Materials

What we buy

A practical guide to common ferrous, non-ferrous and specialty scrap. Confirm unusual or regulated items before loading.

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Specific material guides

Start with the metal you have

Each guide explains common grades, what changes the assessment and which photos or measurements make a Brisbane quote more useful.

Grade family01

Higher-value grades where alloy, cleanliness and separation matter.

View 5 non-ferrous & stainless material groups

Copper & cable: Bare bright, #1 tube and bus bar, #2 with solder or plating, and insulated cable graded by recoverable copper content rather than a flat cable rate.
Brass & bronze: Taps, valves, fittings, marine hardware and gunmetal. Drain water and identify attached steel, rubber or plastic because it can change the grade.
Aluminium: Extrusion, sheet and plate, cast, wheels, litho and used beverage cans. Thermal-break extrusion and painted sheet can grade differently; confirm acceptance and keep clean extrusion separate where practical.
Lead & zinc: Sheet lead, roof flashing, wheel weights, keel and ballast, zinc anodes and die-cast. Confirm quantity, condition and handling requirements before transport.
Stainless steel: 304 and 316 can require analyser verification when the grade affects the quote. Send markings and photographs rather than assuming the alloy.

Grade family02

Iron-bearing grades such as steel and cast iron, where size and cleanliness can affect handling.

View 5 ferrous material groups

Heavy melting steel: Plate, beam, pipe and heavy section. HMS specifications depend on thickness and prepared size; send the dimensions of oversize material before transport.
Structural steel & plate: Columns, beams, purlins, cleats and bracing from demolition. Send dimensions and condition details, then ask whether reusable sections can be assessed separately from melt-value material.
Light gauge & mixed steel: Roofing, ducting, shelving, fencing and general light steel. Send dimensions and condition details for bulky material.
Cast iron: Engine blocks, machine bases, baths, guttering and pipe. Drained of oil and free of steel fasteners where practical.
End-of-life vehicles: Vehicle acceptance is not yet published. Confirm ownership evidence, de-pollution requirements, paperwork and transport before moving a car, ute or truck.

Grade family03

Mixed-material items that require individual assessment and may need special handling.

View 5 specialty streams material groups

Electric motors & armatures: Single and three-phase motors, alternators, starters and stators. Identify attached gearboxes, pumps and housings in the quote request.
Batteries: Battery chemistry changes the handling method. Identify it first, keep lithium packs out of general bins and confirm acceptance and any charge before transport.
Radiators & heat exchangers: Copper, copper/aluminium and all-aluminium cores from automotive and HVAC. Remove steel frames and plastic tanks to lift the grade.
Transformers & switchgear: Oil-filled or older equipment may need drain, disposal and PCB evidence. Send the nameplate and test records so acceptance can be confirmed first.
E-waste & data media: Servers, racks, PCs, communications gear and circuit boards. Confirm acceptance, data-destruction method and evidence requirements before dispatch.

Preparation04

Four details make the material easier to identify and the next step easier to confirm.

01
Separate grades
Keep copper, aluminium, cable and steel apart where practical.
02
Remove attachments
Plastic, timber, rubber and mixed-metal fittings can reduce recoverable yield.
03
Drain fluids
Identify oil, coolant, fuel, water or residue before anything is moved.
04
Send useful photos
Show the whole load, visible markings and rough dimensions for unusual items.

Hard limits05

Sealed, hazardous, controlled and unusual items need load-specific confirmation.

Asbestos or material suspected of containing it
Gas cylinders, LPG bottles, fire extinguishers or sealed vessels
Fuel tanks, drums or equipment containing liquids or residue
Radioactive sources or anything carrying a trefoil label
Older transformers without the required PCB evidence
Mixed loads containing household waste, timber or plasterboard
Vehicles, controlled material or unusual ownership situations without prior confirmation