By weight
Every haul is weighed
The receiving yard weighs the load. Ask for the weight record for each haul and keep it with the job. If you need diversion numbers, diversion reports keep the weights by stream.
Scrap metal dumpster: separate it, sort it, keep the hazards out
Metal is the job site stream most likely to be worth something. EPA calls metals, including steel, copper and brass, valuable commodities to recycle.1 Keep it out of the trash box, sort what you can, and hold back refrigerant appliances, batteries and closed tanks until they are dealt with.
- SeparateFrom mixed debris
- SortSteel from the rest
- WeighKeep each ticket
Why it is its own stream
One pile in, three streams out
Metal mixed into a debris box is weighed and billed like the rest of the load. Pulled out and sorted, it can go to a recycler instead. A magnet sorts most of it: it sticks to steel and iron, not to aluminum, copper or brass.
On the job
Metal coming out
Demolition, reroofs, mechanical and electrical work, cleanouts and fit-outs.
- Stream 1, magnet sticks
Steel and iron
The bulk of most jobs. Heavy pieces such as plate, beams and rebar pack far more weight into a yard than loose scrap.
- Rebar and mesh
- Metal roofing and siding
- Studs and track
- Pipe and beams
- Galvanized ductwork
- Appliances, refrigerant cleared
- Stream 2, magnet slides off
Aluminum, copper and brass
Smaller amounts, kept apart from steel. Ask the recycler how it wants wire and mixed pieces sorted.
- Copper pipe and wire
- Aluminum gutters and window frames
- Brass fittings
- Hold back
Deal with these first
Not scrap until something is done to them. See keep it out.
- Fridges, freezers, window AC
- Batteries
- Tanks, cylinders and drums
- Anything holding fuel or oil
Which container
Mixed debris, or a dedicated metal container?
A few pieces can ride with the debris. A steady flow of metal deserves its own box.
- Small amounts
A mixed debris box
Scrap metal can go in a roll-off. In a mixed load it is weighed and billed as debris along with everything else.
- Best for volume
A metal-only roll-off or cage
Clean metal can go for recycling. On a job that separates streams, metal usually goes in a roll-off or a cage. See construction recycling.
- Keep out
Refrigerant, batteries and tanks
Appliances that still hold refrigerant, batteries, and closed tanks or containers. Each has its own route.
Our guide to what can go in a dumpster lists scrap metal as a yes, and fridges, freezers and window air conditioners as ask first.
How big
Loose metal is lighter per yard than you think
Loose scrap is mostly air between the pieces. EPA's loose averages show it, though solid steel can run far heavier.
| Material | EPA loose weight | A full 20 yard |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrous metal, loose | 225 lb a cu yd | About 2.3 tons |
| Non-ferrous metal, loose | 225 lb a cu yd | About 2.3 tons |
| Major appliances | 145 lb a cu yd | About 1.5 tons |
| HVAC ducting | 47 lb a cu yd | About 0.5 tons |
Loose weights from EPA's construction and demolition table.2 Full-container figures are the container's yards times those weights. A load heavy in rebar, plate, beams or cast iron weighs much more than these averages, so describe the mix when you order. Limits vary by hauler and market, so confirm the tons included in writing. See the dumpster size guide and the dumpster weight limits guide.
Tickets and value
Scale tickets, grades and what metal is worth
Metal is bought and sold by weight. What a load is worth, if anything, is not fixed, so we do not quote it here.
By grade
Sorted metal is easier to grade
A recycler looks at what kind of metal it is and how clean it is. Steel mixed with copper, or metal mixed with trash, is harder to grade. Ask your recycler how it wants loads sorted.
By market
Value moves
Scrap metal often has value, but what a recycler pays changes with the market, the grade and the amount. Whether a credit applies depends on the provider and the market. Ask before you order rather than counting on one.
By the rules
Appliances need paperwork
A scrap recycler taking a fridge or window unit must make sure the refrigerant was recovered, and may ask for a signed statement. See the rules.
Prep and loading
Six steps for a clean metal load
Place it where the metal comes out
Crews separate when the container is close. Move it as the work moves.
Label it
Metal only. A clear sign at the container cuts down on trash in the load.
Sort steel from the rest
Keep a bin or bucket for copper, brass and aluminum so it does not get lost in the steel.
Clear the hazards
Refrigerant recovered, batteries out, tanks and containers empty and open, fluids drained.
Load long pieces flat
Lay rebar, pipe and roofing panels lengthwise, below the fill line. Nothing should stick out over the sides.
Keep the weights
Ask for a weight record for each haul, especially if the project reports diversion.
Keep it out
What stays out of a scrap metal load
These are metal, or look like it, but each needs something done first. The recycler has the final say, and state rules can be stricter.
- Fridges, freezers and window AC unitsRefrigerant must be recovered before final disposal. The last party in the chain, such as a scrap recycler or landfill, is responsible and keeps a signed statement naming who recovered it and when.34
- BatteriesEPA says lithium-ion batteries should not go in garbage or recycling bins, because a battery damaged in transport or processing can start a fire. Take them to a battery drop-off or household hazardous waste site.5
- Tanks, cylinders, drums and closed containersLandfills cannot take containers holding liquid waste beyond small household-size ones.6 Recyclers set their own rules for tanks and cylinders, so ask before you load one.
- Anything with fuel, oil or other fluids insideEngines, hydraulic parts and equipment with fluids in them need draining first. Ask the recycler what it accepts.
The rules
Federal rules that apply to scrap
Federal rules set the floor. States, cities and the recycler can add to them.
40 CFR 82, Subpart F
Refrigerant comes out first
EPA's Section 608 safe disposal rules name household refrigerators and freezers and window air conditioners as equipment that typically reaches the waste stream with its refrigerant still in it. The final person in the disposal chain, such as a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner, must make sure the refrigerant is recovered.3
40 CFR 82.155
The signed statement
The final processor verifies recovery with a signed statement or contract. A signed statement must include the name and address of the person who recovered the refrigerant and the date it was recovered.4
U.S. EPA
Lithium-ion batteries
EPA links an increase in fires at recycling and waste facilities to lithium-ion batteries, and says they should go to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points.5
40 CFR 258.28
Liquids and containers
Municipal solid waste landfills cannot take bulk liquid waste, or containers holding liquid waste unless they are small household-size containers or household waste.6
How it works with Detritus
One request for the metal stream
Send one request. We source containers from local providers in the markets we serve, schedule the swaps and keep the weights by stream. Availability varies by market. Whether a metal-only container or a credit is available depends on the market, so ask us where a local program exists.
- The address and where the container can sit
- What the metal is: steel, aluminum, copper, appliances
- Roughly how much, and whether it is heavy pieces
- Any appliances, batteries or tanks in the mix
- Whether you need weights for diversion
- Dates, or how often it fills
Decide
If this, then that
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| A few pieces of metal in a remodel | Let them ride in the mixed debris box |
| A metal roof, siding or ductwork coming off | A metal-only container, kept clean |
| Demolition with structural steel or rebar | Describe the heavy pieces so the container and tons included match |
| Copper pipe and wire from mechanical work | Keep it apart from steel in its own bin |
| Appliances in a cleanout | Refrigerant recovered and documented first, then scrap. See junk hauling and cleanouts |
| A LEED or waste plan project | Metal as its own stream with weights per haul. See diversion reports |
Common questions
Scrap metal dumpster questions
Can I put scrap metal in a dumpster?
Yes. Scrap metal can go in a roll-off. A metal-only container keeps it clean for recycling, while metal in a mixed box is weighed and billed as debris.
Do I get paid for scrap metal in a dumpster?
Sometimes. Scrap metal often has value, but it changes with the market, the grade and the amount, and whether a credit applies depends on the provider. Ask before you order rather than counting on one.
Can I put a refrigerator in a scrap metal dumpster?
Only after the refrigerant has been recovered. Federal rules make the final party in the disposal chain responsible for that, with a signed statement, so ask before you load one.
How do I separate scrap metal?
Start with a magnet. It sticks to steel and iron, not to aluminum, copper or brass. Keep the non-ferrous metal apart, and keep trash out of both.
What can't go in a scrap metal dumpster?
Appliances that still hold refrigerant, batteries, and tanks, cylinders or containers that may hold liquid or gas. Ask the recycler about anything with fluids inside.
How much does a dumpster of scrap metal weigh?
EPA puts loose ferrous and non-ferrous scrap at about 225 pounds per cubic yard, so a full 20 yard is about 2.3 tons. Heavy pieces such as rebar and plate weigh much more.
How do I get a quote?
Call sales at (888) 588-2607 or request a quote with the address, what the metal is, roughly how much and the dates.
Metal coming out of the job?
Tell us what it is and how much. Local providers do the work; we hold the contract, own the problems, and send one bill.
Related guides
Sources
- U.S. EPA, Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials: wood can be recycled into engineered wood products, mulch, compost and other products, and scrap wood can be chipped on site; de-papered and crushed gypsum can be used in moderate quantities as a soil amendment; metals including steel, copper and brass are valuable commodities to recycle; understanding costs and recycling options in your area is key. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- U.S. EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016): composition and other asphalt roofing 731 lb; clean and painted or demolition gypsum board 467 lb; clean dimensional lumber, pallets and crates, painted or stained wood and treated wood 169 lb; clean engineered wood 268 lb; wood chips 473 lb green and 243 lb dry; leaves 250 to 500 lb; mixed yard waste 250 lb uncompacted; branches and stumps 127 lb; other ferrous and other non-ferrous metal 225 lb; major appliances 145 lb; HVAC ducting 47 lb per cubic yard; pallets 25 lb each. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- U.S. EPA, Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements (Section 608): household refrigerators and freezers and window air conditioners typically enter the waste stream with their refrigerant intact; the final person in the disposal chain, such as a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner, is responsible for ensuring the refrigerant is recovered before final disposal. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- 40 CFR 82.155, safe disposal of small appliances: the final processor verifies recovery with a signed statement or contract; a signed statement must include the name and address of the person who recovered the refrigerant and the date it was recovered; copies are kept for three years. Checked November 4, 2026. ecfr.gov
- U.S. EPA, Used Lithium-Ion Batteries: lithium-ion batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins; a damaged or crushed battery can create a fire hazard; take them to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- 40 CFR 258.28, liquids restrictions for municipal solid waste landfills: no bulk or noncontainerized liquid waste unless it is household waste other than septic waste, and no containers holding liquid waste unless they are small containers similar in size to household waste, designed to hold liquids for use other than storage, or household waste. Checked November 4, 2026. ecfr.gov