Copper scrap price per kilo: our buying prices today

Millberry Copper

From stripped cables, >99.9% purity

Millberry Copper, also known internationally as Bare Bright Copper Wire, is one of the highest grades of copper scrap. It is mainly produced by stripping insulation from electrical cables and consists of clean, bare copper wire with its characteristic bright reddish-orange colour. It is commonly generated by electricians, cable contractors, electrical installers, recycling companies and industrial sites, as well as from clean cable-processing and production scrap. At Bull Métal, Millberry refers to clean, bright, rigid bare copper wire, free from insulation, tin coating, lacquer, paint and other foreign materials. Dark, heavily oxidised, burnt or contaminated copper may be downgraded to another copper grade. Flexible bare copper, copper braid and flat copper sections are purchased by Bull Métal under our New Copper category. Bull Métal tip: keep stripped copper clean, dry and separated from lower copper grades. A clean, homogeneous load is easier to inspect and receives the correct classification.

New Copper

New plumbing copper, Candy, flexible copper, braids, flat bars and clean dismantled copper

At Bull Métal, our New Copper grade brings together several high-quality clean copper materials purchased at the same rate: new plumbing tube and offcuts, Candy copper, flexible bare copper, copper braid, busbars, flat copper sections and selected clean copper recovered from dismantling. These materials are commonly generated by plumbers, electricians, industrial maintenance companies, manufacturers and production plants, including factory offcuts, manufacturing scrap, electrical installations, switchboards, busbar systems and clean dismantling work. Candy, internationally classified as No.1 Heavy Copper Solids and Tubing, includes clean unalloyed and uncoated copper such as tubing, busbars, punchings and other heavy solid copper scrap. At Bull Métal, “New Copper” does not necessarily mean that the material has never been used. Clean recovered copper can qualify for this grade when its condition and cleanliness meet our requirements. Material should be free from insulation, steel, brass, aluminium, tin coating and other foreign materials. Bull Métal tip: separate clean copper from painted, soldered or heavily oxidised material before delivery. Good sorting prevents high-grade copper from being downgraded.

Mixed Copper

Plumbing, piping, various parts without iron

Mixed Copper mainly consists of used red copper recovered from plumbing, heating systems, roofing, renovation, maintenance and demolition work. Typical material includes old copper pipes, gutters, downpipes, sheets and various copper components that have already been in service. This grade is commonly generated by plumbers, heating contractors, roofers, demolition companies, tradespeople and industrial maintenance teams. Older copper may be dark, oxidised, covered with green patina, painted, lacquered or contain limited solder residues. At Bull Métal, the material must remain predominantly copper. Brass fittings, steel clips, screws, plastic, rubber, insulation and other foreign materials should be removed as much as possible before delivery. Depending on its condition and composition, this type of material can correspond internationally to No.2 Copper or Braziery-type copper scrap. These grades commonly cover copper containing oxidation, paint, solder or other surface contamination, although exact specifications vary between buyers. Bull Métal tip: do not judge old copper by colour alone. Dark brown or green copper may still contain good red copper underneath the surface oxidation.

Tinned Copper / Copper Heat Exchangers

Tinned copper coils and heat exchangers from boilers and water heaters

Tinned Copper and Copper Heat Exchangers are commonly recovered from certain boilers, water heaters and heating systems, where copper is used to transfer heat efficiently. The material may take the form of copper tubing, coils or heat-exchanger assemblies. Some of this copper is covered with a thin layer of tin, giving it a silver-grey appearance rather than the usual reddish colour of clean copper. This material is commonly referred to in the scrap trade as tinned copper. It is frequently generated by plumbers, heating contractors, maintenance companies, renovation and demolition contractors, as well as from the replacement of heating and hot-water equipment in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. At Bull Métal, tinned copper and copper heat exchangers are classified separately from clean red copper. The tin coating and any residues from previous use require different processing during recycling and therefore receive a specific scrap classification. Steel components, electrical heating elements, plastics, insulation and other foreign materials should be removed whenever possible before delivery. Bull Métal tip: a silver-grey surface does not necessarily mean stainless steel. Lightly filing the surface of tinned copper can reveal the characteristic reddish copper underneath.