Scrap metal disposal — free drop-offs and scrap yards

Scrap metal has two good exits, and neither is the trash. Many landfills and transfer stations take it free from residents in a separate metal pile, and scrap yards pay you for it by weight. Which one is worth the trip depends on how much you have and what kind of metal it is.

Short answer

A few old items (a grill, bed frame, bike, water heater): drop them free in the metal area at your landfill or transfer station, where it offers one.
A truckload, or copper, brass or aluminum: a scrap yard pays by weight. Prices change daily, so call first.
Bring a photo ID to a scrap yard. Some states make yards record it.
Prep first: appliances with refrigerant need it removed, and mowers need the gas and oil drained.

Free scrap metal drop-off at the dump

A lot of public disposal sites keep a separate metal pile, and many of them take residents' scrap at no charge because it gets recycled instead of buried. Examples from our directory:

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia: scrap metal and old appliances at no charge.
Prince William County, Virginia: no charge for county residents' scrap metal and appliances; Chesterfield County takes scrap metal free too.
Steuben County, New York: appliances and scrap metal free; Clarkstown weighs trash at $124 a ton but takes scrap metal free.
Norwich, Connecticut: Freon appliances, scrap metal and electronics go in free.
Yarmouth, Maine: stoves, washers, dryers and scrap metal go in free with a $2 sticker.
Palmer and the Mat-Su Borough, Alaska: residential brush and scrap metal are free.
Stillwater, Oklahoma: free with a recent city utility bill and matching ID.
Durham, North Carolina: free in residential quantities, along with appliances.
Not everywhere: Mason County, Washington takes scrap metal for a fee.

Separate the metal from the rest of your load before you get there. Athens-Clarke's advice applies almost everywhere: if your load is half old metal, unload the metal at its own pile and pay only for the rest.

Selling scrap metal at a scrap yard

Scrap yards buy metal by the pound. We don't list prices because they move with the commodity markets; call a couple of yards the morning you go. Yards price two broad groups separately:

Ferrous metal (iron and steel): a magnet sticks to it. Appliances, bed frames, grills, car parts. Worth the least per pound but heavy.
Non-ferrous metal (copper, brass, aluminum, stainless): a magnet doesn't stick. Pipe, wire, faucets, window frames. Worth more per pound, so keep it sorted from the steel.

Expect to show ID. In Texas, for example, state law requires a metal recycling business to record the seller's name, address and ID number, plus the make, model and license plate of the vehicle that delivered the metal, and to keep the record for two years. Every purchase of copper, brass or aluminum is recorded regardless of weight, and the yard has to hold those items 72 hours before processing them. Aluminum cans and beverage containers aren't covered. Other states have their own versions, so bring a photo ID wherever you sell.

What to do before you haul it

Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners have refrigerant that has to be recovered first. Our appliance guide explains the rule and who does it.
Lawn mowers and other engines: drain the gas and oil. See our lawn mower guide.
Propane tanks need their own drop-off. See our propane tank guide.
Aerosol cans go in metal recycling only when they're completely empty. See our aerosol can guide.
Water heaters go to appliance or scrap metal drop-offs, often free or for $5 to $10. See our water heater guide.

Why it's worth keeping out of the trash

EPA counts iron and steel as the largest category of metal in household trash: 19.2 million tons were thrown out in 2018, and landfills still received 10.5 million tons of steel that year. Appliances are a bright spot: EPA put their recycling rate at 59.8 percent, and steel cans at 70.9 percent.

Find a dump or recycling center near you

Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites, then check each site's page for its metal pile and fees.

Common questions

Where can I get rid of scrap metal for free?

Many landfills and transfer stations take residents' scrap metal free in a separate metal pile, including Athens-Clarke County, Georgia; Prince William County, Virginia; Steuben County, New York; and Norwich, Connecticut. Use the finder on this page and check your site's page.

Do I need ID to sell scrap metal?

Usually. In Texas, for example, metal recyclers must record the seller's name, address and ID number and the vehicle's license plate, and keep the record for two years. Bring a photo ID wherever you sell.

Can scrap metal go in the trash?

Small pieces sometimes can, but it's a waste: most dumps take scrap metal free or cheaply in a separate pile, and scrap yards pay for it by weight.

What's the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metal?

Ferrous metal is iron and steel, and a magnet sticks to it. Non-ferrous metal (copper, brass, aluminum, stainless) doesn't attract a magnet and is worth more per pound, so keep the two sorted.

Will a scrap yard take an old refrigerator?

Only after the refrigerant has been recovered by a certified technician. Many landfills take refrigerators for a fee and handle the refrigerant themselves.

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