ScrapTrade is a marketplace where scrap gets listed, bought and negotiated, and it has more than one way to earn from it. Some routes need material of your own. Others need none, only knowledge and time. This guide lays out five routes, who pays you in each, what you need before you start and the first step to take. It describes the routes as ScrapTrade publishes them. We do not have earnings data for any route and we do not promise income. We have a commercial interest in the scrap trade, and we say where our information stops.
The five routes at a glance
| Route | Who pays you | What you need | First step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sell scrap you own | The buyer, through the sale | Material you own or are entitled to sell | Check the price, then list it |
| 2. Answer buyer requests | The buyer, through the sale | Material that matches a request | Browse the RFQ marketplace |
| 3. Agent for a seller | The seller, from their proceeds | Skill in describing and handling deals | Offer your service |
| 4. Agent for a buyer | The buyer, on top of the price | Skill in finding and checking material | Offer your service |
| 5. Broker | The buyer, through the sale; your margin is private | Authority to sell an original seller's material | Agree terms in writing, then list |
Route 1: sell scrap you own
This is the simplest route. You register, list your material, and verified buyers respond. ScrapTrade's sell scrap online page describes three ways to list: a fixed price, a live auction, or leaving it open to a matching Wanted Board request. The quick sale or standard listing page explains the trade-off: a quick sale sells the moment a buyer accepts, while a standard listing runs for the time you set and can attract competing bids.
Before you list, find out what the material is worth. Use the live prices and calculator, then read How to Price a Scrap Lot Before You List It.
Route 2: answer buyer requests
Buyers can post what they want to buy, and sellers bid. The RFQ marketplace lists those requirements. If you have material or access to supply that matches, you can respond. We do not know how many requests are open at any time, so check the page. To see what a buyer has to specify, read How to Post a Buying Request on ScrapTrade.
Route 3: agent for a seller
A scrap agent is hired by a seller to describe, photograph and list their material and often to handle questions and the deal. The seller sets your commission when they hire you, from a 5% default they can change before confirming. It is deducted from the seller's proceeds when payment settles, and the buyer's price is unchanged. You hold no stock. See How to Become a Scrap Agent: Step by Step and Become a scrap agent.
Route 4: agent for a buyer
A buyer can hire an agent to find and check material and to run the purchase. The commission is added on top of the purchase price, and the seller's price is not reduced. The same 5% default applies and can be changed before the agreement is confirmed. Fees and the worked examples are on agent fees and commission, and How to Set Your Scrap Agent Commission shows how to choose a rate.
Route 5: broker
A broker sources scrap from an original seller and lists it as a seller, with a broker classification and a reference to the seller. The margin is arranged privately with the original seller, and ScrapTrade does not calculate or distribute it. Standard platform fees apply. You carry the seller's responsibilities to the buyer, and you pay the original seller yourself. See How to Become a Scrap Broker: Step by Step and How to Agree Terms With an Original Seller.
Which route first?
- You have scrap to sell: Route 1.
- You have contacts who have scrap but no time: Route 3, or Route 5 if you are willing to take the risk of buying and reselling.
- You know a material well and buyers need it found: Route 4.
- You have no stock and no capital: Routes 3 and 4, which pay a commission and carry no stock risk. Your time can go unpaid if a deal fails.
Agent and broker roles also differ in risk. An agent is paid a commission and does not take a position in the material. A broker keeps a margin and can lose money if a buyer cancels after the original seller has been paid. Our longer comparison is in How Scrap Agents and Brokers Make Money.
What it costs
Registration is free for buying and selling, and a one-time identity check applies before you can transact freely. The pricing page lists plans with limits on active listings, bids and requests, starting with a free 14-day trial. Plans and prices change, so check the page. We could not verify the platform fee rate on a sale, and the agent's commission excludes platform charges and taxes, which appear in the payment breakdown.
Where to go next
- ScrapTrade home
- Marketplace
- Live scrap prices and calculator
- RFQ marketplace
- Pricing plans
- Create a free account
scrap.trade describes itself as a global marketplace. We cannot confirm it is available in every country, or that your country's law allows a particular deal, so check your own rules first. Australian readers can also use ScrapTrade Australia.
Worried about losing money? Read Low-Risk Scrap Business: What Is and Isn't Real for where scrap trades lose money and how to cap each loss.
What we could not verify
- Earnings in any route. We have no data and make no promise.
- Platform fee rates on a sale.
- Availability in your country.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make money on ScrapTrade without owning any scrap?
You can work as an agent for a seller or buyer, paid a commission set when you are hired. Income is not guaranteed and you carry no stock.
Who pays an agent's commission?
The seller if a seller hires the agent, deducted from proceeds. The buyer if a buyer hires the agent, added on top of the price.
Does ScrapTrade take a share of a broker's margin?
No. It does not calculate or distribute it. Standard platform fees apply to the sale.
Is it free to register?
Registration is free for buying and selling. Plans with higher limits are paid. See the pricing page.
Sources
- ScrapTrade, Sell scrap online, Quick sale or standard listing, Scrap agent fees and commission, How scrap brokering works and Pricing, as read in October 2026.
This describes ScrapTrade's published pages and is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. ScrapTrade operates a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.