#2 Insulated Copper Wires (Cu 55%) Scrap Price

#1 Copper Tubing Scrap is a high-grade copper scrap stream made from clean, unalloyed and uncoated copper tubing. It is commonly generated by plumbers, HVAC contractors, mechanical contractors, industrial facilities and demolition companies.

Because copper tubing can be downgraded by solder, brass fittings, iron, coatings and other contamination, proper separation and preparation can have a direct effect on the grade assigned by the receiving scrap yard.

What Is #1 Copper Tubing Scrap?

Under ReMA's Candy specification for No. 1 Heavy Copper Solids and Tubing, qualifying material includes clean, unalloyed and uncoated copper tubing along with other clean heavy copper solids.

The important characteristics are the copper's cleanliness, alloy content and lack of coatings or attached foreign material. There is no universal 1/16-inch minimum wall-thickness requirement in the current ReMA No. 1 Heavy Copper Solids and Tubing specification.

What Qualifies as #1 Copper Tubing?

Material sold as #1 Copper Tubing should generally be:

• Clean copper tubing
• Unalloyed copper
• Uncoated copper
• Free of excessive solder
• Free of brass or bronze fittings
• Free of iron and steel attachments
• Free of insulation and plastic coverings
• Free of excessive oil, sediment and other non-metal contamination

The final buying grade is determined by the receiving scrap yard or processor, so commercial requirements may vary slightly between buyers.

Common Sources of #1 Copper Tubing Scrap

Copper tubing is widely used because it combines corrosion resistance, formability and good thermal conductivity.

Common scrap sources include:

• Plumbing pipe and installation offcuts
• Residential and commercial plumbing systems
• HVAC equipment
• Air-conditioning and refrigeration systems
• Mechanical contracting projects
• Industrial process equipment
• Boilers and heating systems
• Building renovation projects
• Construction and demolition work

#1 Copper Tubing vs. #2 Copper Tubing

The main difference between #1 and #2 Copper Tubing is cleanliness and contamination.

#1 Copper Tubing consists of clean, unalloyed and uncoated copper tubing with minimal foreign material.

#2 Copper Tubing can include lower-grade unalloyed copper tubing that does not meet the cleaner #1 specification. Depending on the buyer and applicable grade, the material may have oxidation, coatings, solder or other contamination within allowable limits.

ReMA's No. 2 Copper Solids and Tubing specification requires the material to maintain a minimum copper content while limiting excessive solder, lead, tin, iron, sediment and other contamination.

For current market comparisons, view RecyclingMonster's #1 Copper Pipe Scrap Prices and #2 Copper Tubing Scrap Prices.

Does Solder Affect Copper Tubing Scrap Value?

Yes. Significant solder can prevent copper tubing from qualifying for a clean #1 grade.

Plumbing joints frequently contain solder, and old tubing may also carry valves, elbows, brass fittings or other attachments. Scrap yards may classify this material under a lower copper grade if those components remain attached.

Removing heavily soldered joints or separating cleaner sections of tubing can improve grading consistency when the added labor is economically justified.

Do Brass Fittings Need to Be Removed?

Brass valves, compression fittings and other non-copper attachments should generally be removed from material intended for a clean #1 Copper Tubing grade.

Brass has its own scrap value, so separating brass fittings can also create an additional recyclable metal stream rather than allowing the attached fittings to downgrade the copper.

Does Tarnished Copper Still Qualify as #1 Copper?

Color alone does not determine the grade. Copper naturally develops surface oxidation and patina over time, and scrap yards may evaluate material differently depending on the extent of oxidation and contamination.

The key requirement for the standard No. 1 Heavy Copper Solids and Tubing specification is that the material be clean, unalloyed and uncoated.

If tubing is heavily oxidized, coated, contaminated or carries solder and other attachments, confirm the likely grade with the receiving buyer before preparing a large shipment.

#1 Copper Tubing vs. Bare Bright Copper

#1 Copper Tubing and Bare Bright Copper are both high-value copper scrap streams, but they are different commercial grades.

Bare Bright generally refers to clean, bare, uncoated copper wire meeting specific wire-grade requirements, while #1 Copper Tubing refers to clean copper pipe and tubing.

Do not mix the two simply because both are clean copper. Scrap yards may price tubing and Bare Bright wire separately.

For comparison, see RecyclingMonster's Bare Bright Copper Scrap Prices.

How Can You Identify Copper Tubing?

Copper tubing normally has the characteristic reddish-brown color of copper when freshly cut or cleaned. Older tubing may develop darker oxidation or green surface patina.

Copper is nonferrous and will not normally respond to a magnet. A magnet can therefore help identify steel attachments but cannot by itself prove that a tube is pure copper.

When alloy identity is uncertain, industrial processors may use source records or analytical equipment to distinguish copper from brass, bronze and other copper alloys.

What Affects #1 Copper Tubing Scrap Prices?

#1 Copper Tubing Scrap prices are influenced by copper market conditions, cleanliness, preparation, quantity, location, transportation costs and individual buyer requirements.

Clean tubing with minimal contamination may receive a different price from tubing containing solder, fittings, coatings or other foreign material.

For current buying information, view RecyclingMonster's #1 Copper Pipe Scrap Prices and broader Copper Scrap Prices.

Always check the location, price unit and last-updated date attached to a quote before comparing offers.

How to Maximize #1 Copper Tubing Scrap Value

• Keep clean copper tubing separate from #2 copper and mixed copper scrap.
• Remove brass valves and fittings when economically practical.
• Separate sections containing significant solder.
• Remove steel or iron attachments.
• Keep tubing free of insulation, plastic and excessive oil or sediment.
• Keep Bare Bright wire and other distinct copper grades separated.
• Confirm the receiving yard's grading requirements before preparing a large load.
• Compare several buyer quotes using the same grade and price unit.

Where Can You Sell #1 Copper Tubing Scrap?

#1 Copper Tubing is purchased by metal recycling centers, nonferrous scrap processors and copper recyclers.

RecyclingMonster maintains a dedicated #1 Copper Pipe and Tubing Recycling Centers directory for facilities that specifically identify this material among the grades they accept.

You can also search the broader Copper Tubing Recycling Centers directory or RecyclingMonster's Metal Recycling Center Directory.

Have Large Quantities of #1 Copper Tubing?

Plumbing contractors, HVAC companies, demolition firms, mechanical contractors and industrial facilities can generate substantial quantities of copper tubing during installation, renovation and equipment replacement.

For bulk loads, ask buyers about container service, onsite pickup, minimum quantities, preparation requirements and whether clean tubing, soldered tubing and attached brass fittings are purchased under separate grades.

Separating copper at the point of generation is generally easier than sorting a mixed load later and can help preserve higher-value copper grades.