Aluminum Cuttings Scrap Price

Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap consists of previously used aluminum sheet recovered from buildings, fabricated products, industrial equipment and other end-of-life applications. Common sources include aluminum flashing, gutters, downspouts, siding, architectural panels and suitable sheet-metal components.

Under ReMA/ISRI specifications, qualifying clean old sheet containing two or more aluminum alloys may meet the Taint/Tabor grade. Scrap value depends on alloy composition, cleanliness, coatings, attached materials and buyer requirements. Old Sheet Aluminum should not be confused with castings, extrusions, beverage cans, wire or other separately classified aluminum scrap.

What Is Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap?

Old Sheet Aluminum refers to aluminum sheet products that have already been manufactured, installed or used before entering the recycling stream.

Sheet aluminum is produced through rolling and may subsequently be cut, bent, stamped or formed into finished products. These products can remain recyclable after they are removed from service.

Common examples include:

• Aluminum building flashing
• Gutters and downspouts
• Aluminum siding and trim
• Architectural sheet and panels
• Fabricated sheet-metal covers
• Selected equipment panels
• Suitable HVAC sheet components
• Aluminum sheet recovered from renovation and demolition projects

The presence of aluminum does not automatically establish a clean scrap grade. Product construction, alloy composition and attached materials must also be considered.

Important distinction: Old Sheet Aluminum describes a type of recovered product. Taint/Tabor is a more specific standardized specification for clean mixed old alloy sheet.

ReMA/ISRI Taint/Tabor: Old Sheet Aluminum Specification

The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) maintains the ISRI Specifications used as reference descriptions for buying and selling recycled commodities.

Taint/Tabor is the trade code for Clean Mixed Old Alloy Sheet Aluminum.

The specification covers clean old aluminum sheet containing two or more alloys and excludes specified non-sheet products and contaminants.

Materials That May Qualify

• Clean old aluminum sheet of mixed alloys
• Suitable aluminum sheet recovered from building products
• Clean fabricated sheet components
• Properly prepared old architectural aluminum sheet
• Other qualifying old alloy sheet accepted by the buyer

Materials Excluded From Taint/Tabor

• Aluminum foil
• Venetian blinds
• Aluminum castings
• Hair wire and screen wire
• Food and beverage containers
• Radiator shells
• Airplane sheet
• Bottle caps
• Plastic and dirt
• Other nonmetallic materials

Oil and grease must not exceed a combined 1%. The specification also permits up to 10% qualifying Tale painted aluminum siding.

Clean-sheet shipments should be prepared without unwanted steel fasteners, mixed metals or other foreign attachments that conflict with the buyer's grade requirements.

Specification note: Taint/Tabor is not a catch-all designation for lightweight aluminum. The final grade, inspection procedures and permitted commercial variations should be agreed upon between buyer and seller.

Old Sheet Aluminum vs. New Sheet Aluminum

New and old aluminum sheet can have different material histories and commercial purchasing requirements.

New production scrap may offer more predictable alloy chemistry, especially when manufacturing records are available. However, new sheet is not automatically worth more than every old sheet category.

Old Sheet Aluminum vs. Old Mixed Aluminum

The two terms overlap commercially but should not be treated as interchangeable.

Old Sheet Aluminum focuses on used rolled or formed aluminum sheet products.

Old Mixed Aluminum can be a broader yard category containing various aluminum product types, depending on the receiving recycler.

Taint/Tabor specifically applies to qualifying clean old alloy sheet containing two or more alloys.

A shipment containing castings, extrusions, wire and sheet may be accepted under a buyer's mixed-aluminum grade, but it should not automatically receive a Taint/Tabor classification.

Compare Aluminum Sheet Scrap Prices and Mixed Aluminum Scrap Prices to understand how the commercial reporting categories differ.

Is Aluminum Siding Considered Old Sheet Aluminum?

Aluminum siding is a common form of rolled and fabricated aluminum used on building exteriors.

Clean siding may be purchased as an Old Sheet category or as a separate Aluminum Siding grade, depending on the scrap yard.

Painted siding may qualify under the ReMA/ISRI Tale specification when it meets the applicable requirements.

ReMA/ISRI Tale: Painted Aluminum Siding

Tale covers clean, low-copper aluminum siding painted on one or both sides.

It excludes:

• Plastic coatings
• Iron
• Dirt and corrosion
• Fiber and foam backing
• Fiberglass backing
• Other nonmetallic materials

Taint/Tabor permits up to 10% qualifying Tale material.

Commercial tip: Keep clean painted siding separate when the buyer maintains a dedicated siding grade. Combining material unnecessarily may make it harder to obtain an accurate quotation.

See Aluminum Siding Scrap Prices and Painted Aluminum Siding Scrap Prices.

Are Aluminum Gutters and Downspouts Old Sheet Scrap?

Aluminum gutters and downspouts are commonly manufactured from formed sheet aluminum and may qualify as Old Sheet when properly prepared.

Typical contaminants include:

• Steel hangers and fasteners
• Plastic connectors
• Excessive sealant
• Rubber attachments
• Dirt and accumulated debris
• Other attached metals

Clean, separated gutter material may be purchased under Old Sheet, Aluminum Siding or another related grade.

The receiving yard determines the accepted category. Sellers should verify the price and required preparation before removing large quantities of attachments.

Are Aluminum Pots and Pans Considered Old Sheet?

Some aluminum cookware is formed from rolled sheet through stamping or spinning. Other cookware is cast or manufactured using multiple bonded metals.

Cast aluminum cookware should not be included in Taint/Tabor because castings are excluded from that specification.

Multi-layer cookware containing stainless steel bases, plastic handles or other attachments may require a separate buying grade.

Aluminum utensils should be classified according to their actual construction rather than their appearance or original household use.

Does Aluminum BX or MC Cable Armor Qualify as Old Sheet?

BX and metal-clad (MC) cable products may contain aluminum armor around insulated electrical conductors.

The complete cable assembly is not equivalent to clean sheet aluminum. It can include copper or aluminum conductors, insulation, jackets and other materials.

Some scrap yards purchase aluminum-armored cable under a dedicated BX or MC cable grade.

Do not mix complete armored cable into Old Sheet Aluminum simply because part of its construction contains aluminum.

If armor is professionally separated, its commercial classification still depends on the recovered material and buyer requirements.

Are Aluminum Antennas and Outdoor Furniture Old Sheet?

Not necessarily. These products frequently contain several different aluminum forms.

Aluminum Antennas

Antennas may contain aluminum tubing, wire, extrusions, brackets and steel hardware rather than rolled sheet.

The recovered components should be sorted according to their actual material form.

Aluminum Chairs and Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture may contain cast aluminum, extruded tubing, sheet parts, steel fasteners, fabrics and plastic.

A complete chair or table should not automatically be assigned an Old Sheet grade.

Appropriate separation can help identify recoverable metal fractions, but the economics depend on the material and preparation costs.

Old Sheet Aluminum vs. Cast Aluminum

Cast Aluminum is specifically excluded from Taint/Tabor.

Sheet aluminum is produced through rolling and subsequent fabrication, whereas cast aluminum is made by solidifying molten alloy in a mold.

Castings may have different alloy chemistry from sheet products and may require different downstream metal processing.

Common cast products include engine housings, pump bodies and machinery components.

For related pricing, visit Aluminum Cast Scrap Prices.

Old Sheet Aluminum vs. Aluminum Extrusions

Extruded aluminum is manufactured by forcing aluminum through a shaped die to produce continuous profiles.

Common extrusion products include:

• Window and door frames
• Structural channels and angles
• Architectural profiles
• Selected tubing
• Machinery support sections

Extrusions generally have their own commercial buying grades and should be kept separate from Old Sheet where required.

For a related reference, see 6063 Aluminum Extrusions: Grades, Prices and Recycling.

Old Sheet Aluminum vs. MLC Aluminum

MLC commonly refers to Mixed Low-Copper aluminum scrap. It is associated with specifications for suitable aluminum clippings and solids rather than every form of old sheet.

Under ReMA/ISRI terminology, Taboo covers new, clean, uncoated and unpainted mixed low-copper aluminum clippings and solids meeting specified requirements.

Old Sheet Aluminum is a previously used product stream and may contain multiple alloys, paint and service-related contamination.

MLC and Old Sheet should not automatically be combined or assigned the same price. Buyers may maintain distinct alloy and preparation requirements.

Clean vs. Dirty Old Sheet Aluminum

Scrap yards often distinguish between clean and dirty Old Sheet Aluminum based on attached materials and recoverable aluminum content.

Clean Old Sheet Aluminum

Clean material should contain minimal foreign attachments and meet the buyer's accepted sheet grade.

Qualifying clean mixed old alloy sheet may meet Taint/Tabor when all specification requirements are satisfied.

Dirty Old Sheet Aluminum

Dirty material may retain:

• Steel screws and brackets
• Plastic components
• Rubber seals
• Wood attachments
• Foam insulation
• Heavy sealants
• Excessive dirt
• Other foreign materials

These attachments can reduce the recoverable aluminum percentage and increase sorting or processing costs.

Dirty material may be purchased under a separate grade or on a recovery basis rather than as clean Old Sheet.

Can Old Sheet Aluminum Be Painted?

Yes. Painted aluminum sheet can be recycled, but paint type, substrate and foreign attachments affect the accepted grade.

Qualifying painted siding has a specific ReMA/ISRI trade grade under Tale.

Taint/Tabor also permits up to 10% qualifying Tale material.

However, aluminum with plastic coatings, substantial foam backing, fiberglass or other nonmetallic materials may fail clean-grade requirements.

Important: Paint alone does not necessarily reduce a scrap shipment to a dirty grade. Actual grading depends on the type and condition of the material and the buyer's requirements.

How Do Steel, Oil and Grease Affect Old Sheet Aluminum?

Steel and Iron Attachments

Steel screws, brackets, hinges and other ferrous components add non-aluminum material and may prevent clean-grade acceptance.

A magnet is useful for identifying many steel attachments, although it cannot confirm aluminum alloy chemistry.

Oil and Grease

Under the Taint/Tabor specification, oil and grease must not total more than 1%.

Excessive oil and grease can increase processing requirements and affect purchasing terms.

Used industrial material should be handled according to applicable environmental and workplace procedures.

Other Contamination

Plastic, rubber, wood, foam, fiberglass, dirt and foreign metals may result in downgrade or rejection from a clean specification.

Do not burn or chemically remove coatings and attachments to prepare aluminum for sale.

How to Identify Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap

Accurate identification starts with the product's construction and source rather than appearance alone.

1. Identify the source: Determine whether the metal originated from siding, gutters, flashing, panels or other sheet products.
2. Confirm the material form: Distinguish rolled or formed aluminum sheet from castings and extrusions.
3. Inspect attachments: Identify steel fasteners, plastic, rubber, wood, glass and foam.
4. Check coatings: Record paint, plastic coatings and composite layers.
5. Separate other scrap categories: Keep cans, foil, radiators, wire and turnings out of clean Old Sheet.
6. Use a magnet appropriately: Screen for common ferrous contamination while checking the main metal separately.
7. Review material records: Original manufacturing or project information may help establish the alloy where necessary.
8. Confirm the grade: Ask whether the purchaser accepts Old Sheet Clean, Old Sheet Dirty, Taint/Tabor or another category.

Identification warning: Material color, relative weight and magnetic response alone do not establish a particular aluminum alloy. Professional analysis may be necessary for some commercial shipments.

Why Does Aluminum Alloy Separation Matter?

Different aluminum alloys contain different amounts of magnesium, silicon, manganese, copper, zinc and other elements.

These elements influence how recovered aluminum can be processed and used in manufacturing.

Separating castings, extrusions, sheet, wire and beverage cans can help reduce unwanted alloy mixing and improve the consistency of recycling feedstock.

However, Taint/Tabor itself is a mixed-alloy old sheet specification, so a shipment does not need to contain only one alloy to qualify.

Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap Prices

Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap prices depend on the accepted material grade, aluminum content, cleanliness, alloy mixture, preparation, market conditions and buyer location.

Scrap yards may publish separate quotations for:

• Old Sheet Aluminum Clean
• Old Sheet Aluminum Dirty
• Aluminum Sheet Scrap
• Aluminum Siding
• Painted Aluminum Siding
• Mixed Aluminum Scrap

These are not necessarily interchangeable price categories.

Factors Affecting the Buying Price

• Material grade: Clean, dirty, painted or mixed sheet
• Aluminum content: The recoverable metal fraction
• Alloy composition: Suitability for the buyer's downstream process
• Attachments: Steel, plastic, foam and other contaminants
• Surface condition: Coatings, oxidation, oil and grease
• Quantity: Shipment size and consistency
• Market conditions: Primary and secondary aluminum markets
• Location: Transportation costs and regional processing capacity
• Preparation costs: Sorting, removal of attachments and packaging

Available Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap Prices

Review RecyclingMonster's available price records below. Confirm the exact grade, location, price unit, currency and last-reported date before comparing quotations.

price

For broader price comparisons, visit Aluminum Sheet Scrap Prices, Aluminum Siding Scrap Prices, Mixed Aluminum Scrap Prices and Aluminum Scrap Market Prices.

General aluminum market averages should not be presented as guaranteed Old Sheet or Taint/Tabor purchase quotations.

Is Old Sheet Aluminum Worth Less Than Siding or MLC?

There is no universal price ranking between Old Sheet, Aluminum Siding, Mixed Low-Copper Aluminum and related grades.

A clean, identified material stream may be attractive to certain processors because it can require less sorting and offer more consistent metal composition.

However, buyer demand, alloy content, grade preparation, location and market conditions affect individual quotations.

The most meaningful comparison uses current prices for clearly defined material grades under comparable commercial terms.

How to Sort and Prepare Old Sheet Aluminum for Recycling

Good preparation starts by keeping used aluminum sheet separate from unrelated material categories.

1. Separate sheet from castings: Keep cast engine parts and other aluminum castings out of Old Sheet loads.
2. Separate extrusions: Do not mix window-frame profiles or other extrusions into clean sheet shipments without buyer approval.
3. Remove obvious foreign metals: Address steel screws, brackets and other attachments where safe and practical.
4. Sort siding: Keep clean painted siding separate if the yard has a dedicated purchasing grade.
5. Exclude unrelated products: Keep beverage cans, foil, complete BX cable, radiators and wire out of clean Old Sheet.
6. Control nonmetallic contamination: Identify and separate plastic, wood, rubber, foam and fiberglass.
7. Keep material reasonably clean: Prevent excess dirt, oil, grease and other contamination.
8. Confirm dimensions: Ask about acceptable lengths, cutting, bundling or baling requirements.
9. Record the load: Document material type, weight and known origin.
10. Confirm the purchase terms: Obtain the buyer's grade and preparation requirements before shipment.

Safety note: Aluminum sheet can have sharp edges. Cutting, handling and baling operations should use suitable equipment and protective procedures. Do not burn coatings or use uncontrolled chemical cleaning to prepare scrap.

How Is Old Sheet Aluminum Recycled?

Properly prepared Old Sheet Aluminum can provide secondary raw material for aluminum manufacturing.

Commercial recycling may include:

1. Receiving and inspection: Scrap is weighed and checked against the accepted material specification.
2. Grade separation: Clean sheet is separated from castings, extrusions and other aluminum forms.
3. Foreign-material removal: Steel, plastic and other unwanted components are separated.
4. Scrap preparation: Aluminum sheet may be cut, baled, shredded or otherwise prepared to meet processor requirements.
5. Alloy sorting: Material chemistry may be evaluated or managed according to the recovery process.
6. Melting: Suitable aluminum scrap is processed using industrial equipment.
7. Composition adjustment: Recovered metal chemistry is controlled for downstream manufacturing.
8. Quality verification: Secondary aluminum is checked before use in suitable new products.

Recycled Old Sheet Aluminum may enter sheet, casting or other aluminum-alloy manufacturing streams depending on its composition and processing quality.

Not every recovered sheet returns directly to a new sheet product.

Where Can You Sell Old Sheet Aluminum?

Old Sheet Aluminum may be purchased by nonferrous scrap yards, aluminum processors and metal recycling companies.

Some facilities purchase clean and dirty old sheet separately, while others use broader sheet-aluminum or mixed-aluminum purchasing categories.

yards

Use RecyclingMonster's Sheet Aluminum Recycling Centers Directory to research listed facilities accepting Sheet Aluminum.

The broader Recycle an Item directory includes searchable categories for Old Sheet Aluminum, Old Sheet Aluminum Clean and Old Sheet Aluminum Dirty.

You can also browse the Metal Recycling Centers Directory for additional buyers.

Directory inclusion does not establish current acceptance of every grade. Contact facilities directly to confirm purchasing terms, contamination limits, collection services and minimum quantities.

Bulk Old Sheet Aluminum: Commercial Selling Requirements

Roofing contractors, demolition companies, building renovators, siding installers, sheet-metal businesses and industrial facilities can generate significant quantities of Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap.

For regular or bulk shipments, confirm:

• Taint/Tabor or buyer-specific Old Sheet requirements
• Clean versus dirty grading definitions
• Painted siding allowances
• Steel and iron attachment restrictions
• Oil and grease limits
• Plastic, rubber, foam and fiberglass restrictions
• Acceptance of gutters, flashing and fabricated sheet components
• Separate purchasing grades for siding and mixed aluminum
• Maximum piece sizes and preparation requirements
• Loose, bundled or baled packaging conditions
• Container or roll-off availability
• Minimum pickup quantities and collection frequency
• Delivered versus collected pricing
• Sampling, weighing, deductions and rejection terms
• Freight, payment and documentation requirements

Separating clean sheet from castings, extrusions, cans, wire and contaminated products at the point of generation can reduce additional sorting and support more consistent commercial grading.

However, the benefit of preparation depends on labor, transportation and buyer-specific purchasing prices.

Frequently Asked Questions About Old Sheet Aluminum

Material information and safety notice: Old Sheet Aluminum Scrap prices, grading specifications and buyer acceptance requirements vary by material composition, condition, location and reporting date. ReMA/ISRI terminology is provided for educational reference. Final material classification, purchasing terms and shipment requirements depend on the applicable buyer-seller agreement.