Copper

Also referred to as “Millberry”, it is the most valuable and high-paying copper grade. It refers exclusively to bare, uncoated and unalloyed wire or cable – no thinner than 1.2mm in thickness. Copper piping is not included within the classification.

Copper wire must be stripped of insulation and other materials. Furthermore the copper must be free from any paint, impurities or signs of tarnishing. This includes any visible oxidation, and very negligible amounts of tarnishing on the copper are allowable.

To be classified as Copper Bright, the copper should be comprised of buzz bars, copper tubing, clean copper sheet and hair wire which is wire of at less than 1.2mm in diameter. It should also be clean in appearance, unalloyed and uncoated.

Clean copper tubing will be classified as Copper Bright as long as it is free of fittings, insulation, paint, solder, and other materials. In fact, most copper tubing and copper pipes can be of #1 grade providing they show few signs of corrosion and have their fittings removed. Trace amounts of oxidation on the tubing are generally acceptable.

This grade of copper can be identified by its somewhat dirty appearance. It should be comprised of various unalloyed wire, pipe or solid copper that has solder, paint or any kind of coating on it. Additionally, its minimum copper content should be 94-96%.

Copper Insulated Wire consists of copper wire or cable which is clean and unalloyed. It will also be insulated in plastic or rubber. Though insulation does not need to be stripped, if it were the wire within should closely resemble ‘bright & shiny’ copper.

Any unalloyed copper wire thinner than 1.6MM is classified as Low Grade Insulated Copper Wire – which includes heavy, double or plastic insulation. Low Grade Wire generally covers many common types of telecommunications wiring, data cables and coax cables.

We recycle all types of electronic motors from industrial fans, blowers and pumps, machine tools, power tools, welders, washing machines, clothes dryers and more. This category can consist of miscellaneous motor assemblies and may contain armatures containing copper windings.

Refrigeration compressors are used in air conditioning units, refrigerators, and freezers. They have copper windings inside a steel shell.