Copper is often referred to as the “red gold” of the scrap industry. However, just as with gold, the value varies greatly depending on the purity (carat). For those who handle scrap metal in the business — whether you are an electrician, shredder or running a workshop — sorting is the key to profitability.
The difference in compensation between throwing everything in a “mixed scrap copper” container and sorting out “Millberry” can be tens of crowns per kilogram. Here we go through the classes, the math behind scaling cable, and the most common mistakes that lower your price.
Classification: What's what in the copper container?
To get it right Copper Millberry price you need to know exactly what qualifies into the different factions. Here, the industry standard is simplified:
1. Millberry — The Gold of the Scrap Industry
This is the purest form of copper scrap and provides absolutely the highest payment.
- Requirements: Shiny, peeled copper wire. It must not be oxidized (dark), oily or tarnished.
- Dimension: The wire must be coarser than 1.5 mm in diameter.
- Source: Most often comes from scaled installation cable.
2. CU Seconda
The next step in the value chain. It is still pure copper, but the requirements are lower.
- Requirements: Copper that is oxidized, scarred or discolored. Copper pipes also end up here (if they are free of insulation and fittings).
- Source: Old water pipes, roofing sheets or wire exposed to the elements.
3. Copper Granules
When cable recycling takes place industrially, the cable is chewed down and the plastic is separated from the metal mechanically. The result is small grains of pure copper.
- Requirements: Finely ground copper without plastic residues.
- Source: Cable Recycling Plants.
Scale cable profitability: Is it worth the job?
One of the most common questions we get at Skrotify is: “Is it worth scaling the cable yourself or should I sell it as is?”
The answer depends on your hourly rate and the thickness of the cable. Let's look at a counting example.
Scenario: You have 100kg of mixed installation cable.
- Sell as cable: Cable often contains about 50-60% copper and 40-50% plastic. If you sell it unpeeled, you get paid for the copper value minus a cost for the smelter/recycler to take care of the plastic.
- Sell as Millberry: If you peel the cable, you get about 55 kg of pure Millberry copper (based on 55% yield).
The calculation:
- If cable price is X kr/kg you get: 100 kg x X kr.
- If Millberry Prize is Y kr/kg (where Y is significantly higher) you get: 55 kg x Y kr.
Conclusion:
The increase in value is often 30-50% on the material. But -- if it takes you 4 hours to scale 100kg of cable with a knife, you've “bought” that job for cheap.
- Rule of thumb: Rough cable (>10 mm) is almost always profitable to scale if you have a machine cable stripper. Thin cable (FK/EK) rarely pays to scale by hand during working hours — sell it as a cable via Skrotify instead.
Common Mistakes: Don't Shuffle the Profits
The fastest way to lose money is “downgrading”. If a smelter customer finds contaminants in a shipment of Millberry, the entire lot is graded down to CU Sekunda or even mixed scrap.
Warning for Brass:
By far the most common error is leaving brass fittings on copper pipes or in the copper scrap.
- Brass is an alloy (copper + zinc) and has a lower value.
- A single brass coupling in a box of pure copper can cause the entire box to be paid for as “mixed scrap copper” or brass.
The solution: Always cut off couplings, taps and solders. Sort the brass separately. It takes a few seconds but ensures that you get paid for 100% copper for the rest of the tube.
Summary for Maximum Compensation:
- Distinguish between glossy and dark: Place shiny, coarse wire (>1.5mm) in a separate container labeled “Millberry”.
- Clean pipes: Remove all brass fittings from the copper pipes.
- Check the price: Use Skrotify Portal to view current prices of Kabel vs. Millberry before deciding to scale.
Want to know what your scrap copper is worth today?
See current copper prices and book pickup here: www.portal.krotify.se
