No. 2 Scrap Copper is an important recyclable copper grade consisting primarily of miscellaneous unalloyed copper solids and tubing that do not meet the cleaner requirements of #1 Copper.
Typical material may include oxidized or lower-grade copper solids, pipe and tubing, provided the copper content and contamination remain within the receiving buyer's specification.
What Is No. 2 Scrap Copper?
Under current ReMA specifications, Cliff / No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing consists of miscellaneous unalloyed copper scrap with a nominal copper content of 96% and a minimum copper content of 94% as determined by electrolytic assay.
The grade can include lower-quality copper solids and tubing that remain predominantly copper but do not qualify as clean #1 Copper because of oxidation, limited solder or other allowable contamination.
There is no universal 1/16-inch minimum thickness requirement in the current ReMA No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing specification.
What Qualifies as No. 2 Copper Scrap?
Depending on the buyer and condition of the material, No. 2 Copper may include:
- Unalloyed copper solids
- Copper clippings and punchings
- Bus bars and copper segments that do not qualify as clean #1 Copper
- Oxidized copper solids
- Copper pipe and tubing within the required copper-content limits
- Copper tubing with limited solder that still meets the buyer's specification
- Other miscellaneous unalloyed copper scrap meeting the required copper content
The receiving scrap yard or processor determines the final commercial grade.
What Is Not Allowed in No. 2 Copper?
Current ReMA specifications exclude several contaminants from standard No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing.
The material should be free of:
- Excessively leaded copper
- Excessively tinned copper
- Excessively soldered copper
- Brass and bronze
- Excessive oil
- Excessive iron
- Excessive non-metallic contamination
- Copper tubing with non-copper connections
- Copper tubing containing sediment
- Insulation
- Burnt copper wire
- Fine hair wire
- Brittle burnt wire
- Excessive ash
No. 2 Copper vs. No. 1 Copper
The main difference between No. 1 Copper and No. 2 Copper is cleanliness and copper purity.
No. 1 Copper generally consists of cleaner, unalloyed and uncoated copper solids or tubing with very little contamination.
No. 2 Copper permits a lower copper-content threshold and may include copper that has oxidation, limited solder or other allowable contamination while still meeting the required chemistry.
For current market comparison, view RecyclingMonster's #1 Copper Scrap Prices and #2 Copper Scrap Prices.
No. 2 Copper vs. No. 2 Copper Wire
No. 2 Copper Scrap and No. 2 Copper Wire are related but technically different scrap specifications.
Cliff / No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing covers copper solids and tubing.
Birch / No. 2 Copper Wire covers miscellaneous unalloyed copper wire with nominal 96% copper content and a minimum of 94% copper.
ReMA also recognizes Birch/Cliff, a combination of No. 2 Copper Wire and No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing.
For wire-specific pricing, see RecyclingMonster's #2 Copper Wire Scrap Prices.
No. 2 Copper vs. Light Copper Scrap
Light Copper Scrap is a lower copper grade commonly associated with sheet copper, gutters, downspouts, kettles, boilers and similar thin-gauge copper material.
ReMA's Light Copper specification has a lower copper-content threshold than No. 2 Copper, so material should not be moved between the two grades based only on appearance or thickness.
Correct classification depends on composition, contamination and buyer requirements.
Does Oxidized Copper Qualify as No. 2 Copper?
Surface oxidation does not automatically disqualify copper from recycling or determine its grade.
Copper naturally darkens and may develop green patina when exposed to air and moisture. Buyers evaluate the total copper content and level of contamination rather than color alone.
Heavily contaminated, coated or chemically altered material may receive a different grade, so commercial loads should be evaluated by the receiving buyer.
Is Soldered Copper Pipe No. 2 Copper?
Soldered copper pipe may be purchased as No. 2 Copper if the amount of solder is limited and the material still satisfies the required copper-content and contamination limits.
However, excessively soldered copper is excluded from the standard ReMA No. 2 Copper specification.
Copper tubing with brass valves, bronze fittings, steel connections or other non-copper attachments also does not meet the standard Cliff specification.
For more detail, see RecyclingMonster's #2 Copper Pipe Scrap Prices and #2 Copper Tubing Scrap Prices.
Should You Remove Soldered Joints From Copper Pipe?
Sometimes removing heavily soldered joints can allow cleaner sections of copper tubing to qualify for a higher grade.
Before cutting large quantities, compare the buyer's price for clean #1 Copper with its price for No. 2 Copper and determine whether the additional preparation is worth the labor.
Removing brass fittings and other non-copper attachments may also create separate recyclable metal streams while improving the copper load.
Does Painted or Coated Copper Qualify as No. 2?
Not automatically.
The current ReMA No. 2 Copper specification focuses on copper content and contamination limits rather than defining all painted or plated copper as No. 2.
Tinning, lead, solder and other coatings can affect grading, particularly when present in excessive amounts.
Ask the receiving buyer how coated or plated copper will be classified before preparing a commercial load.
Can Burnt Copper Be Sold as No. 2 Copper?
Copper wire recovered through burning is excluded from ReMA's No. 2 Copper specifications, as is brittle burnt wire.
Burning insulation from copper wire is also an unsafe and environmentally inappropriate recovery method. Insulated wire should be delivered to a recycler equipped to separate the metal mechanically or through other controlled processing methods.
Common Sources of No. 2 Scrap Copper
No. 2 Copper can be generated across construction, industrial, electrical and mechanical operations.
Common sources include:
- Plumbing renovations
- HVAC and refrigeration systems
- Building demolition
- Mechanical equipment
- Industrial maintenance
- Copper fabrication scrap
- Electrical and manufacturing operations
- Copper pipe and tubing removed from service
How Can You Identify No. 2 Copper?
No. 2 Copper generally retains the reddish-brown appearance associated with copper, although older material may be darkened or oxidized.
Copper is nonferrous and normally does not respond to a magnet. A magnet can therefore help identify unwanted steel or iron attachments.
Magnet testing cannot determine copper purity or prove that the material qualifies as No. 2 Copper. For large commercial loads, source knowledge or analytical testing may be required.
What Affects No. 2 Scrap Copper Prices?
No. 2 Copper Scrap prices depend on copper-market conditions, grade, copper content, cleanliness, contamination, quantity, location, freight and buyer requirements.
Because No. 2 Copper contains more allowable contamination than higher copper grades, it is normally purchased as a separate commercial category rather than at a clean #1 Copper rate.
For current grade-specific pricing, view RecyclingMonster's #2 Copper Scrap Prices.
You can also compare the broader Copper Scrap Prices database and #1 Copper Scrap Prices.
Always check the grade, location, unit and last-updated date attached to each quote before comparing prices.
How to Maximize No. 2 Copper Scrap Value
- Keep No. 2 Copper separate from brass, bronze and aluminum.
- Separate clean #1 Copper from lower-grade No. 2 material.
- Remove brass fittings and steel attachments when economically practical.
- Remove heavily soldered sections when doing so can improve the remaining copper grade.
- Keep tubing free of sediment, oil and excessive debris.
- Do not mix burnt wire or insulated wire into the load.
- Separate wire from solids and tubing when the buyer prices them differently.
- Confirm commercial grading requirements before preparing a large shipment.
Where Can You Sell No. 2 Scrap Copper?
No. 2 Copper is purchased by nonferrous scrap yards, copper recyclers and metal recycling centers.
Use RecyclingMonster's Metal Recycling Center Directory to locate copper buyers and processors by location.
You can also use RecyclingMonster's Recycle an Item tool to search for facilities accepting #2 Copper, copper pipe, tubing and related grades.
Have Large Quantities of No. 2 Copper?
Plumbing contractors, HVAC companies, demolition firms, manufacturers and industrial facilities can generate significant quantities of No. 2 Copper.
For bulk loads, segregate clean copper, soldered tubing, wire, brass fittings and contaminated material before pickup whenever practical.
Ask buyers about container service, pickup options, minimum quantities, preparation requirements and whether different copper forms receive separate pricing.