copper does per pound — but it's everywhere, it's light to handle, and it recycles efficiently. That combination makes it one of the most practical materials for consistent scrap income. In Saint John and across New Brunswick, aluminum shows up in construction waste, automotive parts, window frames, siding, and every empty can in the province.
Like copper, aluminum has grades. And like copper, mixing grades costs you money.
- Cast aluminum: Engine blocks, transmission housings, wheels — dense, often dirty
- Sheet aluminum (clean): Siding, flashing, gutters — lighter, pays well when clean
- Extrusion aluminum: Window and door frames, structural pieces — recognizable by uniform profile
- Aluminum cans: Low per-pound value but very high-volume potential for depots
- Irony aluminum: Aluminum contaminated with steel — lower price per pound, often requires sorting
The aluminum scrap price today depends on LME (London Metal Exchange) aluminum prices, local demand, and purity. Automotive recyclers and demolition contractors in New Brunswick generate significant aluminum volume — if you're sourcing from those industries, segregating your aluminum before it's mixed with steel is one of the simplest ways to improve your return. Explore Canadian scrap metal guides for more detail on sorting best practices.
Catalytic Converters: The Most Misunderstood Category in Scrap
Catalytic converters are the most polarizing material in the scrap industry. They can be worth a few dollars or several hundred — and most sellers have no idea which end of that range they're on when they hand one over. The value isn't in the steel shell. It's in the precious metals locked inside the ceramic substrate: platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
Those three metals have serious market value. The problem is that prices move fast, converters vary enormously by vehicle make and model, and buyers who aren't transparent will offer flat, lowball rates to maximize their margin. If you're selling cats out of Saint John — whether from an auto salvage operation or a single vehicle — you want a buyer who verifies the serial number, references accurate assay data, and bids competitively.
This is exactly where platforms like SMASH change the math. Instead of one buyer naming a number you can't verify, SMASH puts your cats in front of vetted buyers who compete for them. The inventory tool supports serial number tracking and photo documentation — which gives buyers confidence and sellers transparency. That's not a minor upgrade from the old way. It's a completely different outcome.
Key things to know about catalytic converter scrap:
- Foiled (hollowed out) converters have near-zero value — buyers check
- Serial numbers help identify make, model, and expected precious metal content
- OEM converters generally outperform aftermarket converters
- Volume matters — a single cat may attract less competition than a sorted lot of 20+
- Documentation protects you — photo evidence of intact units builds buyer trust
Brass, Stainless Steel, and Other Non-Ferrous Metals Worth Knowing
Copper and aluminum get most of the attention, but experienced scrappers don't walk past brass, stainless, or lead. These materials show up in plumbing fixtures, industrial fittings, marine hardware, and food processing equipment — and they pay well when clean and sorted.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It shows up in valves, fittings, musical instruments, ammunition casings, and decorative hardware. It's heavier than it looks and pays a solid rate — not copper territory, but significantly above steel. Red brass (higher copper content) pays more than yellow brass.
Stainless steel is where a lot of scrappers leave money on the table. Many treat it like regular steel. It isn't. Stainless has nickel content, and nickel has value. Food service equipment, medical devices, and industrial tanks often come in stainless. Verify the grade with a magnet (300-series stainless is non-magnetic) and separate it from your regular steel before you sell.
Lead comes from old pipes, wheel weights, and battery plates. It's dense, it pays, and it's tightly regulated — especially from batteries. Handle it properly, disclose it accurately, and make sure your buyer is licensed to take it.
If you want to get a fair price for your scrap today, sorting these materials from your steel before you sell is non-negotiable. The extra few minutes of separation pays for itself quickly.
How to Build a More Profitable Scrap Habit — Anywhere in Canada
Profitable scrapping isn't about luck. It's about system. Whether you're an individual cleaning out a property in Saint John or a demolition crew working across New Brunswick, the same principles apply: know your materials, keep them clean, document what you have, and sell into competition rather than to a single buyer.
Here's a practical framework:
- Sort at the source. Don't mix copper with aluminum, or non-ferrous with steel. Sorting later takes twice as long.
- Clean your metal. Remove insulation, fittings, and attachments where it's practical and cost-effective to do so.
- Document loads. Photos and weights before you sell protect you if there's a dispute and give buyers more confidence in your material.
- Research current prices. Commodity markets move daily. A quick check before you sell is worth doing.
- Use competitive platforms. One buyer, one offer is a ceiling. Multiple vetted buyers competing is a market.
Scrap metal recycling in Canada has matured significantly. Buyers are more sophisticated. Pricing tools are more accessible. And platforms designed specifically for scrap — like SMASH — have made it possible for sellers to stop guessing and start transacting with real market data behind them. The sellers who adapt to that reality earn more. The sellers who keep calling the same buyer and accepting the first number leave money behind every time.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start selling smarter, Saint John scrap metal services through GetMyScrap make it straightforward to connect with buyers who compete for your material. Get a fair price for your scrap metal in Canada — request a pickup at getmyscrap.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the most valuable scrap metal I can sell in Saint John?
Bare bright copper wire consistently sits at the top of scrap price sheets in Canada. Catalytic converters can also be extremely valuable depending on the make and model of the vehicle — the precious metals inside (platinum, palladium, rhodium) drive the price. After copper and cats, clean aluminum, brass, and stainless steel round out the high-value materials most sellers encounter.
Q: How do I know if I'm getting a fair price for my scrap aluminum or copper?
The best protection is information and competition. Check commodity price indexes for a general benchmark, know the grade of material you have, and don't rely on a single buyer's offer. Platforms like SMASH put your material in front of multiple vetted buyers so the market sets the price — not one person's margin.
Q: Do I need to sort my scrap before selling in New Brunswick?
You don't have to — but it will almost certainly cost you money if you don't. Mixed loads are priced at the lowest-value material in the mix. Separating your copper, aluminum, and steel before you sell typically means a meaningfully higher payout. Even basic sorting takes less time than most sellers expect.
Q: Can I sell catalytic converters in Saint John?
Yes. Catalytic converters are a legal and valuable scrap material. The key is finding a buyer who uses serial number verification and transparent pricing rather than flat-rate lowball offers. Documentation — photos, serial numbers, vehicle information — protects you and increases buyer confidence, especially when selling larger lots.
Q: How often do scrap metal prices change in Canada?
Scrap metal prices move daily, sometimes significantly. Copper, aluminum, and precious metals (in catalytic converters) are all tied to global commodity markets that trade continuously. Always check current prices before selling a large load — a week's difference in timing can have a real impact on your return.
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