Yellow Brass Scrap consists of copper-zinc alloy material commonly recovered from plumbing fixtures, valves, tubing, hardware, industrial components and manufactured products.
Yellow brass is not one single chemical composition. Different yellow-brass alloys contain different percentages of copper and zinc, and some grades may also contain small amounts of lead or other alloying elements.
What Is Yellow Brass?
Yellow brass is a family of copper-zinc alloys recognized by its yellow-gold appearance and relatively high zinc content compared with red brass.
Common wrought yellow brasses include:
- C26000 Cartridge Brass: Approximately 68.5% to 71.5% copper, with zinc making up most of the balance.
- C26800 Yellow Brass: Approximately 64% to 68.5% copper, with zinc making up most of the balance.
- C27200 Yellow Brass: Approximately 62% to 65% copper, with zinc making up most of the balance.
This range is why yellow brass should not be described as having one universal 60/40 or 70/30 composition.
What Is ReMA Honey Yellow Brass Scrap?
Under current ReMA specifications, Honey / Yellow Brass Scrap consists of mixed yellow-brass solids.
The grade can include:
- Brass castings
- Rolled brass
- Brass rod
- Brass tubing
- Miscellaneous yellow-brass solids
- Plated brass
The standard requires the material to be free of manganese bronze, aluminum bronze, unsweated radiators or radiator parts, iron and excessively dirty or corroded material.
ReMA also specifically excludes all types of munitions, including bullet casings, from the Honey Yellow Brass Scrap grade.
Yellow Brass vs. Red Brass
Yellow Brass and Red Brass are both copper alloys, but their compositions and appearances differ.
Yellow Brass generally contains more zinc and has a brighter yellow-gold color.
Red Brass typically contains more copper and may also contain tin, lead or other alloying elements depending on the grade.
Higher copper content can influence scrap value, but Red Brass is not guaranteed to sell for more than Yellow Brass at every yard or on every date. Current market conditions, alloy chemistry, contamination and local demand all affect the actual price.
How Can You Identify Yellow Brass?
Yellow brass usually has a bright yellow or gold-like appearance when clean.
Common clues include:
- Yellow-gold surface color
- Heavier weight than aluminum or zinc die cast
- No strong magnetic response
- Frequent use in plumbing fittings, valves and hardware
- Yellow metallic color when scratched or filed through surface plating
Visual identification is only a preliminary guide. Chrome plating, nickel plating, dirt, oxidation and paint can hide the underlying alloy.
Industrial processors may use handheld XRF analyzers or other positive material-identification equipment where exact chemistry matters.
Is Yellow Brass Magnetic?
Yellow brass itself is generally non-magnetic.
If a brass-looking object responds strongly to a magnet, it may contain iron or steel attachments or may not be brass at all.
Iron contamination can also cause a scrap yard to downgrade an otherwise acceptable Yellow Brass load.
Why Is Yellow Brass Yellow?
The color comes mainly from the balance between copper and zinc.
Copper contributes a reddish color, while increasing zinc content shifts the alloy toward a brighter yellow-gold appearance.
This is why Yellow Brass generally appears more yellow than high-copper Red Brass.
Common Sources of Yellow Brass Scrap
Yellow Brass Scrap is widely generated from plumbing, construction, manufacturing and consumer products.
Common sources include:
- Plumbing valves and fittings
- Faucet components
- Pipe fittings and couplings
- Brass tubing
- Locks and keys
- Door and cabinet hardware
- Decorative fixtures
- Electrical connectors and terminals
- Automotive components
- Musical-instrument components
- Industrial machinery parts
Is Plated Brass Still Yellow Brass Scrap?
It can be.
ReMA's Honey specification expressly permits plated yellow brass, provided the material otherwise meets the grade requirements.
Chrome- or nickel-plated plumbing components may therefore still contain recoverable yellow brass underneath the surface coating.
However, buyers may apply their own commercial grading rules depending on the amount and type of plating.
Clean Yellow Brass vs. Dirty Yellow Brass
Scrap yards may distinguish between clean and contaminated Yellow Brass.
Clean Yellow Brass generally has minimal attachments and foreign material.
Dirty or Irony Yellow Brass may contain:
- Steel screws
- Iron handles or brackets
- Rubber seals
- Plastic components
- Glass
- Excessive dirt or corrosion
RecyclingMonster's brass database contains separate observations for clean Yellow Brass, contaminated or irony Yellow Brass, Yellow Brass Solids and dirty-recovery grades.
Removing significant non-brass attachments can improve the commercial grade when the added labor is worthwhile.
Yellow Brass Solids vs. Yellow Brass Turnings
Yellow Brass Scrap may also be separated according to physical form.
Yellow Brass Solids can include valves, fittings, rod, tubing, castings and other solid pieces.
Yellow Brass Turnings are chips, borings and machining residues produced during manufacturing.
Turnings may be priced differently because they can contain cutting fluids, fines, mixed alloys or other contamination.
For commercial quantities, keep solids and turnings separate when the buyer prices them under different grades.
Are Brass Shell Casings Yellow Brass?
Many cartridge cases are made from copper-zinc brass alloys, but they should not be mixed into standard ReMA Honey Yellow Brass Scrap.
ReMA maintains separate specifications for clean fired brass shell cases and expressly excludes munitions from the Honey grade.
RecyclingMonster also tracks Yellow Brass Shells Scrap Prices separately from general Yellow Brass Scrap.
Yellow Brass vs. Bronze
Brass and bronze are both copper alloys, but they are not interchangeable scrap grades.
Yellow Brass is primarily a copper-zinc alloy.
Many bronzes use tin, aluminum, silicon or other elements as major alloying additions.
ReMA's Honey specification specifically excludes aluminum bronze and manganese bronze, so those materials should be kept separate from Yellow Brass.
Does Yellow Brass Contain Lead?
Some brass alloys contain lead to improve machinability, while newer or specialized grades may be low-lead or lead-free.
Lead content therefore cannot be determined reliably from color alone.
For industrial quantities where alloy chemistry matters, use source documentation or analytical testing rather than assuming all Yellow Brass has the same lead content.
What Affects Yellow Brass Scrap Prices?
Yellow Brass Scrap prices depend on copper and zinc markets, alloy composition, cleanliness, attachments, material form, quantity, location and buyer demand.
Clean solids may receive a different price from turnings, dirty brass, irony brass or plated material with substantial attachments.
For current grade-specific pricing, view RecyclingMonster's Yellow Brass Scrap Prices.
You can also compare the broader Brass Scrap Prices database and Red Brass Scrap Prices.
Always check the material description, location, price unit and last-updated date before comparing quotes.
Is Yellow Brass Worth Less Than Red Brass?
Yellow Brass generally contains less copper than many Red Brass alloys, which can contribute to a lower theoretical metal value.
However, there is no permanent price relationship between the two grades.
Actual prices change with copper and zinc markets, local demand, alloy chemistry and contamination. Current yard quotes should be used instead of assuming a fixed discount.
How to Maximize Yellow Brass Scrap Value
- Keep Yellow Brass separate from Red Brass and bronze.
- Remove significant iron and steel attachments when economically practical.
- Separate clean solids from dirty or irony brass.
- Keep turnings and machining chips separate from solid brass.
- Remove excessive plastic, rubber, glass and other foreign material.
- Do not mix ammunition or shell casings into standard Yellow Brass loads.
- Preserve alloy records for industrial quantities where available.
- Use positive material identification for mixed high-value copper-alloy loads.
- Confirm the receiving yard's Yellow Brass specification before processing a large shipment.
Where Can You Sell Yellow Brass Scrap?
Yellow Brass is purchased by nonferrous metal recyclers, copper-alloy processors and scrap yards that handle brass grades.
RecyclingMonster's Recycle an Item tool includes searchable Yellow Brass and Brass Yellow categories for locating recycling facilities by material.
You can also use the broader Metal Recycling Center Directory to find scrap yards and nonferrous processors.
Have Large Quantities of Yellow Brass?
Plumbing contractors, demolition firms, manufacturers, machine shops and industrial facilities can generate substantial quantities of Yellow Brass Scrap.
For bulk loads, separate clean solids, dirty material, turnings and other copper-alloy grades before pickup whenever practical.
Ask prospective buyers about container service, pickup, minimum quantities, preparation requirements and whether clean, dirty, irony and turning grades receive separate pricing.