Collecting scrap is the lowest-cost way to learn the trade, because you are working with material rather than money. You do not need a business, a yard or a warehouse to begin. You do need to know what is worth collecting, where you may legally get it, how to sort and handle it safely, and what the result is worth, which is usually less than people expect at the start. This guide covers all of that with real index prices, so you can see what a weekend's work might produce before you spend one.
Prices are the ScrapTrade Price Index, an AI-generated indicative estimate retrieved on 26 October 2026, and every weight below is an invented example. Yard prices vary by location, grade and condition.
What is worth collecting
Value per kilogram varies enormously, so what you look for matters more than how much you carry.
| Material | Indicative price (A$ per kg) | Where it turns up |
|---|---|---|
| Copper wire and tube, clean | 9.68 to 11.67 | Electrical offcuts, plumbing, appliances |
| Brass | 8.25 | Taps, fittings, valves |
| Zinc and lead | 3.84 and 2.78 | Die-cast parts, flashing |
| Aluminium extrusion | 2.63 | Window and door frames, trims |
| Aluminium cans | 2.21 | Beverage cans, baled |
| Stainless steel 304 | 1.71 | Sinks, benchtops, kitchen equipment |
| Mixed e-waste | 0.57 | Electronics (see below on rules) |
| Steel, HMS 1 | 0.40 | Heavy steel offcuts and fittings |
| Light iron and sheet | 0.28 | Appliance panels, thin sheet |
Copper bare bright is about 29 times the price of HMS 1 steel per kilogram. A beginner who spends a weekend hauling steel will earn very little, while a few kilograms of clean copper and brass carry more value than a car boot of steel. The skill is learning to recognise the valuable metals. A magnet helps: steel and most iron stick to it, while copper, brass, aluminium and most stainless do not. See how to grade scrap metal.
What a weekend might be worth
This is an invented haul priced at index prices to show the scale. It is not a typical or expected result.
| Material | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Copper bare bright wire | 2 kg | A$23.34 |
| Brass fittings | 5 kg | A$41.27 |
| Aluminium extrusion | 30 kg | A$78.98 |
| Stainless 304 | 10 kg | A$17.08 |
| Light iron and sheet | 150 kg | A$42.69 |
| Total | 197 kg | A$203.36 |
If collecting, sorting and selling that took six hours, the haul works out to about A$34 an hour before fuel and any costs. Note that 150 kg of steel, about 76% of the weight, produced about 21% of the value. This is why beginners who gather everything often earn little, and why experienced collectors become selective.
Where you can legally get scrap
This is the part to get right. Scrap theft is a real problem, and regulators in many places watch scrap closely.
- Your own material: renovations, appliance replacement, old tools and offcuts from your own jobs.
- Material you are given: from friends, neighbours or small businesses who agree you can take it. Get the agreement clear, and in writing for anything of value.
- Clean-outs you are engaged for, where the owner has agreed you keep what you remove.
- Offcuts from trades and workshops that agree to give or sell them to you.
Never take material from a site, a verge, an unattended property or infrastructure unless the owner has clearly said you can. Copper cable, manhole covers and fittings are common targets of theft, and buyers are right to ask where material came from. If you are unsure whether you may take something, leave it.
What to leave alone
- Anything hazardous or regulated: gas cylinders, fire extinguishers, batteries, fluorescent tubes, refrigerants and anything with unknown contents.
- Asbestos and material that may contain it. Do not handle it.
- Live or high-voltage equipment. Never strip cable that is connected.
- Electronics, unless you understand local rules. E-waste has its own handling and recycling requirements. See E-Waste Scrap: Volumes, Value and Demand.
A starter kit
| Item | What it is for |
|---|---|
| A magnet | Telling steel from non-ferrous |
| Gloves, eye protection and sturdy shoes | Cuts and flying fragments |
| Separate bins or bags | Keeping grades apart, which protects their value |
| A scale | Knowing weights before you sell |
| A way to transport it | A car, trailer or ute, loaded safely |
| A notebook or phone log | Recording where each lot came from and what you sold |
Selling what you collect
You have three sensible choices. Take it to a local yard for an on-the-spot price, ask several yards for prices and compare, or list it online. On ScrapTrade you can check the live material prices first, then list the material on the marketplace. If you want several buyers to compete, read why reverse auctions beat a single quote. Whatever you choose, keep records of the sale.
When to take it further
A side hustle is a way to learn, not a trap. If you find you enjoy it, have a steady source and want more volume, the next steps are in Side Hustle to Scrap Business: How It Grows and Start With Supply. The overview of the whole path is in Starting a Scrap Business With Little Capital.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make money collecting scrap?
You can earn some money, but at the start it is usually modest. The example weekend above produced about A$203 for six hours at index prices. Selective collection of valuable metals earns more than hauling steel.
What scrap is worth the most?
Copper, then brass, zinc, lead, aluminium and stainless steel, in roughly that order on the ScrapTrade index.
Do I need a licence to collect scrap?
Rules vary by country and state, and buying scrap from the public is regulated in many places. Collecting your own or given material is different from running a business that buys from others. Check your local regulator.
How do I tell copper from brass?
Copper is a reddish-brown colour, and brass is yellow. Neither sticks to a magnet. Grade carefully, because they are priced differently.
Is it safe?
It can be, with the right gear and by avoiding hazardous and live material. Do not handle anything you cannot identify.
Sources
- ScrapTrade Price Index, scrap.trade/market-prices, retrieved 26 October 2026. AI-generated indicative estimates, not quotes. Weekend haul values are ScrapTrade arithmetic on invented weights.
Figures are indicative and as at 26 October 2026. ScrapTrade operates a marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade. This article is general information, not legal, safety or financial advice. Follow your local rules and never take material you do not have permission to take.