Quick Verdict
Scrap metal yards pay you for items with significant metal content -- old appliances, car parts, copper pipe, aluminum, and steel. But the payout is usually modest for most household items, and you have to transport everything yourself. For items with low metal content, mixed materials, or non-metal junk, calling a junk removal service is faster and easier. The best approach is to separate high-value scrap from general junk and handle each appropriately.
You are cleaning out a garage or shed and find a pile of old metal -- a broken washing machine, some copper pipe left over from a plumbing project, a rusty weight bench, aluminum lawn chairs. Before calling junk removal, a question pops into your head: could I actually get paid for this stuff?
The answer is sometimes yes. Scrap metal yards across Oregon buy ferrous and non-ferrous metals by the pound. But the reality of what they pay versus the effort involved often surprises people. This guide helps you figure out which items are genuinely worth the trip to the scrap yard and which ones you should just have hauled away.
How Scrap Metal Yards Work
Scrap yards buy metal by weight. You drive in with your items, they weigh them, assess the type and purity of the metal, and pay you based on current market prices. Most Oregon scrap yards require a valid ID for transactions, and some have minimum load requirements.
The Process
Sort your metal by type if possible (copper, aluminum, steel, etc.)
Remove non-metal components when practical (plastic, rubber, fabric)
Load everything into your vehicle
Drive to the scrap yard -- weigh in at the scale
Unload (you do the unloading at most yards)
Weigh out and get paid, usually cash or check
What Scrap Metal Actually Pays in Oregon
Prices fluctuate with commodity markets, but the relative order is fairly stable:
| Metal Type | Relative value per pound | Common Household Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Copper (bare bright) | Highest | Plumbing pipe, electrical wire (stripped) |
| Copper (insulated wire) | High | Extension cords, appliance wiring |
| Aluminum (clean) | Low to moderate | Cans, lawn chairs, gutters, window frames |
| Brass | High | Faucets, door hardware, plumbing fittings |
| Stainless steel | Low | Sinks, appliance parts, cookware |
| Steel / iron (ferrous) | Lowest | Appliances, bed frames, tools, exercise equipment |
| Cast iron | Lowest | Bathtubs, radiators, engine blocks |
Realistic Household Payouts
| Item | Approximate Weight | Typical Scrap Value |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | 150 to 200 lbs | Small |
| Dryer | 100 to 150 lbs | Small |
| Refrigerator | 200 to 300 lbs | Small |
| Water heater | 100 to 150 lbs | Small |
| Weight bench and plates (steel) | 200 to 400 lbs | Small to modest |
| 10 feet of copper pipe | 3 to 5 lbs | Modest for the weight |
| Aluminum lawn chairs (4) | 15 to 25 lbs | Small |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Scrap Metal Yard | Junk Removal |
|---|---|---|
| You get paid? | Yes, small amounts | No -- you pay for the service |
| You do the work? | Yes -- loading, driving, unloading | No -- the crew does the loading |
| Takes non-metal items? | No | Yes -- everything except hazardous waste |
| Time required | 2 to 4 hours including drive | 1 to 2 hours, no effort from you |
| Vehicle needed | Truck or trailer | None |
| Eco-friendly | Yes -- metal is recycled | Good companies recycle and donate |
Items Worth Taking to the Scrap Yard
Copper pipe and fittings -- the highest-value household scrap by weight
Copper wire -- especially stripped wire from renovations
Brass fixtures -- old faucets, door hardware, plumbing fittings
Aluminum in bulk -- if you have accumulated a significant amount
Large steel items you can transport -- if you already own a truck and the yard is nearby
Car batteries -- a small payout each at most scrap yards
Items Not Worth the Trip
A single steel appliance -- a small payout is not worth the gas, time, and physical effort unless the yard is minutes away
Mixed items -- a garage full of furniture, boxes, and one old dryer means you need junk removal for the rest anyway
Items you cannot transport -- without a truck, getting a fridge to the scrap yard is impractical
Small quantities of steel -- a few pounds of steel earns you pocket change
When to Choose the Scrap Yard
You have a significant amount of copper, brass, or aluminum
You own a truck and the scrap yard is within a reasonable drive
You have the time and physical ability to load and unload
The items are primarily metal with high recyclable value
You enjoy the process -- some people genuinely like the scrap yard routine
When to Choose Junk Removal
You have a mix of metal and non-metal items
You do not own a truck or cannot transport heavy items
Your time is worth more than a small scrap payout
Items are in hard-to-reach locations inside your home
You want everything gone in one visit
You have appliances that are not worth the effort to haul for scrap
Final Recommendation
If you have copper, brass, or large amounts of aluminum, take those to the scrap yard. The per-pound value is high enough to justify the effort. For everything else -- steel appliances, mixed junk, non-metal items -- junk removal is the practical choice.
The smartest approach for a big cleanout: pull out the high-value copper and brass yourself, then call junk removal for everything else. You pocket the best scrap money and let the professionals handle the rest. Check our guide to what junk haulers take for a complete list of accepted items.
