To prepare scrap metal for collection and weighing, sort it by metal type and strip off plastic and attachments. Drain any fluids, stack each pile where the crew can reach it, and call to confirm the day’s rates before anyone arrives. That is the whole job in five steps. Done well, it makes weighing quicker and grading clearer, and you are paid the right rate for each metal instead of one blended price for a mixed heap.
In our experience, the loads that go smoothly are rarely the biggest ones. They are the ones where someone spent an hour sorting beforehand. If your business is looking at industrial scrap metal removal services for a workshop, factory or site clean out, this guide covers what is worth your time and what is not. It also explains what to expect when the scales come out.
We write this as a yard that weighs and buys metal every day. We hold registration as a second hand dealer with Consumer Affairs Victoria, the state body that oversees businesses buying used goods. The advice below comes from what we see on our own scales and at our customers’ sites.
How to prepare scrap metal for collection and weighing: the short answer
Good preparation means separating each metal, removing anything that is not metal, and making the load easy and safe to reach. You do not need a spotless yard or special tools. A magnet, a basic wire stripper, a few bins and a clear path to your loading area cover most jobs.
The five step checklist (sort, strip, drain, stack, confirm)
- Sort. Separate steel, aluminium, copper, brass and stainless steel into their own piles or bins. A fridge magnet does most of the work.
- Strip. Remove plastic coating from cable where it makes sense, and take off rubber, timber and plastic fittings.
- Drain. Empty oil, fuel and coolant from engines, gearboxes, vehicles and machinery.
- Stack. Group each metal somewhere safe to load, with a clear path for the crew and their lifting gear.
- Confirm. Phone on the day to check current rates. Book a pickup if your load is 500 kg or more, or plan a trip to the yard if it is smaller.
Why a little prep on your side changes the outcome on the day
A mixed pile has to be graded as a whole, and higher value metals hidden inside it can end up paid at a lower rate. Sort the same material into clean streams and each one is weighed and paid at its own rate. That is the pattern we see at the scales: sorting first makes the process faster and can lift what you are paid.
Prep also cuts time on site. When our crew arrives to labelled bins, they can weigh, load and pay you far sooner than if they have to pick through a tangled heap. On a sorted business pickup, each bin or pallet goes on the calibrated scales by itself, and you see the weight for every metal before anything is loaded.
What the scales actually measure, and why preparation affects your payout
The scales measure weight, but the rate you are paid per kilogram depends on what that weight is made of. Preparation affects both sides of the sum. It removes dead weight that earns nothing, and it puts each metal in the right price category.
Weight is only part of it: purity and metal type set the rate
The gap between metals is large. In July 2026, our stated rate for bright, clean copper was up to $11.80 per kg. Heavy melting steel (HMS), which is thick structural and industrial steel, was $0.30 to $0.42 per kg. A few kilos of copper left buried in a steel pile can end up paid at the steel rate.
Purity matters within a single metal too. Clean copper sits in a different grade from copper with brass fittings, solder or plastic coating still attached. Rates move daily, so check our current scrap metal rates in Melbourne and then confirm them with us by phone.
Required versus helpful: what a yard needs and what is just good housekeeping
Some preparation is expected. Fluids should be drained from engines and vehicles, and you need to be able to explain where your material came from when we ask.
Other preparation is simply helpful. Cleaning is not essential, but removing oil, residue and other contaminants helps the metal process properly and keeps pests and smells away. In practice, it breaks down like this:
- Expected: draining fluids, telling us about anything hazardous, and explaining where your material came from.
- Helpful and often worth it: sorting by metal, stripping cable, removing plastic and timber, and wiping off heavy oil.
- Not worth your time: scrubbing off rust, sanding paint or washing away ordinary dirt.
Sort your metals before anyone arrives
Sorting moves your payout further than any other step, because it decides which rate each kilo is paid at. It needs no special skill, and a magnet does most of the work for you.
The magnet test: steel versus aluminium, stainless and brass
Hold a strong magnet against each piece and note what happens.
- It sticks firmly: steel or iron. This is your ferrous pile, meaning metal that contains iron, such as offcuts, brackets, old shelving and machine frames.
- It does not stick and the metal is light and silvery: most likely aluminium. Think window frames, extrusions and some engine parts.
- It does not stick firmly and the metal is heavier and silvery: possibly stainless steel. Sinks, benchtops and food equipment often fit here. If you cannot tell it apart from aluminium, keep it in its own pile and we will check it at weighing.
- It does not stick and the metal is yellow or gold: brass. Taps, valves and fittings are typical.
- It does not stick and the metal is red or orange: copper. Pipe, cable and motor windings are typical.
If a piece has a magnetic part bolted to a non magnetic part, it is mixed. Either separate the two or put the item in its own pile.
Keeping clean copper separate from mixed or dirty material
Copper carries the highest rates on our list, so it pays to keep it in tiers:
- Bright, clean copper: bare and shiny, with no solder, paint or fittings.
- Heavy copper: solid pieces such as thicker pipe and offcuts, which may be dull or tarnished.
- Mixed or dirty copper: pipe with brass joiners, solder, paint or fittings still attached.
- Insulated cable: still in its plastic coating. Keep it apart from bare copper.
A separate bucket or bin for each tier is all you need. Tipping everything into one drum is a quick way to lose value you have already paid for in labour.
Table: what to separate, how to do it and what it saves you
| What to Separate | How to Do It | What It Saves You |
|---|---|---|
| Steel from Non-Ferrous Metals | Use a magnet to test every piece. | Stops copper, brass and aluminium from being paid at steel rates. |
| Clean Copper from Mixed Copper | Cut off brass fittings and soldered joints. | Keeps your clean copper in its higher grade. |
| Insulated Cable from Bare Copper | Use separate bins and strip cable where worthwhile. | Avoids the whole bin being graded as insulated cable. |
| Aluminium from Stainless Steel | Check the weight and use a magnet, or keep them separate if unsure. | Each metal is priced on its own. |
| Brass Fittings from Copper Pipe | Unscrew or cut the fittings at the joint. | Brass and copper both receive their own rates. |
| Non-Metal Parts | Remove plastic, rubber, timber and glass. | You avoid adding weight that earns nothing. |
Strip, trim and clean: what is worth your time
Stripping and cleaning are worth it when they move material into a higher grade. They are not worth it when the only change is cosmetic. Here is how to tell the difference.
Cable and wire: removing plastic sheathing with a basic stripper
A simple hand wire stripper is enough to separate bare copper from its plastic coating. For thicker cable, score along the length with a utility knife and peel the coating back. Wear cut resistant gloves while you do it.
Weigh the time against the volume. Fifty metres of thick building cable from a fit out is usually worth stripping. A tangle of thin appliance cords often is not, so keep it in an insulated cable bin and let it be graded as it is.
Oil, food and residue: when to wipe down and when to leave it
Contaminants such as oil and food make metal harder to process. Wipe heavy oil off machine parts, drain sumps, and scrape food residue out of commercial kitchen equipment. Rags and a scraper are enough, and a full degrease is not needed.
What not to bother with (rust, paint and surface dirt)
Surface rust on steel is normal, and paint on steel or aluminium is expected. Ordinary dust and dirt do not matter either. Spend that time on sorting instead, because it has a far bigger effect on what you are paid.
Taking apart mixed items, appliances and electric motors
Breaking down mixed items can look like a big job, but the principle is simple. Split each item into its separate materials so that each one is weighed at its own rate.
Breaking items into their component materials
Start with what comes off easily. An old office chair has a steel base, perhaps an aluminium mechanism, and plastic and fabric you can throw out. A steel shelving unit may have timber boards to remove. A commercial barbecue may have stainless panels, steel framing and brass gas fittings.
Use the tools you already own, such as a drill, spanners and an angle grinder if you are trained to use one. If a part will not come off without a fight, leave it attached and tell us when we weigh the load.
Washing machines, dryers and fridges: fluids, cooling gases and asking first
People often ask what to do with washers, dryers and fridges before scrapping them. Our answer is to ask us before you book or deliver. Appliances can hold fluids, and fridges and freezers contain cooling gases in a sealed system.
Do not cut into a fridge’s pipes or compressor yourself. Remove food, shelves and loose plastic, then give us a call. Rules for large appliances vary between recyclers, so confirm with whoever is taking yours.
Electric motors and equipment: when to leave them whole
In most cases, leave electric motors whole. Pulling the copper windings out of a motor is slow, messy work, and the time rarely pays off for a business. Drain any oil from gearboxes attached to the motor and remove obvious non metal parts such as plastic covers. If you have a large number of motors, call us first and we will talk through how they will be graded.
Preparing a scrap vehicle for collection
A scrap car needs three things from you: fluids drained, the cabin emptied, and an honest description of its condition.
Drain fluids and remove loose rubbish
Drain fuel, engine oil, coolant and transmission fluid where you can do it safely. Take out personal items, paperwork, tools and rubbish from the boot, cabin and glovebox. Check under the seats as well, because small items are easy to miss there.
Do not pad the car with extra metal, and describe its condition honestly (the locked engine example and the 35% lower revised offer)
Do not pack the car with extra scrap to push up its weight without telling us first. Loose metal inside a car makes it harder to process and changes what is being quoted. If you have other material, tell us and we will weigh it separately.
Be accurate about the car’s condition. We once quoted on a car that the owner described as “basically running”. When our crew arrived, the engine was locked solid, and the revised offer was about 35% lower than the original quote. Nobody enjoys that conversation on the day, and an honest description up front gives you a quote that holds.
Payment for scrap cars: bank transfer or cheque only, never cash
We do not pay cash for scrap cars. Under Victorian law in effect since 30 May 2018, payment is made by bank transfer or cheque. Have your bank details ready when you book so payment is not held up.
Free towing for vehicles
Towing is free for vehicles. You do not need to arrange a tow truck or get the car to us yourself.
Be ready to explain where your scrap came from
Expect to be asked where your material came from, especially for certain items. It is a normal part of buying metal responsibly, and any reputable yard will do the same.
Why the yard asks, and why it protects you
When something does not add up, our staff ask extra questions. If the seller cannot explain where the material came from, we decline it. This protects legitimate sellers too, because it helps keep stolen goods out of the same yard as yours.
Examples of items that prompt extra questions (freshly cut copper wiring, manhole covers, road signage)
We have asked more questions, and sometimes declined material until the seller could explain it, in situations like these:
- Freshly cut copper wiring. An electrician stripping out an old building will have job details, so keep the address or work order handy.
- Manhole covers. These are rarely in private hands, so expect questions.
- Road signage. As with manhole covers, you will need a clear explanation.
A tax invoice, job sheet or short note on where a load came from makes the conversation quick and easy.
Second hand dealer registration with Consumer Affairs Victoria and what it means for sellers
We hold registration as a second hand dealer with Consumer Affairs Victoria. For sellers, this means we work within Victorian rules for second hand dealers, and those rules include checking where goods came from. Our questions are part of operating properly, not a sign that we suspect you.
Getting a business or workshop load ready for pickup
Business loads are where preparation saves the most time, because the volumes are bigger and site access matters more.
How industrial scrap metal removal services work for 500 kg loads and above: free mobile pickup in Melbourne and surrounding areas
Industrial scrap metal removal services suit loads of 500 kg or more. For these, we offer free mobile pickup across Melbourne and surrounding areas, with no call out fees or fuel surcharges. Our crew arrives with vehicles and lifting gear, weighs the load on site and pays you the same day. You can find our contact details on the Johny Metal Recycling.
Smaller loads: bring them to the yard at 1/9 Breaside Drive, Breaside VIC 3195
Free pickup only applies to loads of 500 kg or more. Smaller loads need to come to our yard at 1/9 Breaside Drive, Breaside VIC 3195. Sorting matters even more here, because a sorted load moves across the scales much faster.
Site access checklist: clear path, safe loading spot, bins and pallets, lifting gear on the crew’s side
Run through this list before the crew arrives:
- Clear path: move vehicles, stock and obstacles between the material and the truck.
- Safe loading spot: flat, firm ground, away from staff walkways and overhead hazards.
- Bins and pallets: keep each metal type in its own bin, cage or pallet, labelled if you can.
- Lifting gear: we bring it. Just tell us about any very heavy single items when you book.
- A contact person: someone on site who knows where the material came from.
Example: a workshop clean out with steel offcuts, aluminium extrusions and a few old motors
Picture a fabrication workshop clearing out its back corner. It has a stack of steel offcuts, a pile of aluminium extrusion ends and five old electric motors.
The right setup is three groups. The steel goes on pallets or in a skip, the aluminium goes in its own cage, and the motors sit on a pallet with the gearbox oil drained. When the crew arrives, each group goes on the scales by itself, so the aluminium earns its own rate. In July 2026 that rate was $1.80 to $2.80 per kg, against $0.30 to $0.42 for HMS steel. Tip the aluminium in with the steel and much of that difference is lost.
What happens at weighing and payment
Weighing happens on the spot, and payment is made the same day on collection.
Calibrated scales and on the spot weighing
We use calibrated scales and weigh your load on the spot. You see the figures for each metal before anything leaves your site, so there are no surprises later.
Same day payment on collection, no hidden fees
You are paid the same day on collection. What we quote is what you receive, with no hidden fees.
Why prices must be confirmed by phone on the day (rates move daily)
Scrap metal prices follow world commodity markets and change daily. A rate you saw last week, or in this guide, may well have moved. Always phone on the day to confirm the figure before you load up.
Common preparation mistakes and how to fix them
Most problems on collection day come from a handful of habits that are easy to avoid.
Table: mistake, what happens at the yard, and the quick fix
| Mistake | What Happens at the Yard | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mixing Copper in with Steel | Copper risks being paid at a much lower rate. | Use a magnet test and separate the metals before pickup. |
| Leaving Brass Fittings on Copper Pipe | The pipe may be downgraded to a mixed copper grade. | Cut or unscrew the fittings at the joint. |
| Undrained Engines or Gearboxes | The item can hold up the pickup. | Drain oil and fluids beforehand, following safe handling requirements. |
| Cutting into a Fridge’s Cooling System | Creates safety and handling problems. | Leave the cooling system sealed and call first. |
| Overstating a Car’s Condition | The quote may be revised on the day. | Describe the vehicle honestly when booking. |
| No Explanation for Cut Wiring or Unusual Items | Extra questions may arise, and the material may be declined. | Keep invoices or job details handy. |
| Blocked Access to the Material | Causes slower pickup and potential safety risks. | Clear a path and provide a flat loading area. |
| Booking a Pickup for Under 500 kg | The load may not qualify for free mobile pickup. | Bring smaller loads directly to the yard. |
Ready to book a pickup or bring your load in?
Preparation comes down to five habits: sort, strip, drain, stack and confirm. You do not need to scrub rust or pull motors apart. You do need to keep metals separate, remove fluids, give the crew safe access and be ready to say where your material came from.
If your business has 500 kg or more ready to go, call us to confirm today’s rates and book a free mobile pickup anywhere in Melbourne and surrounding areas. We will weigh it on calibrated scales in front of you and pay you the same day. Smaller loads are welcome at our yard at 1/9 Breaside Drive, Breaside.