Today’s Brass Scrap Prices in New Jersey
Real-time analytics of Brass scrap prices in New Jersey. Compare local yard payouts for yellow brass, bronze, and plumbing fixtures against COMEX exchange trends and optimize your profit with our professional load value calculator.
Brass Scrap Price Trends
over the last 6 monthsIn the last 6 months in the Brass category: price is up for 1 grade, price is steady for 5 grades, and price is down for 3 grades.
Current Brass & Bronze Scrap Prices in New Jersey
Market values for Brass currently range from $0.75/lb to $4.00/lb. High-demand items like Yellow Brass Solids are tracking at $2.20 to $2.75/lb, while premium Red Brass often pulls $4.00 to $4.00/lb. For mixed loads, Plumbing Brass remains a consistent earner at $2.80 to $3.03/lb.
Top Scrap Yards Buying Brass in New Jersey
Live prices from local scrap yards in New Jersey. Compare offers and find the buyer paying the most.
Sgt. Scrap
Sgt. Scrap
Rockaway Recycling
RAW Recycling
Southard Scrap Metal
NJ Scrap Metal and Recycling Center
Your competitors are already getting customers from here.
Hundreds of people search for the best scrap prices in New Jersey every day. Add your yard and start capturing those leads.
🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Price Chart & History
See how local yard buy prices track the exchange (COMEX). Use this chart to judge whether it's a good time to cash in now or wait for yards to catch up with the latest exchange move.
Brass & Bronze Load Value Calculator
Selling a mixed load? Pick the grades below — a weight field appears after you select at least one grade, then the calculator estimates your haul’s value from current average prices in New Jersey.
Brass Grade Purity & Recovery Metrics
The exchange price represents pure, refined metal (99.9%+). Each scrap grade contains varying levels of impurities, which require different amounts of processing. The higher the percentage, the more valuable the grade and the closer its payout is to the spot price.
| Grade | Exchange (100%) | Yard Price (per lb) | Grade Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Brass | $5.30 COMEX | $4.00 | High Grade•75% |
| Water Meters | $5.30 COMEX | $3.80 | High Grade•72% |
| Brass EDM Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $3.00 | High Grade•57% |
| Plumbing Brass | $5.30 COMEX | $2.92 | Mid Grade•55% |
| Brass Shells | $5.30 COMEX | $2.68 | Mid Grade•50% |
| Yellow Brass Solids | $5.30 COMEX | $2.48 | Mid Grade•47% |
| Brass Turnings | $5.30 COMEX | $2.45 | Mid Grade•46% |
| Refinery Brass | $5.30 COMEX | $1.65 | Low Grade•31% |
| Irony Brass | $5.30 COMEX | $0.75 | Low Grade•14% |
📊 What Determines Grade Value:
- Copper-to-Zinc Ratio: Higher copper content in Red Brass or Bronze Scrap results in a higher payout compared to zinc-heavy yellow alloys.
- Contamination Levels: The presence of steel screws, plastic handles, or rubber washers in Irony Brass will trigger a price markdown.
- Moisture & Oil: Industrial Brass Turnings are often docked if they are saturated with cutting fluids or coolant.
- Physical Prep: Removing steel stems from Water Meters or stripping plastic from Brass Shells increases the recovery rate at the smelter.
Maximizing Profits on Your Brass Scrap Loads
In the world of non-ferrous scrap, brass is a consistent heavyweight. Whether you are hauling industrial Brass EDM Wire or demoing old bathroom fixtures, understanding how yards grade this metal is the difference between a big payday and leaving money on the table. Our data shows that scrap yards in New Jersey currently offer an average of $2.64/lb for mixed brass, but premium grades like Bronze Scrap can reach as high as $4.00/lb. Failing to sort your clean solids from Brass Breakage could cost you approximately $3.25 per load in lost revenue.
Professional Grading & Prep for Brass
To hit the top end of the $0.75 to $4.00 range, you need to think like a yard owner. They want clean metal that can go straight to the smelter. Follow these rules to keep your price high:
- Yellow Brass Solids: This is your bread and butter—clean plate, rod, and tubing. Keep it free of any iron or aluminum.
- Red Brass vs. Bronze: These alloys have a reddish hue due to higher copper content. Many yards group Red Brass and Bronze Scrap together, and they almost always pay a premium over yellow.
- Plumbing Brass: This often comes in as 'C-Brass.' It includes faucets and valves. If the chrome plating is heavy, ensure it isn't actually 'Die Cast' (zinc), which is worth far less.
- Brass Turnings: These are the shavings from machine shops. Keep them dry. Excessive oil or 'pucks' made of mixed metals will lead to heavy weight deductions at the scale.
Yard Pro Tip: Keep a high-quality neodymium magnet in your pocket. Faucets and water valves often have small steel springs or screws hidden inside. If the magnet sticks anywhere, it’s Irony Brass. Take the thirty seconds to pull that steel out, and you'll jump from a dirty price to a clean $2.20 to $2.75/lb price instantly.
The Economics of Refinery vs. Clean Grades
Not all brass is created equal at the scale. Refinery Brass and Water Meters are often bought at a flat rate because they require industrial-level processing to recover the pure metal. If you are sitting on a mountain of Brass Turnings, be aware that yards track the {sm_exchange_name} spread daily. A spread of 51.9 is common for industrial scrap, reflecting the risk the yard takes on price volatility and contamination.
Market Insights
How Are Brass Scrap Prices Set?
Brass prices are secondary to the global copper market, typically influenced by COMEX exchange rates. Local yards in New Jersey calculate their offers by taking the base copper price and adjusting for the zinc alloy content, transportation costs, and current smelter demand. Because brass is a dense, high-value non-ferrous metal, even small price fluctuations of 51.9 can make a huge difference on a large load.
Tips to Get the Best Price
- The File Test: Scratch the surface; if it’s yellow underneath, it’s brass. If it’s white/silver, it might be plated or die-cast.
- Remove the Steel: Use a magnet to find hidden steel screws in plumbing fixtures. Turning 'Irony Brass' into 'Yellow Brass' can double your profit.
- Empty the Shells: If selling Brass Shells, ensure they are spent and free of live primers to avoid safety rejections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Yellow and Red Brass?
Yellow brass contains about 60-70% copper, while Red brass (often called 'Composition Brass') contains 80-85%. Because copper is the more expensive element, Red brass always fetches a higher price per pound at the scale.
Why did the yard downgrade my brass shells?
Most yards have strict rules for Brass Shells. They must be 'spent' (fired) and are often required to be free of steel or aluminum casings. Some yards won't take them at all for safety reasons, so always call ahead before hauling shells in New Jersey.
Is Bronze worth more than Brass?
Generally, yes. Bronze Scrap usually contains tin or higher copper levels than standard yellow brass. It is denser and more valuable to the refinery, often pricing similarly to Red Brass.
Are water meters worth scrapping?
Absolutely. Water Meters are heavy and usually made of high-quality red brass or bronze. Just make sure to remove as much of the internal plastic and outer steel as possible to avoid being downgraded to 'Brass Breakage.'
Brass scrap prices in New Jersey on the map
The map shows cities in New Jersey with Brass scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Brass prices in that location.