Port Perry Salvage · Scrap Metal Recycling

Scrap Grade Guide

How we grade what you bring in, and how to prepare it for the best price. Sort and clean your material using the specs below and it moves up a grade.

Before you come in

  1. Separate your metals before you arrive. Mixed loads are paid at the lowest grade in the load.
  2. Remove non-metallic material: wood, plastic, rubber, concrete, dirt, glass and paper.
  3. Drain all fluids: oil, fuel, coolant and hydraulic fluid. Loads that leak are refused.
  4. Bring government-issued photo ID. It is required for every sale.
  5. Final grade is set by our scale operator on inspection. Photos in this guide are for reference.

We do not accept

  • Propane, oxygen, acetylene or any pressurized cylinder (unless cut open and certified empty)
  • Sealed or closed containers, drums with residue, paint or chemical cans with contents
  • Live ammunition, explosives or primed casings
  • Radioactive material, smoke detectors, medical or lab waste
  • Appliances with refrigerant still in the system (must be removed by a licensed technician and tagged)
  • Asbestos, PCB-containing equipment, or anything leaking fluids

Ferrous

Steel and iron. A magnet sticks.

Plate & Structural (Prepared) scrap at Port Perry Salvage
P/SFerrous

Plate & Structural (Prepared)

Clean steel plate and structural shapes cut to furnace size.

Preparation

  • Cut to 2 ft × 4 ft maximum
  • 1/4 in minimum thickness
  • Free of all non-metallic material
  • Prepared to lie flat in the furnace

Includes

  • Steel plate and shearings
  • I-beams, H-beams, channel, angle
  • Crop ends and drops
  • Heavy flat bar

Not in this grade

  • Tubing or pipe under 1/4 in wall
  • Concrete, paint buildup, wood or rubber attached
  • Pieces over 2 × 4 ft (graded as O/S P/S)

Yard tip Prepared P/S pays more than oversize. Cutting to size before delivery moves you up a grade.

Plate & Structural (Oversize) scrap at Port Perry Salvage
O/S P/SFerrous

Plate & Structural (Oversize)

Same material as P/S, left uncut.

Preparation

  • 1/4 in minimum thickness
  • Any length over 2 ft × 4 ft
  • Free of non-metallic material

Includes

  • Full-length beams and columns
  • Large plate
  • Structural steel from demolition

Not in this grade

  • Concrete or fireproofing still attached
  • Material under 1/4 in

Yard tip We torch and shear oversize in the yard. The price difference covers our cutting cost.

#1 Heavy Melt (Prepared) scrap at Port Perry Salvage
HMS #1Ferrous

#1 Heavy Melt (Prepared)

Heavy steel 1/4 in and thicker, cut to size.

Preparation

  • 1/4 in minimum thickness
  • Cut to 5 ft × 2 ft maximum
  • Uncoated, ungalvanized steel

Includes

  • Heavy pipe and tube (1/4 in wall+)
  • Equipment frames and brackets
  • Heavy truck parts (drained)

Not in this grade

  • Galvanized or thin-gauge steel
  • Cast iron mixed in
  • Oil-soaked parts

Yard tip If you can bend it by hand, it is not heavy melt.

Oversize Heavy Melt scrap at Port Perry Salvage
O/S HMSFerrous

Oversize Heavy Melt

Heavy steel 1/4 in and thicker that has not been cut down.

Preparation

  • 1/4 in minimum thickness
  • Over prepared size
  • Drained and free of non-metallics

Includes

  • Farm implements and machinery
  • Large tanks (cut open, clean)
  • Trailers stripped of wood decking

Not in this grade

  • Closed tanks or cylinders
  • Wood decking, tires or fibreglass attached

Yard tip Call ahead with photos for large equipment. We can quote over the phone.

Shred / Light Iron scrap at Port Perry Salvage
SHREDFerrous

Shred / Light Iron

Mixed light steel under 1/4 in thick.

Preparation

  • Under 1/4 in thickness
  • Free of wood, plastic and garbage
  • Appliances must be refrigerant-free and tagged

Includes

  • Washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters
  • Steel shelving, filing cabinets
  • Bikes, BBQs (no tank), lawn mowers (drained)
  • Sheet steel, steel siding and roofing

Not in this grade

  • Propane tanks
  • Fridges, freezers or A/C units without a refrigerant removal tag
  • Mattresses, furniture with wood or fabric

Yard tip Most household and renovation steel ends up here. It is the easiest grade to bring.

Cast Iron scrap at Port Perry Salvage
CASTFerrous

Cast Iron

All grades of cast iron except burnt iron.

Preparation

  • Pieces 24 in × 30 in maximum
  • 150 lb maximum per piece
  • Free of steel attachments and non-metallics

Includes

  • Cast iron rads and bathtubs
  • Cast pipe and fittings
  • Machine bases and housings
  • Brake drums and rotors

Not in this grade

  • Burnt or fire-damaged iron
  • Engine blocks with oil (graded separately)

Yard tip Cast breaks rather than bends. A grey, grainy break face confirms it.

Engine Blocks scrap at Port Perry Salvage
BLOCKFerrous

Engine Blocks

Gas or diesel engine blocks, whole or in pieces.

Preparation

  • All oil and coolant fully drained
  • Inspected on the tipping floor
  • Aluminum blocks graded separately

Includes

  • Car and truck engine blocks
  • Small engine blocks
  • Transmissions (drained)

Not in this grade

  • Blocks still holding oil
  • Loads that leak in the truck bed

Yard tip Drain overnight with the plugs out. Leaking loads are turned away.

Copper

Solids, pipe and bare wire.

#1 Bare Bright (Millberry) scrap at Port Perry Salvage
MILLYCopper

#1 Bare Bright (Millberry)

The highest-paying copper grade. Bright, bare, clean wire.

Preparation

  • Bare, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire
  • 16 gauge or heavier
  • No insulation, tarnish, paint or solder

Includes

  • Stripped building wire
  • Stripped heavy cable

Not in this grade

  • Copper pipe of any kind
  • Tinned or plated wire
  • Fine hair wire
  • Oxidized or green wire

Yard tip Strip clean wire yourself and it moves from insulated to bare bright pricing.

#1 Copper scrap at Port Perry Salvage
#1 CUCopper

#1 Copper

Clean, unalloyed copper solids and heavy wire.

Preparation

  • 1/16 in thickness or heavier
  • Clean tubing allowed with no fittings or solder
  • Free of paint, brass and steel

Includes

  • Clean copper pipe (cut fittings off)
  • Bus bar
  • Copper clippings and punchings
  • Heavy bare wire with light tarnish

Not in this grade

  • Soldered joints or fittings
  • Burnt or brittle wire
  • Painted pipe

Yard tip One soldered joint can drop the whole load to #2. Cut the ends off.

#2 Copper scrap at Port Perry Salvage
#2 CUCopper

#2 Copper

Unalloyed copper with solder, fittings, paint or oxidation.

Preparation

  • Copper content 94% or better
  • Solder, fittings and light paint accepted
  • No excessive lead, tin or burnt material

Includes

  • Plumbing pipe with soldered fittings
  • Painted or oxidized copper pipe
  • Light gauge bare wire

Not in this grade

  • Brass valves left attached
  • Steel hangers or clamps
  • Fine hair wire, burnt wire with ash

Yard tip Cut brass valves off and sell them as yellow brass.

Insulated Wire

Graded by copper recovery after stripping.

Strippable #1 Wire scrap at Port Perry Salvage
STRIP #1Insulated Wire

Strippable #1 Wire

Heavy single-conductor insulated copper wire.

Preparation

  • Single-conductor, 10 gauge or heavier
  • Clean, unalloyed copper inside
  • No tinned conductors or attachments

Includes

  • THHN/TWU building wire
  • Welding cable
  • Heavy feeder and service cable

Not in this grade

  • Aluminum conductor
  • Multi-conductor cable (graded lower)
  • Lugs or connectors on the ends

Yard tip Cut the ends off. Lugs and connectors are graded at a lower price.

Insulated Copper Wire 70–75% scrap at Port Perry Salvage
WIRE 70Insulated Wire

Insulated Copper Wire 70–75%

Plastic-insulated copper wire with high copper recovery.

Preparation

  • Copper not smaller than 16 gauge
  • Bare, uncoated copper under insulation
  • 70–75% copper recovery

Includes

  • Mid-gauge building wire
  • Clean industrial control cable

Not in this grade

  • Tinned or plated copper
  • Plugs and fittings attached
  • Lead-sheathed cable

Yard tip Bigger copper, thinner jacket, better price.

House Wire 55% scrap at Port Perry Salvage
HOUSE 55Insulated Wire

House Wire 55%

Multi-conductor sheathed building wire.

Preparation

  • Plastic-sheathed multi-conductor copper
  • No plugs, boxes or devices
  • About 55% copper recovery

Includes

  • Romex / NMD90 (14-2, 12-2, 14-3)
  • Renovation wire pulls

Not in this grade

  • Receptacles, switches and boxes
  • Aluminum house wire

Yard tip Leave it whole. Stripping house wire takes longer than it pays.

Insulated Wire (Small / Mixed) scrap at Port Perry Salvage
ICW SMALLInsulated Wire

Insulated Wire (Small / Mixed)

Light-gauge insulated copper wire and cords.

Preparation

  • Copper conductor, light gauge
  • Graded on visible recovery
  • Free of steel and non-wire debris

Includes

  • Extension and appliance cords
  • Computer and electronics cords
  • Mixed light insulated wire

Not in this grade

  • Aluminum wire mixed in
  • Electronics still attached to cords

Yard tip Cutting plugs off can move small wire up a grade.

Communication Wire / Cat5 scrap at Port Perry Salvage
COMMInsulated Wire

Communication Wire / Cat5

Data and telecom cable.

Preparation

  • Copper conductors only
  • No jacks, panels or hardware
  • Graded on recovery

Includes

  • Cat5 / Cat5e / Cat6 cable
  • Telephone cable
  • Thermostat and alarm wire

Not in this grade

  • Coaxial cable (graded separately)
  • Fibre optic cable

Yard tip Bag or bundle it. Loose comm wire is hard to weigh clean.

Harness Wire scrap at Port Perry Salvage
HARNESSInsulated Wire

Harness Wire

Automotive wiring harnesses.

Preparation

  • Copper automotive harnesses
  • Connectors and tape accepted
  • Free of steel brackets and modules

Includes

  • Car and truck harnesses
  • Equipment harnesses

Not in this grade

  • Control modules and computers
  • Steel brackets and bolts

Yard tip Pull harnesses before scrapping a vehicle. They pay more separated.

BX / Armoured Cable scrap at Port Perry Salvage
BXInsulated Wire

BX / Armoured Cable

Copper wire inside aluminum or steel armour.

Preparation

  • Copper conductor inside armour
  • Aluminum and steel armour sorted separately
  • No boxes or connectors

Includes

  • AC90 / BX cable
  • MC aluminum-jacketed cable

Not in this grade

  • Connectors and boxes left on
  • Mixed aluminum and steel armour in one bundle

Yard tip Keep aluminum-armoured and steel-armoured cable apart.

Christmas / Deco Lights scrap at Port Perry Salvage
DECOInsulated Wire

Christmas / Deco Lights

String lights and decorative light sets.

Preparation

  • Copper wire string lights
  • Bulbs accepted
  • Free of boxes, reels and packaging

Includes

  • Holiday light strings
  • Rope and patio lights

Not in this grade

  • Plastic reels and cardboard
  • Inflatables and decorations

Yard tip Strip off the cardboard reel before weighing.

Aluminum

Non-magnetic, light. Kept clean of steel.

Aluminum Wheels (Clean) scrap at Port Perry Salvage
AL RIMAluminum

Aluminum Wheels (Clean)

Alloy car and truck wheels with everything removed.

Preparation

  • Tires removed
  • Lead weights, valve stems and centre caps removed
  • No steel inserts

Includes

  • Car and light truck alloy wheels
  • Heavy truck aluminum wheels

Not in this grade

  • Chrome-plated wheels (graded separately)
  • Steel wheels (graded as heavy melt)

Yard tip Dirty wheels with tires on are bought at a lower price. Cleaning them pays.

Painted Extrusion scrap at Port Perry Salvage
PAINT EXTAluminum

Painted Extrusion

Painted aluminum window and door frames.

Preparation

  • 6063 extrusion, painted
  • Glass, screws, rubber and caulk removed
  • No thermal break or steel

Includes

  • Painted window and door frames
  • Painted railing and trim

Not in this grade

  • Thermal-break frames (graded lower)
  • Attached steel screws and hinges

Yard tip Remove the glass and screws to keep extrusion pricing.

Clean Extrusion scrap at Port Perry Salvage
CLEAN EXTAluminum

Clean Extrusion

Bare or anodized aluminum extrusion.

Preparation

  • Unpainted or anodized only
  • No steel, plastic, rubber or wood
  • No debris of any kind

Includes

  • Bare window and door frames
  • Mill-finish profiles and offcuts

Not in this grade

  • Any paint
  • Screws or attachments

Yard tip Clean extrusion is the best-paying aluminum grade.

Aluminum Siding & Sheet scrap at Port Perry Salvage
AL SHEETAluminum

Aluminum Siding & Sheet

Siding, gutters, soffit and sheet aluminum.

Preparation

  • Aluminum only
  • Foam backing and insulation removed
  • Nails and fasteners removed

Includes

  • Siding, soffit and fascia
  • Eavestrough
  • Sheet and offcuts

Not in this grade

  • Steel siding mixed in
  • Tar or foam left on

Yard tip Test with a magnet. Steel siding goes in shred.

Cast Aluminum scrap at Port Perry Salvage
AL CASTAluminum

Cast Aluminum

Cast aluminum parts and housings.

Preparation

  • Cast aluminum only
  • Free of steel, oil and dirt
  • Drained of fluids

Includes

  • Transmission bell housings (drained)
  • Lawn mower decks
  • BBQ castings, patio furniture

Not in this grade

  • Steel inserts and bolts
  • Oily parts

Yard tip Knock off steel bolts and bushings before delivery.

Brass, Stainless & Lead

Other non-ferrous metals.

Yellow Brass scrap at Port Perry Salvage
YEL BRASSBrass, Stainless & Lead

Yellow Brass

Solid yellow brass fittings and fixtures.

Preparation

  • Solid yellow brass
  • Free of steel, plastic and rubber
  • Chrome-plated brass graded separately

Includes

  • Plumbing valves and fittings
  • Faucet bodies
  • Brass hardware and decor

Not in this grade

  • Steel handles and stems
  • Plastic cartridges

Yard tip Pull plastic cartridges out of faucets before you weigh in.

Stainless Steel 304 scrap at Port Perry Salvage
SS 304Brass, Stainless & Lead

Stainless Steel 304

Non-magnetic 18-8 stainless steel.

Preparation

  • Non-magnetic (a magnet does not stick)
  • Solids, sheet and pipe
  • Free of attachments

Includes

  • Sinks and restaurant equipment
  • Stainless pipe and tube
  • Food and dairy tanks (clean, open)

Not in this grade

  • Magnetic stainless (graded as 400 series)
  • Motors and steel frames attached

Yard tip If a magnet sticks, it is not 304.

Clean Lead scrap at Port Perry Salvage
LEADBrass, Stainless & Lead

Clean Lead

Soft and hard lead, free of contaminants.

Preparation

  • No steel (a magnet does not stick)
  • No dirt or rubber
  • Wheel weights sorted separately

Includes

  • Lead pipe and flashing
  • Lead sheet and ingots

Not in this grade

  • Steel wheel weights
  • Lead-acid batteries (separate grade)

Yard tip Sort lead and steel wheel weights with a magnet.

Lead-Acid Batteries scrap at Port Perry Salvage
BATTBrass, Stainless & Lead

Lead-Acid Batteries

Car, truck and equipment batteries.

Preparation

  • Whole and uncracked
  • Upright, not leaking
  • Lead-acid only

Includes

  • Car and truck batteries
  • Forklift and equipment batteries
  • UPS batteries

Not in this grade

  • Lithium, alkaline and NiCad batteries
  • Cracked or leaking cases

Yard tip Keep batteries upright in transport.

Vehicles

End-of-life cars and trucks.

Scrap Cars & Trucks scrap at Port Perry Salvage
CARVehicles

Scrap Cars & Trucks

Complete end-of-life cars and light trucks.

Preparation

  • Ownership in your name and photo ID
  • Valid VIN on the vehicle
  • Priced by weight or flat rate

Includes

  • Cars, vans, pickups and SUVs
  • Complete or stripped vehicles

Not in this grade

  • Vehicles without ownership
  • Vehicles carrying garbage or tires inside

Yard tip Call with year, make and model for a quote. Aluminum wheels and catalytic converters affect price.