Key takeaways
- Separate by metal family first, then by grade where price gaps justify it.
- Keep turnings and swarf dry: cutting fluid adds weight you are not paid for and can make the flow hazardous.
- Strip or separate insulated cable when volume justifies it.
- Put the container where the scrap is produced, label it with a photo, and review contamination weekly.
- Measure revenue per tonne by stream, not total scrap revenue.
Start with a container plan
Container
Accept
Refuse
Copper
Bare wire, busbars, pipe
Insulated cable, brass, steel attachments
Insulated cable
Copper and aluminium cable
Loose plastics, connectors with steel
Aluminium solids
Extrusions, plate, castings
Turnings, painted mixed parts
Aluminium turnings
Dry turnings by alloy family
Oily or mixed turnings
Stainless 304
Offcuts, sheet
316, carbon steel
Stainless 316
Offcuts, sheet
304, carbon steel
Brass
Fittings, machining
Copper, steel inserts
Ferrous
Steel, cast iron
Non-ferrous, wood, plastics
Contamination control
- Turnings: drain or centrifuge to remove cutting fluid; recover the fluid.
- Cables: separate connectors and steel armour where practical.
- Parts: remove plastics, rubber and wood before disposal.
- Signage: one photo of accepted material per container, in operators' languages.
- Weekly 10-minute container check by the area lead, logged.
When to go further than metal families
Grade-level segregation (304 vs. 316, alloy series for aluminium) makes sense when the price gap times the monthly tonnage exceeds the extra handling cost. Ask two buyers for prices per grade and do the maths.
KPIs
- Revenue per tonne per stream vs. index.
- Share of tonnes downgraded by the buyer.
- Contamination findings per week.
- Moisture or oil deductions per month.
Wastetide
See what you lose to downgrades
Wastetide compares invoices with contracts and market prices and flags every downgrade and deduction. Book a demo call.
FAQ
Is it worth separating stainless 304 from 316?
Often yes: 316 contains molybdenum and more nickel, so it is usually priced higher. Check the gap with your buyer against your monthly volume.
Are oily turnings hazardous waste?
They can be, depending on the oil content and classification. In France, hazardous flows must be tracked in Trackdéchets.