We receive a lot of questions about how we grade aluminum– and that’s easy to understand, as there are hundreds of different types of aluminum across seven series, each with different alloying elements. It’s a lot to keep straight!
One of the most common categories of aluminum we see in the scrap industry is what will be called “irony aluminum.” This designation means that there are non-aluminum pieces present– what are known as contaminants. A contaminant in this case could be mesh or rubber seating on an aluminum-framed chair, or steel screws and a wooden handle on an aluminum kitchenware pan. Although we use the word "irony," iron/steel are not the only contaminants, and anything from glass or plastic to wood and rubber could be included.
“Old sheet” aluminum refers to another very broad category of aluminum and will encompass many different items– generally speaking, this is aluminum with no contaminants and could include aluminum siding, gutters and downspouts.
Irony aluminum is not as valuable as old sheet / clean aluminum due to the presence of contaminants which complicate the recycling process. This category is priced accordingly, and payouts for irony aluminum are lower than payouts for aluminum without plastic or steel present. So how can you maximize the value of your scrap?
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Always separate your aluminum– keep your clean and contaminated aluminum separate.
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Use a magnet to check. A magnet will not stick to aluminum, but it will stick to steel. Check your items before you arrive– an aluminum downspout will be downgraded if steel screws are still present.
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Remove contaminants. You are welcome to process your metals in advance of your arrival to receive a better payment. For example, aluminum extrusions will pay about 5x more per pound if you take the time to remove plastic or steel attachments, screws, etc.
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Ask for help! Drop by our drive-through recycling center, where we’re happy to help you understand how we’re grading various materials.
Of course, there are many more types of aluminum, and they may all have different payout rates when it comes to scrapping. But generally, the biggest volumes received by a scrap yard will fall into the categories of “irony” or “old sheet” aluminum, so it’s very helpful to understand the difference so you can get the best payout possible for your items.