Ever wondered if that pile of old wires and appliances in your garage could be cash in disguise?

At West Coast Metals, we know scrap metal can be a goldmine, both literally and figuratively. As a professional scrap metal salvage yard in Perth, we see every day how unwanted junk turns into extra cash for our customers.

In this guide, we’ll cover the 9 highest-paying scrap metals to consider, explain why each is valuable, and share current scrap metal prices in Perth so you can maximise your returns. Remember, knowing what’s scrap metal worth helps you get the best deal.

Let’s jump in and turn that scrap into profit.

9 Most Valuable Scrap Metals in Perth | Highest-Paying Metals to Scrap

Scrap metal recycling offers a lucrative chance to turn waste into cash. Wondering ‘what are things that can be scrapped for money’, here are the 9 most profitable scrap metals to look for:

1. Copper – The King of Scrap Metal

Copper is the highest-paying common scrap metal thanks to its excellent conductivity and wide use. In Perth, clean copper scrap currently goes for about $5.00–$9.00 per kg which far above what you’d get for steel or aluminum. Stripped bright copper with no insulation or paint fetches the top rate locally.

• Why it’s valuable: Copper’s use in power lines and electronics means steady demand. Recycled copper also saves mining new ore and conserves resources.
• Scrap forms: Stripped wiring, old copper pipes, electrical motors, and copper roofing. Stripping insulation from copper wire can add value.

Pro Tips: Sort by grade (bright bare copper vs mixed copper). High-grade bright copper (no paint or insulation) brings the highest payout. Even copper-coated items (like some electronics) have worth when recycled.

2. Brass – A Bright and Lucrative Alloy

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, mostly found in plumbing fittings, musical instruments, and decorative hardware. Because it contains a lot of copper, brass scrap also commands a high price.

In Perth, scrap brass fetches around $3.50–$7.00 per kg, depending on purity. In other words, clean, sorted brass like old door knobs or brass instruments is worth even more than mixed or dirty brass.

• Why it’s valuable: Brass is corrosion-resistant and reusable in manufacturing. Scrap brass can be melted down to make new fixtures or hardware which reduces the need for mining.
• Scrap forms: Plumbing valves, radiators, musical instruments, hardware, and even bullet casings. Any yellowish alloy containing copper and zinc is usually brass.

Pro Tips: Sort your brass by type. Yellow brass (more copper) typically pays more than red brass. Cleaning and separating brass items add value.

3. Aluminium – Lightweight Cash in Bulk

Aluminum is lightweight, versatile, and widely used scrap metal. It is everywhere, such as soda cans, window frames, car parts, and old air conditioners. It’s not as valuable per kilo as copper, but because it’s so abundant, large volumes can add up.

In Perth, scrap aluminium goes for about $1.00 to $2.00 per kg, depending on cleanliness and type. Clean, thick pieces like solid sheet, castings or alloy wheels fetch the high-end prices. Whereas, cans and mixed scraps are lower. Specialised alloys like aircraft or extrusion scrap can even reach higher to $3/kg).

• Why it’s valuable: Aluminium is highly recyclable as it takes only ~5% of the energy to recycle vs new production. Construction and manufacturing demand a steady supply of recycled aluminium.
• Scrap forms: Car wheels, engine parts, cans, window frames, gutters, and siding. Even old foil or alloy scraps have value if collected in bulk.

Pro Tips: Separate aluminium from stainless and iron. Remove dirt, plastic, and non-metal attachments. Sorted, uncoated aluminium parts are worth more. Bulk lots like all your soda cans can draw better per-kg rates.

4. Lead – Heavyweight for Batteries

Lead is a heavy metal still used in batteries, weights, and certain alloys. It’s mostly obtained from old car batteries and construction scrap. In Perth, scrap lead is about $2.50–$4.00 per kg. The price isn’t as high as copper, but since lead is very dense, a truckload of car batteries or roof sheets can be quite profitable.

• Why it’s valuable: Lead is recyclable almost indefinitely. Demand remains steady for battery production and radiation shielding.
• Scrap forms: Car batteries, lead sheets, pipes, weights (diving weights, balance weights), and even lead from old roofing or paints (if available).

Pro Tips: Remove non-metal parts like plastic casings from batteries, before bringing to the scrap yard. Battery acid should be drained and the battery chipped. Most yards pay by clean lead weight, so the heavier, pure metal portion is what counts.

5. Stainless Steel – Strong and Sustainable

Stainless steel, an alloy of steel with chromium (and nickel), is widely used in kitchen appliances, sinks, medical equipment, and industrial parts. It resists rust, which means old stainless items are a steady source of scrap. Perth scrap yards pay about $1.00–$2.00 per kg for stainless steel.

• Why it’s valuable: Recycling stainless steel saves iron and nickel mining. It’s always in demand for building and manufacturing. Although a bit lower in price, large scrap piles of stainless (like restaurant equipment or industrial scrap) can be profitable.
• Scrap forms: Appliances (fridges, ovens), kitchen sinks and pans, metal cabinets, railings, and cutlery. Even scrap from car parts (exhausts, trim) can be stainless.

Pro Tips: Sort by grade if possible (some homes mix 304 and 316 stainless). Remove food waste or rubber seals. Clean, unpainted stainless gets the best rate.

6. Silver – Precious Payout from Scrap

Silver is a precious metal found mixed in electronics, old films, and jewelry. It’s so valuable that prices are quoted by the gram. It fetches you around $0.75-1.22 per gram for pure silver. Clean silver items (sterling silver flatware or jewelry) fetch top dollar. Even diluted silver from circuit boards or photographic film can add up in bulk.

• Why it’s valuable: Silver’s industrial and decorative uses (electronics, medicine, photography) keep demand high. Recycling silver conserves this rare resource.
• Scrap forms: Sterling silver flatware, jewelry, photographic film canisters, certain electrical contacts, and excess silver nitrate from industry. Even X-ray films have silver emulsion.

Pro Tips: Keep silver separate. Tarnish doesn’t much affect scrap value, but mixed alloys, like jewelry mixed with other metals, can get a lower rate. Specialised refiners may be used for mixed or chunky silver scrap.

7. Gold – Liquid Wealth in Scrap

Gold is the ultimate high-value scrap metal. Used in electronics (tiny connectors and chips), jewelry, and luxury items, gold scrap pays off handsomely.

Currently in Perth, scrap gold prices are around $108–$145 per gram (depending on purity). For example, an 18k gold piece yields about $109 per gram, while 24k is around $145/g (up to $145,000 per kg). That means just a few grams of gold from a broken watch or circuit board can be worth hundreds of dollars.

• Why it’s valuable: Gold is rare and highly conductive, so it’s crucial in electronics and high-end manufacturing. Its durability (never corroding) means scrap gold retains most of its value.
• Scrap forms: Old jewelry (even if broken), dental gold, gold-plated connectors (e.g., in CPUs, phone boards), and scrap from electronics (motherboards, telecom boards).

Pro Tips: Remove any non-metal (gemstones, ceramic parts). Purity matters: 24k gold is pure, while 18k or 14k has alloy metals. You can get different rates. Collect all gold-bearing scrap and have it tested at a refiner or us.

8. Platinum – Rare Metal in Auto Parts

Platinum is even rarer than gold and is prized for its catalytic properties. It’s used in automotive catalytic converters, laboratory equipment, and some electronics. Platinum is also priced by the gram; current price is roughly $62 per gram (based on $1,936.71 per ounce). In scrap form, you won’t see platinum by the gram at most yards (since extraction is complex), but it’s valuable in large quantities. We see market quotes of around $50–$60 per gram for recycled platinum.

• Why it’s valuable: Platinum’s main use is in reducing car exhaust emissions (catalytic converters). It’s also used in jewelry and industrial processes. Its scarcity makes recycled platinum very precious.
• Scrap forms: Auto catalytic converters, old spark plugs (some contain platinum), and worn-out lab or medical equipment.

Pro Tips: Don’t try to extract platinum at home. Bring entire catalytic converters to specialised scrap metal recyclers. They have the equipment to recover and assay platinum. Some scrap yards take converters whole and handle the refining.

9. Computer Parts & E-Waste – Hidden Goldmine

Electronic waste includes old computers, smartphones, circuit boards, and gadgets. These items contain small but significant amounts of valuable metals: copper traces, gold-plated connectors, palladium in chips, and more.

Recycled properly, e-waste can yield a high payout per kg. For example, specialised recyclers pay around $4.00 to $6.00 per kg depending on the type and quality.

• Why it’s valuable: Rapid tech turnover means lots of discarded electronics. Every old phone or laptop has gold and copper inside. Recycling e-waste not only recovers precious metals but also prevents toxic landfill.
• Scrap forms: Motherboards, CPUs, graphics cards, cell phones, batteries (also recyclables). Even old CRT monitor circuits contain copper and sometimes gold.

Pro Tips: Sort and de-solder. Remove batteries and large metal pieces (like heatsinks) first. Classified PCB recycling is common: “Class 1” boards (heavy gold plating, many chips) pay the most. Like, PCB server boards are priced at $10.00 per kg. Whereas, lower-grade PCBs are only $1.20 per kg. Keep mobile phones and computers organised by type.

So, how much is 1 kg of scrap metal?

Explore Current Scrap Metal Prices in Perth

Have old metal clutter you want gone and profitable?

Reach Out to West Coast Metals & Turn Your Scrap into Cash Today

We pay cash for all types of scrap metal at competitive prices. At West Coast Metals, our professional team will weigh and sort your metals on-site and give you an honest quote on the spot. You don’t need to do all the legwork, we’ll help sort your copper, brass, batteries, electronics, and more to get you the best rate.

Plus, recycling with us is safe and eco-friendly: we ensure proper disposal of all waste and recycle everything efficiently.

So, don’t let valuable metal go to waste!

Contact us today or visit our scrapyard to see what your scrap is really worth.

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FAQs

What is the most valuable scrap metal?

Copper is generally the highest-value common scrap metal. Clean copper scrap can fetch you around $5.00 $11.00/kg on the market. Among precious metals, gold and platinum yield the highest per-gram returns. Overall, copper remains “king” of scrap by weight, followed by brass and then heavy non-ferrous like aluminium and lead.

How much is copper worth per kg in Perth?

Scrap copper price fluctuates daily. But it typically ranges from $2.50 to $11.00 in Perth, depending on volume and purity.

How can I get the best price for my scrap?

Sorted scrap gets better rates, so clean up your metal to maximise profit. Pure, separated metals (no paint, plastic, or wood attached) always pay more. Collect like-items in bulk: for example, all copper wiring in one bin. Use a reputable scrap dealer and check current prices. Also keep an eye on commodity news.

What qualifies as e-waste and is it worth recycling?

E-waste is any discarded electronic device including old laptops, phones, circuit boards, TVs, etc. It’s definitely worth recycling as e-waste contains valuable metals like copper, gold, silver, and palladium. For example, older computer motherboards with gold-plated contacts can be especially profitable.