Christmas is a season of celebration, joy, and, yes, plenty of gift-giving. But along with the decorations, festive meals, and family gatherings, Christmas also creates an excellent opportunity for individuals to earn some extra cash by collecting scrap metal. Many households are already cleaning, redecorating, or upgrading their appliances during the holiday season, which means scrap metal is abundant and ready for collection.
Whether you’re a seasoned scrap metal seller or someone looking to make a little extra money this Christmas, there are certain items to focus on that can provide you with a decent profit. Here’s a guide to the top 6 scrap metal items you should be on the lookout for during the holiday season, along with tips on how to maximise your earnings.
1. Christmas Lights and Decorations
Why They’re Profitable:
Old, broken, or unwanted Christmas lights are more than just a festive waste. They are typically made of copper wiring, which is one of the most valuable scrap metals you can find in scrap metal. Christmas lights, especially older ones, have a high copper content, making them an ideal candidate for scrap.
How to Collect:
As families begin to take down their holiday decorations, old strands of Christmas lights are often tossed aside. Check around homes, community areas, or your own decorations for broken or unused strings of lights. Additionally, some artificial Christmas trees come with metal frames that can also be scrapped for valuable metal content.
What to Do:
Sort the wires from the plastic coatings (as scrap yards generally pay more for stripped copper), and ensure that the lights are completely decommissioned before selling them. If the lights still work, some thrift stores or community centers might even take them off your hands for donation purposes, but as a metal recycler, your focus will be on the copper wiring.
What to Expect for Earnings:
Copper is one of the most valuable metals in the scrap business. While prices can fluctuate, expect to receive a solid return for your copper wiring. The better the condition of the wires, the more you will make.
2. Old Appliances
Why They’re Profitable:
The holiday season often sparks appliance upgrades, especially when people are buying new gadgets or home goods as gifts. If you’re renovating or replacing old kitchen appliances like microwaves, refrigerators, or toasters, these items can be sold for scrap metal. Appliances contain valuable metals like steel, aluminum, copper, and sometimes even brass.
How to Collect:
Look for appliances that people might be tossing out as they clear up for Christmas. Sometimes, friends or neighbors may have old items they no longer need. You might also find old appliances in e-waste disposal bins or scrap yards that give away things you can recycle for a profit.
What to Do:
Before heading to the scrap yard, ensure you remove any non-metal parts like plastic, glass, or rubber. The more pure the metal in the appliance, the more you will earn. Scrapping large items like refrigerators or dishwashers can yield a large amount of steel, while smaller items can provide good quantities of copper and aluminum.
What to Expect for Earnings:
Depending on the type of appliance and the materials inside, you can expect to earn anywhere from $10 to $50 or more per item. If you’re able to collect multiple appliances, you can build a profitable venture from this alone.
3. Scrap Aluminum Cans
Why They’re Profitable:
Aluminum is one of the most easily recyclable metals and is in high demand. During Christmas parties, holiday gatherings, and family celebrations, cans of soda, beer, and other beverages are consumed in high numbers. Many of these aluminum cans are left behind, making it the perfect time to collect.
How to Collect:
Aluminum cans are commonly thrown away during and after holiday events. Collect cans from your home, family gatherings, or even neighborhood cleanups after Christmas parties. Many people don’t think about collecting cans, which makes it an easy win for you.
What to Do:
Crush the cans to save space and avoid having them pile up in your garage or backyard. Sort them out from other waste before taking them to the scrap yard. Although it’s not required, you may want to clean the cans to ensure they’re worth more.
What to Expect for Earnings:
Aluminum cans are often sold by the pound, and while individual cans don’t fetch much, when collected in bulk, they can generate significant returns. Expect to earn around 30 to 50 cents per pound, depending on your location.
4. Old Copper Wiring and Pipes
Why They’re Profitable:
Copper is one of the most valuable metals on the scrap market. Scrap copper wire can be found in abundance during renovations or when people are upgrading their heating, plumbing, or electrical systems. Whether it’s copper plumbing pipes, old electrical wires, or even discarded electronics, copper is a great metal to collect.
How to Collect:
If you’re doing any home improvement projects or know someone who is, ask if they have any leftover copper piping or electrical wiring. Many homes are also replacing old plumbing and electrical systems during the holidays to ensure everything is in good shape for the coming year. Additionally, discarded electronics like old televisions or computers can contain copper wiring.
What to Do:
Stripping the wire of its insulation (called “scrap wire stripping”) can boost the price you’ll get per pound. Copper prices vary, but it is generally considered a top-dollar metal in the scrap world, especially if the wires are clean and free of coatings.
What to Expect for Earnings:
Expect to earn more for clean, stripped copper than you would for unstripped copper, but even unstripped wire can bring in a decent return. Stripped copper can bring around $3-4 per pound, with some of the highest-quality copper even reaching higher values.
5. Scrap Brass
Why It’s Profitable:
Brass is often found in household fixtures such as doorknobs, plumbing fittings, and even decorative items. Brass is a mix of copper and zinc, and while it’s not as valuable as copper, it still commands a solid price in the scrap market. The good news is, during the holidays, people are frequently replacing older fixtures, providing an excellent opportunity to collect scrap brass.
How to Collect:
Look for discarded brass items, such as old keys, faucets, valves, or hardware parts. Additionally, scrap brass can be found in some older musical instruments, lamps, or other vintage items that are often cleaned out during the Christmas season.
What to Do:
Make sure to clean brass items by removing any non-metal parts (plastic, rubber, or paint). Some scrap yards may offer a premium for clean brass items that are free of contaminants.
What to Expect for Earnings:
Brass is typically sold by the pound, with a price range between $1.50 and $3.00 per pound. It may not be as profitable as copper, but when combined with other metals, it can add up.
6. Scrap Metal from Broken or Outdated Furniture
Why It’s Profitable:
Many people use the holiday season to do some home renovations or clear out their living spaces. Old, broken, or outdated furniture can sometimes end up being scrapped for its metal components. Items like old metal bed frames, furniture legs, and even metal shelves can all be valuable sources of scrap metal.
How to Collect:
While cleaning up after Christmas, people often get rid of their old furniture to make room for new gifts. Check local classified ads or community groups for furniture that’s being given away. You can often find metal pieces that are easily removed for scrapping.
What to Do:
Be sure to break down the furniture into its components and remove any plastic, fabric, or other non-metal materials. The metal components, particularly steel or aluminum, can be worth a decent amount when sold as scrap.
What to Expect for Earnings:
The value of metal from furniture will depend on the type of metal, but expect steel to bring in a low price compared to aluminum or copper. Nonetheless, bulk collections of metal furniture can still result in a reasonable payout.
Final Thoughts:
Christmas is the perfect time to make money from scrap metal, especially since people often clean out their homes and upgrade old appliances, furniture, and decorations. By keeping an eye out for valuable scrap items, you can turn the holiday season into a profitable venture.
When collecting, remember to separate metals, clean them, and check the local scrap yards for any rules regarding what they accept. Always check current market prices for metals, as they can fluctuate depending on supply and demand. With a bit of effort and a keen eye, you’ll be able to make the most of the scrap metal opportunities Christmas presents!
Don’t let your scrap metal pile up! Turn it into cash today by visiting A1 Metal Recycle. Call us now or stop by to get started!
