Every plumber ends up with the same pile in the corner of the van. Offcuts of copper pipe, a bucket of old brass fittings, and the odd hot water system pulled off a wall. Most of it gets tossed without a second thought, but that pile is quietly worth real money. Here is how to turn a week of plumbing offcuts into cash instead of waste.
Copper Pipe
Copper is the big earner in any plumber’s scrap. Old water lines, gas runs and pulled-out pipe all add up fast on the scales. The trick is keeping it clean. Bare, bright copper pipe with no fittings attached pays more than pipe that still has brass valves, solder joints or insulation hanging off it.
When you have ten minutes spare, run through your pile and strip off what you can. Separate the clean copper from the rest and you will get a better rate for it. For more on how copper grades work, have a look at our copper recycling page.
Brass Fittings, Taps and Valves
Brass is the other steady earner, and plumbers go through plenty of it. Old taps, valves, fittings, gate valves and tap ware all count. It does not look like much in a bucket, but brass is dense and the weight builds up quicker than you think.
Keep your brass in its own container rather than mixing it through the copper or steel. Sorted loads are always easier to weigh and pay out on. Our brass recycling page lists the kinds of fittings we take.
Old Hot Water Systems
A hot water system is a tidy bit of scrap once it comes off the wall. The outer tank is steel, but there is copper in the pipework and often a copper or stainless element inside. You don’t need to pull it apart to bring it in, though stripping the copper off first will lift what you get paid.
Old electric and gas units, solar tanks and storage cylinders are all worth bringing in rather than leaving on the verge.
Keep Your Grades Separate
The single best habit on the job is sorting as you go. A couple of buckets or bags in the van, one for copper, one for brass, one for steel, saves a heap of time at the yard and means each grade gets paid at its proper rate. A mixed load tends to get priced down to the lowest metal in it.
Clear It in One Go
If the pile has built up over a few jobs, you have options. Drop into any of our Queensland yards, book a scrap metal bin for a bigger clear-out, or use our Weigh and Pay service and we will come to you, weigh the load on the spot and pay cash.
Stop letting good copper and brass sit in the corner of the van. Get in touch through our contact page and the team will sort you out.
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