old pipes and fixtures - can they actually be recycled?

Copper pipes and fixtures are definitely recyclable - actually, copper can fetch you a decent bit of cash at scrap yards. A few quick tips from experience:

- Separate copper from other metals (brass faucets, steel fittings, etc.) to get the best price.
- Call ahead to your local recycling or scrap yard; some places are picky about faucets or mixed materials.
- Don't expect to retire early on it, but hey, might cover pizza and drinks after all that remodeling work...

Good points here, especially about separating metals. I've also noticed that scrap yards sometimes give better rates if the copper is clean - meaning no solder or paint residue. It's a bit of extra elbow grease, but sanding or wire-brushing those joints can bump up your payout noticeably. Plus, don't overlook brass fittings; they're not copper-level valuable, but still worth sorting out separately. Might as well maximize what you get back after all that work...

Good advice on brass fittings - I almost overlooked those when I replaced my old plumbing.

"It's a bit of extra elbow grease, but sanding or wire-brushing those joints can bump up your payout noticeably."

Definitely true. When I redid my kitchen pipes, I spent an afternoon cleaning up the copper joints with a wire brush attachment on my drill. It wasn't exactly fun, but the scrap yard did pay noticeably better for the clean copper. Worth the extra effort if you're already putting in the work anyway.

Interesting points about cleaning up the copper joints - I hadn't thought about that. Does anyone know if recycling centers typically have restrictions on older fixtures, like faucets or showerheads, especially if they're mixed materials? I've got a box of old plumbing stuff from various properties I've renovated, and I'm wondering if it's worth sorting through or if they'll just reject certain items outright.

From what I've seen, recycling centers can be picky about mixed materials - especially faucets with plastic or rubber bits. Honestly, might save yourself the hassle and just scrap the obvious metal parts separately. That's what I ended up doing last summer...

Hmm, interesting point - but have you checked with local salvage yards instead of recycling centers? I've found that some salvage places aren't as picky about mixed materials, especially if the fixtures are vintage or have unique designs. Last year, I took a bunch of old faucets and valves to a salvage yard nearby, and they were surprisingly happy to take them off my hands. Might be worth a shot before you start dismantling everything...?

"I've found that some salvage places aren't as picky about mixed materials, especially if the fixtures are vintage or have unique designs."

Yeah, that's been my experience too. A while back I had a customer with these old brass fixtures - really ornate stuff from the 1920s. Recycling centers weren't interested because of mixed metals and coatings, but the salvage yard practically jumped at them. They even paid a bit for them, which surprised me. Definitely worth checking out before you start pulling everything apart...might save yourself some hassle.

I've run into similar issues with old plumbing fixtures. Had a rental property with these heavy cast iron sinks and some vintage faucets mixed with porcelain handles. Recycling center wouldn't even look twice at them because of the mixed materials. But like you guys mentioned...

"the salvage yard practically jumped at them."

Same story here. They took everything off my hands, no fuss, and even gave me a few bucks. Saved me a weekend of messing around trying to separate everything. Definitely worth calling around first.

Saved me a weekend of messing around trying to separate everything. Definitely worth calling around first.

You got lucky with the salvage yard - mine wouldn't touch fixtures with porcelain handles. Ended up listing them online as vintage pieces, and surprisingly, collectors snapped them up quick. Sometimes recycling isn't the only route...

"Sometimes recycling isn't the only route..."

True, selling vintage fixtures online can be a nice surprise, but honestly, is it always worth the hassle? I tried listing some old brass taps once - thought they'd fly off the shelf - but ended up dealing with endless messages and lowball offers. Salvage yards might be picky, but at least they're straightforward. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes convenience beats squeezing out every last dollar...

I've been debating this myself lately. Just moved into an older house, and there's a bunch of copper piping and fixtures that need replacing. Thought about selling online, but your experience makes me second-guess it... Maybe scrapping them directly at a metal recycling center would be simpler? Has anyone tried that route - are the prices decent enough to justify the trip, or is it more hassle than it's worth?

I've done the scrap yard thing a few times, and honestly, it's not too bad. Prices fluctuate quite a bit though, so it can feel like playing the lottery - sometimes you walk away feeling like you scored, other times you're wondering why you bothered loading up the car. Have you checked local scrap prices lately? Might be worth a quick call before you commit to hauling everything over there...unless you enjoy surprise endings, haha.

"Prices fluctuate quite a bit though, so it can feel like playing the lottery"

Haha, totally agree with this. Last summer I hauled a bunch of old copper pipes thinking I'd hit the jackpot, but prices had dropped overnight - felt like a sucker. Definitely worth calling ahead to avoid disappointment.

Copper's definitely a rollercoaster, but honestly, other metals tend to be steadier. I scrapped some old brass fixtures earlier this year - no jackpot vibes, but at least prices held pretty stable. Copper seems to swing wildly because everyone's after it. Maybe diversify your scrap pile a bit? Less stress and fewer "lottery" moments...

Copper definitely has its ups and downs, you're right about that. When I replaced some plumbing in my first home last summer, I ended up with a mix of copper and brass fittings. The brass was straightforward - steady prices, easy recycling - but copper had me constantly checking market rates. Diversifying does seem like a smart move to avoid those stressful price swings. Good call on keeping things balanced...makes the whole recycling process feel less like gambling and more like responsible home maintenance.

"Diversifying does seem like a smart move to avoid those stressful price swings."

Yeah, copper's volatility can be a headache. Last year, I redid plumbing in an older apartment complex, and ended up with a pile of copper pipes and fittings. Prices were decent at first, but by the time I got around to recycling, they'd dropped noticeably. Brass was steady as always - no surprises there. Learned my lesson though... now I keep separate bins and wait until copper prices trend upward before cashing in.

Copper definitely swings around, but I'm not sure holding onto scrap waiting for prices to rise is always worth it. I mean, storage space isn't free, and if you're sitting on a decent pile, that space could be used for something more productive. Plus, predicting metal prices is tricky - what if they keep dropping? Sometimes it's better to just cash out regularly and avoid the guessing game altogether...

I've been there - had a decent pile of copper fittings and old pipe sections stacked up in the garage. Thought I'd wait it out for better prices, but after tripping over it for months, I finally just cashed it in. Honestly, the extra space and less clutter was worth more to me than any small price bump I might've missed. Predicting metal prices feels like gambling anyway...

You made the right call. I've seen plenty of folks hold onto scrap metal hoping for a price spike, only to end up with cluttered garages and safety hazards. Copper fittings and old pipes stacked up can become a real tripping hazard or even worse - sharp edges, rust, corrosion... not worth the risk. Plus, metal prices are notoriously unpredictable. I've had customers who waited months thinking they'd hit the jackpot, only to see prices drop instead.

Honestly, clearing out that space probably saved you from potential accidents or injuries down the line. I always tell people: if you're not actively using it or don't have a clear plan for it, better to recycle sooner rather than later. You got rid of clutter and made your garage safer - sounds like a win-win to me.

And yeah, predicting metal prices is basically gambling without the fun part. Better to cash in when you can and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with less junk lying around. Good move on your part.