Separate by metal
One bin per metal — copper, brass, aluminum, steel. A mixed bucket gets paid at the lowest metal in it.
Materials we accept
If it's metal, we probably buy it. Here's what pays, what doesn't, and how to tell the difference before you load the truck.
The magnet test
The single most useful thing to know before you scrap.
If a magnet sticks, it's ferrous — steel, iron, cast iron. Ferrous metal is priced by the ton because it's plentiful and heavy.
If a magnet doesn't stick, it's non-ferrous — copper, brass, aluminum, most stainless, lead. Non-ferrous is priced by the pound and pays many times more.
Keep the two piles apart. Non-ferrous items mixed into a steel load get paid at the steel rate.
Any fridge magnet works
Test a spot that's clean of paint. Some stainless is slightly magnetic — if you're unsure, bring it and we'll grade it at the scale.
What we buy
Grouped the way we sort them in the yard. See today's prices for current rates.
Non-ferrous
- Copper
Pipe, wire, bus bar, roofing, transformers - Brass
Faucets, valves, fittings, shell casings, keys - Aluminum
Cans, siding, windows, rims, extrusion, cast - Stainless steel
Sinks, restaurant equipment, tanks - Lead
Wheel weights, pipe, flashing, sheet
Ferrous
- Steel
Structural, sheet, rebar, fencing, tools - Appliances
Washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, dishwashers - Cast iron
Tubs, radiators, engine blocks, cookware - Auto parts
Body panels, frames, brake rotors, exhaust
Specialty
- Lead-acid batteries
Car, truck, marine, forklift - Electric motors
Any size, whole units - Catalytic converters
Priced per unit — proof of vehicle ownership required - Insulated wire & cable
Romex, THHN, extension cords, harnesses - Radiators & AC units
Freon must be professionally evacuated first
What we can't take
Some items are hazardous, regulated, or simply not metal. Please leave these at home — they hold up the line and we'll have to turn them away.
- Sealed or pressurized containers — propane tanks, fire extinguishers, aerosol cans, oxygen cylinders
- Appliances with refrigerant still in them — fridges, freezers, AC units and dehumidifiers need a certified freon-removal tag
- Hazardous materials — asbestos, mercury switches, PCB ballasts, radioactive sources, medical waste
- Containers with liquids — drums, oil tanks, or gas tanks that haven't been drained and cut open
- Regulated public property — manhole covers, street signs, guard rails, utility wire, beer kegs, shopping carts, grave markers
- Non-metal waste — wood, drywall, tires, glass, plastic, household trash
Not sure? Ask before you load it
Call (630) 839-9300 or send a photo through the quote form. We'd rather answer a question than turn away a full truck.
How to sort your scrap for the best price
Grading is where the money is. Every one of these takes minutes and moves you up a grade.
Strip heavy wire
Bare copper pays roughly double what insulated wire does. Worth stripping anything thicker than a pencil; skip the thin stuff.
Remove attachments
Steel bolts on brass fittings, plastic on aluminum windows, rubber on wire — anything that isn't the metal drops the grade.
Keep copper clean
Bright, unoxidized copper with no solder is #1. Painted, soldered, or tarnished drops to #2. Don't burn insulation off — burnt wire is graded down and it's illegal.
Drain everything
Engines, compressors, tanks, and lawn equipment must be free of oil, gas, and coolant. We can't accept them otherwise.
Know your aluminum
Cans, extrusion (window frames), cast (engine parts), and sheet (siding) are all priced differently. Bag cans separately.
Illinois ID requirements
The Illinois Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law applies to every scrap sale in the state.
For each transaction we are required to record your name, address, and ID number; photograph the material and the seller; note the vehicle and plate used to deliver it; and keep those records available to law enforcement. You'll sign a statement that you own the material or have permission to sell it.
Sellers must be at least 18. Certain items — catalytic converters, air-conditioning coils, utility wire, and similar — require proof of ownership on top of ID.
Accepted forms of ID
- Illinois driver's license or state ID
- Any US state driver's license or ID
- US passport or passport card
- US military ID
- Permanent resident card
ID must be current, unexpired, and include a photo. Photocopies and phone photos of an ID aren't accepted.
Loaded up and sorted?
Check the board before you leave so you know what to expect at the scale.