70/30 Brass Scrap Price

Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap consists of copper pipe or tubing containing soldered joints, connections or ends. It is commonly generated during plumbing replacement, HVAC work, renovation, demolition and mechanical-system upgrades.

The presence of solder usually prevents the material from qualifying as clean #1 Copper Tubing. Depending on the amount of solder, attached fittings and overall copper content, a scrap yard may instead classify the material as #2 copper pipe, #2 copper tubing or another lower copper grade.

What Is Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap?

Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap is copper tubing that still contains soldered plumbing joints or connections after removal from service.

Typical material may include:

• Copper plumbing pipe with soldered elbows
• Copper tubing with soldered couplings
• Heating-system copper pipe
• HVAC or refrigeration copper tubing
• Pipe removed during renovation or demolition
• Copper sections with solder remaining at cut joints

The exact scrap grade depends on cleanliness, copper content and the receiving buyer's specification.

Is Soldered Copper Pipe #1 or #2 Copper?

Clean #1 Copper Tubing should be unalloyed, uncoated copper with minimal contamination.

Once significant solder remains on the pipe, the material may no longer meet a #1 specification.

Under ReMA's Cliff specification for No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing, qualifying material has nominal 96% copper content with a minimum of 94%. The specification permits lower-grade copper solids and tubing but excludes material that is excessively soldered, leaded, tinned or contaminated.

For this reason, soldered copper pipe may be purchased as #2 Copper only when it still meets the buyer's chemistry and contamination requirements. It should not be assumed that every soldered pipe automatically qualifies.

Soldered Copper Pipe vs. #1 Copper Tubing

#1 Copper Tubing is clean, unalloyed and uncoated copper tubing with little or no foreign material.

Soldered Copper Pipe contains solder at joints or connections, which adds non-copper metal to the load and can lower its recovered copper content.

Removing the soldered sections may allow the remaining clean tubing to be graded separately as #1 Copper, depending on the receiving yard's requirements.

Soldered Copper Pipe vs. #2 Copper Pipe

Soldered copper pipe is commonly associated with the commercial #2 copper category when the pipe remains mostly copper but contains solder, oxidation or other allowable contamination.

RecyclingMonster tracks both #2 Copper Pipe Scrap Prices and #2 Copper Tubing Scrap Prices.

The final classification is determined by the receiving yard rather than by the material name alone.

Should You Cut Off Soldered Joints Before Scrapping Copper Pipe?

Sometimes.

Removing heavily soldered joints can increase the proportion of clean copper in the remaining pipe and may allow part of the load to qualify for a higher buying grade.

However, the added labor does not always produce enough additional value to justify the time involved.

Before cutting a large quantity of pipe, compare the buyer's price for clean #1 tubing with its price for soldered or #2 copper and calculate whether the grading difference justifies the preparation work.

Do Brass Fittings Need to Be Removed?

Brass valves, compression fittings, faucets and other non-copper attachments should generally be separated from copper pipe when practical.

ReMA's No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing specification excludes brasses and bronzes, and copper tubing with non-copper connections may not meet the standard grade.

Brass also has its own scrap value, so separating it can preserve two distinct recyclable metal streams instead of downgrading the copper load.

Can Old Copper Pipe Contain Lead Solder?

Yes. The type of solder used in plumbing has changed over time.

Older plumbing systems may contain lead-bearing solder, while current U.S. drinking-water rules define lead-free solder and flux as containing no more than 0.2% lead.

The age of the plumbing system can therefore matter when processing soldered copper pipe. Do not assume that solder on older pipe is chemically identical to modern lead-free plumbing solder.

Does Solder Reduce Copper Scrap Value?

Solder adds non-copper material to the pipe and reduces the overall copper purity of the load.

A small amount of solder may still be acceptable within a lower copper grade, while excessive solder can lead to a further downgrade or rejection under a specific buyer specification.

This is why yards often distinguish clean #1 Copper Pipe from soldered, coated or lower-grade tubing.

What About Copper Pipe With Sediment Inside?

Pipe removed from plumbing or heating systems may contain mineral deposits, scale, water, oil or other sediment.

ReMA's No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing specification specifically excludes copper tubing containing sediment.

Drain liquids and remove excessive debris before delivery where safe and practical. Commercial generators should confirm the buyer's requirements for pipe containing scale or process residue.

Common Sources of Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap

• Residential plumbing renovations
• Commercial plumbing replacement
• HVAC and refrigeration systems
• Boilers and hydronic heating systems
• Mechanical contracting projects
• Industrial piping systems
• Building demolition and deconstruction

What Affects Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap Prices?

Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap prices depend on copper-market conditions, copper content, amount of solder, attached fittings, oxidation, contamination, quantity, location and the receiving buyer's grading rules.

Scrap-yard buying prices should not be expected to equal headline copper spot or futures prices. Yard prices reflect the actual scrap grade, recovery, processing requirements, transportation and local demand.

For current market comparisons, view RecyclingMonster's #2 Copper Pipe Scrap Prices, #2 Copper Tubing Scrap Prices and broader Copper Scrap Prices.

For pipe that has been cleaned enough to qualify for a higher grade, compare #1 Copper Pipe Scrap Prices.

How to Maximize Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap Value

• Separate clean pipe from heavily soldered sections.
• Remove brass and bronze fittings when economically practical.
• Remove steel or iron attachments.
• Drain water, oil and other liquids before delivery.
• Keep sediment and excessive debris out of the load.
• Separate clean #1 tubing from #2 or soldered material.
• Ask the buyer whether cutting off soldered joints will change the buying grade.
• Compare quotes using the same copper grade and unit.

Where Can You Sell Soldered Copper Pipe Scrap?

Soldered copper pipe is purchased by many nonferrous metal recyclers and scrap yards, but acceptance and grading requirements vary.

Use RecyclingMonster's Copper Tubing Recycling Centers directory to find facilities that specifically accept copper tubing.

You can also search RecyclingMonster's broader Metal Recycling Center Directory or use the Recycle an Item tool.

Have Large Quantities of Soldered Copper Pipe?

Plumbing contractors, HVAC firms, demolition companies, mechanical contractors and industrial facilities can generate large volumes of soldered copper pipe during renovations and equipment replacement.

For bulk quantities, separate clean tubing, soldered tubing, brass fittings and other copper grades before pickup whenever practical.

Ask buyers about container service, pickup options, minimum quantities, preparation requirements and whether clean and soldered pipe receive separate pricing.