When you have a trusted metal recycling center near you, such as Metalico Rochester, you can recycle almost every type of scrap metal. But to make the process easier and ensure you’re getting the best prices for your materials, it’s important to sort out your metals.

If you’re not sure what type of scrap metal you have on your hands, this Rochester scrap yard offers a few tips on identifying some of the most common types.

3 Common Scrap Metal Types & How to Identify Them

1. Aluminum

Found in everything from automobile rims to soda cans, aluminum is definitely one of the most frequently found scrap metals. Usually, you can tell a metal is aluminum if it is lightweight. As a non-ferrous metal, aluminum won’t rust and won’t be attracted to a magnet.

2. Steel

Made of iron, steel is another type of metal found in everyday items and has a lot of properties that make it easy to identify. For instance, it is much heavier, can rust, and will attract magnets. However, many grades of stainless steel will be non-magnetic and resistant to corrosion. A metal recycling center will often need to use certain tools to identify stainless steel, but you may be able to find a stamp on the surface that marks its exact grade.

3. Copper

Copper is one of the easier scrap metals to identify, since its coloring is very recognizable. It’s commonly found as copper wire, in pipes, or in cookware.The brighter a piece of copper is, the more pure and valuable it is. However, keep in mind tarnishing can turn the copper reddish-brown, and oxidization can turn it green.

If you’re not sure what type of scrap metal you have, the pros at Metalico Rochester can usually help pinpoint how valuable it is and how to prepare it for recycling. To get an idea of what you can recycle for cash, check out some of the common items they take on their website. You can also call the team at (585) 436-0713 to check on current scrap metal prices.