Scrap Metal Recycling in Cape May County, NJ

Scrap metal recycling in Cape May County means bringing your metal to a scrap yard, where it is sorted, graded, weighed and paid for by the pound. At Best Price Recycling in Dennisville, you drive in with the material in a plated vehicle, show a valid photo ID, and get paid promptly once the metal is graded. No appointment is needed.

How does scrap metal recycling work?

A scrap yard buys metal by weight and pays according to the type and grade. Staff look over your load, separate it by metal, weigh each group and pay based on the current price for that grade. The metal is then sold on to be melted down and made into new products.

Metal is one of the most recyclable materials there is. Copper, aluminum, brass and steel can be melted and reused again and again, which is why yards pay for it instead of charging you to take it.

What scrap metal can you sell in Cape May County?

Most metal around a house, shop or job site has value. The main categories we buy at Best Price Recycling are:

• Copper: bare bright wire, #1 and #2 tubing, sheet, coated copper, electric motors and ballasts. See scrap copper grades.
• Aluminum: cans, extrusion, wheels, sheet, cast and irony aluminum. See scrap aluminum.
• Brass and zinc: yellow brass, red brass, shell casings and clean zinc.
• Insulated wire: THHN, Romex, BX, data cable, car harnesses and Christmas lights. See insulated wire.
• Steel and iron: prepared and unprepared steel, light iron and clean stainless. See steel and iron.
• Radiators, batteries and lead: AC radiators, brass and aluminum radiators, and car and truck batteries.
• Other items: sealed HVAC units, computers, appliances, transmissions, steel cable, catalytic converters and vehicles.

The full list, including what we cannot accept, is on our what we buy page.

How is scrap metal graded, and why does it matter?

Grade is how clean and how pure your metal is. Two piles of copper can weigh the same and pay very differently. Clean, bare, shiny copper wire with no insulation sits at the top. Copper tubing with solder or fittings, or pieces with paint and dirt, grades lower.

The same idea applies across all metals. A few things lower the grade:

• Mixed metals: a steel fitting still on a brass valve, or an aluminum frame with steel screws.
• Dirt, oil and paint: heavy coatings and grime add weight that is not metal.
• Attachments: plastic, rubber, insulation or foam still on the metal.

Prices also move with the metals markets, so the number changes over time. Check today’s scrap prices before you load up to see which grades pay more.

How do you sort scrap metal at home?

A little sorting before you drive in usually means a better payout and a faster visit. Here is a simple routine:

1. Use a magnet. Steel and iron stick to it. Copper, aluminum, brass and most stainless do not.
2. Separate the non-magnetic metals. Copper is reddish, brass is yellow or gold, and aluminum is light and silvery.
3. Keep each metal in its own container. Buckets, bins or heavy contractor bags work well.
4. Remove what you easily can. Take off plastic, rubber, wood and loose steel parts.
5. Keep dirty and clean material apart. Do not toss clean pieces in with greasy ones.

Should you strip insulated wire?

Sometimes. Stripping can move copper wire into a cleaner, higher grade, but it takes time, and for thin or small wire it may not be worth your effort. Our insulated wire page explains when stripping pays and when you are better off bringing the wire as is. Never burn insulation off wire. It is illegal and releases toxic smoke.

Tips for contractors and tradespeople

Plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, roofers and landscapers generate scrap every week. A few habits make it pay:

• Keep a dedicated bin on the truck for copper cut-offs and another for brass fittings.
• Keep aluminum flashing, gutters and siding apart from steel.
• Pull motors, compressors and ballasts and bring them in rather than tossing them in the dumpster.
• Gather a full load before making the trip, so it is worth the drive.

Appliances and the Freon rule

Many appliances are scrap metal, but refrigerant is regulated. We buy dishwashers, dryers and washing machines, and water heaters, furnaces and radiators are bought too, usually at the light iron price. We do not accept refrigerators or any appliance that still contains refrigerant (Freon) until a licensed HVAC professional has removed it. Details are on our appliances page. If you are not sure about a specific unit, call us before you load it.

What do you need to sell scrap at Best Price Recycling?

• Age: sellers must be at least 17.
• Photo ID: a valid state-issued photo ID, which is scanned.
• Authorization: you sign that you are authorized to sell the material.
• A plated vehicle: material must arrive in a vehicle with a valid license plate. We cannot take walk-ins without a vehicle.

We do not pick up appliances or scrap metal, so plan to bring it to us. More answers on what to bring are in our frequently asked questions.

Have a junk car, too?

We buy cars, trucks, vans and SUVs of any year, make and model, running or not. Towing is free anywhere in Cape May County and cash is paid at pickup. See sell a junk car to get an offer. If you are near the county seat, our guide to the scrap yard near Cape May Court House covers the drive to Dennisville.

Bring your scrap to Dennisville

Best Price Recycling is at 1089 Route 47 in Dennisville, across from Wawa. We are open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, and closed on weekends. There is no appointment needed. Pull in with your load, your photo ID and a plated vehicle, and our staff will sort, weigh and pay you. Questions first? Call 609-427-3800 or see the contact and directions page.