In brief
AJK Recycling buys back metals and batteries by aligning with the today's course, with a clear and up-to-date price list. Copper, aluminum, cables and batteries are valued differently depending on their quality and their actual metal yield. Individuals and professionals alike can empty out a workshop, garage or construction site while recovering a significant amount of money. The prices remain indicative, because they follow the metal exchange, but the transparency and practical advice on site simplify sorting and selling. To make a trip profitable, a minimum billing amount is planned, which encourages grouping together several types of metal waste.
Key takeaways
- Prices indexed to LME courses for copper, aluminum, lead, zinc and other metals.
- Detailed price list : aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, cables, motors, scrap metal, batteries.
- Quality and sorting which cause the price per kilo to vary (better paid clean metals).
- Minimum billing of €15 which encourages you to bring sufficient volume.
- Estimate possible before travel via telephone or photos, depending on the case.
AJK Recycling: how are the purchase prices of metals set on a daily basis?
At AJK Recycling, the redemption price is never chosen at random. The amounts per kilo are linked to the international metal prices, notably those of the London Metal Exchange, the *London Metal Exchange*. When copper increases in value, the purchase price increases. When it falls, the price also falls. This allows you to have a price consistent with the real market and to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Prices displayed as “ indicative purchase price » correspond to a specific date, for example 05/27/2026. They serve as a benchmark. Depending on the situation, copper can be around €9.80/kg for very clean millberry, while a mixed copper goes a little lower. Aluminum revolves around €1.00/kg for aluminum casing or mixed, with bonuses for certain better sorted qualities. This logic applies to all metals, from brass to zinc, including stainless steel.
The repurchase of metals therefore remains dynamic. A publication from *AJK Recyclage* may indicate that prices of copper and brass are on the rise. Now is a good time to report scrap plumbing, cables or end-of-life auto parts. A craftsman who follows this information can schedule his destocking at the most interesting time. Even for an individual emptying a garage, a few kilos more or less of copper or aluminum can make a real difference on the final ticket.
This way of working, closely linked to the metal stock exchange, provides a form of transparency appreciable. Customers know that their scrap metal is not sold off, but paid for according to a global benchmark. Result: recycling becomes a more natural reflex, because the wallet follows. A fair price, based on today's prices, remains the best motivation for not letting metals sleep in a corner.
Why does the quality of the metal change everything about the price per kilo?
The amount per kilo depends enormously on the cleanliness of metal. A simple example: a department dedicated to copper distinguishes the millberry copper or removal, very clean, around €9.80/kg, of mixed copper around €9.30/kg, or even mixed copper with brass tips and iron collars, down to around €6.00/kg. The more impurities, the more work the buyer has to do to separate the materials, so the less they can pay.
For aluminum, same logic. Thealuminum housing or mixed is around €1.00/kg, while type aluminum AGS, free of thermal bridges, joints or sealants, climbs up to €1.40/kg. Aluminum rims, very recognizable, are negotiated at a specific price, around €1.70/kg. A handyman who takes five minutes to remove unnecessary iron or plastic before coming directly improves the value of his lot.
An aluminum-copper radiator without iron or plastic illustrates this principle of “cleaning” well. Well sorted, it can reach almost €3.70/kg. If there are any steel fasteners, fans or other undisassembled items left, it drops to a lower paid category. This sorting may seem tedious, but it is immediately apparent when weighing. An old home heater can ultimately pay for part of the new installation.
When it comes to metals, the moral is simple: serious sorting is worth a few euros more on each recycling pass. Those who methodically dismantle bits, screws and plastic parts end the day with a much more interesting ticket.
Purchase price of copper, brass and cables at AJK Recyclage
Copper remains the “star” of the buyout. At AJK Recycling, there are several forms of copper, each having its price. The millberry copper or removal, for example from unsheathed and very shiny electrical conductors, is placed in the highest bracket, around €9.80/kg. The mixed copper, generally a mixture of less clean pipes and wires, is a little lower, around €9.30/kg. When copper is tinned or attached to other metals, the price gradually drops.
A mixed copper with brass ends and steel collars tends to cost around €6.00/kg. The solid tinned copper goes back to around €8.00/kg, while the tinned copper heating body reach around €6.40/kg. A “half red” radiator without iron, well sorted, costs around €3.50/kg. The brass, very common in taps, can aim for a price close to €5.10/kg. A plumber who empties his stock of scraps can therefore leave with a respectable sum.
THE copper cables require special treatment. The price is based on the copper yield contained in the sheath. At *AJK Recyclage*, it is advisable to inquire directly, but we find an order of magnitude around €3.10/kg for certain copper cables, €1.70/kg for computer cables, and only €0.25/kg for copper-lead-iron cables. As soon as the sheath is thicker or more metals mix, the efficiency drops.
Aluminum cables complete the picture, with a price close to €0.60/kg. An electrician returning from a large construction site can therefore sort his bundles: copper cables of good cross-section, computer cables, sheath scraps, and thus make the best use of each kilo. Those who mix everything in the same bag logically end up with the least interesting category.
To get your bearings quickly, a summary table allows you to compare some indicative prices observed over the recent period:
| Type of metal or cable | Common example | Indicative price per kg |
|---|---|---|
| Millberry copper or removal | Bare electrical wires, shiny copper | ≈ €9.80/kg |
| Mixed copper | Miscellaneous pipes and wires less clean | ≈ €9.30/kg |
| Mixed copper with end caps | Pipes with brass and iron clamps | ≈ €6.00/kg |
| Brass | Faucets, fittings | ≈ €5.10/kg |
| Copper cables (depending on performance) | Conventional electrical cables | ≈ €3.10/kg |
| Copper computer cables | Network cables, data | ≈ €1.70/kg |
| Copper-lead-iron cables | Old mixed cables | ≈ 0.25 €/kg |
These amounts remain subject to change, but they give a concrete idea of the differences between perfectly sorted copper and a “dirtier” lot. For those who like to optimize, the difference on a full trailer can be impressive.
How to prepare your cables to get a better price?
To obtain a better yield, the objective is to maximize the proportion of copper in relation to the sheath and other metals. Some people choose to strip part of the cables themselves, especially for thick sections. This can transform a cable paid at the “copper cables” rate into much more attractive millberry copper.
However, this operation takes time and requires suitable tools. On small diameters or very long lengths, it is often best to leave it to the professionals, because the gain does not always compensate for the effort. On the other hand, separating very mixed cables (with steel, lead or solid connectors) from standard cables at the source already represents progress. The homemade sorting bin, with a “bare copper” box, a “conventional cables” box and a “special cables” box, becomes a good reflex.
*AJK Recyclage* technicians can also provide practical advice on site by looking at a sample. A craftsman who comes by for the first time to find out generally leaves with a more efficient sorting method for his next projects. In the end, less time wasted and more euros per kilo.
Prices for aluminum, stainless steel, zinc and ferrous metals
Côté aluminum, the *AJK Recyclage* grid covers several categories. Aluminum casing and mixed aluminum are around €1.00/kg. AGS type aluminum, without iron, without thermal bridges and without sealants, costs around €1.40/kg. The aluminum rims, very common in auto mechanics, reach nearly €1.70/kg when they are well free of their tires and accessories.
THE aluminum-copper radiators, stripped of their iron parts and plastics, can go for up to €3.70/kg. We find the same sorting logic here: removing unnecessary fans, fixings and frames makes all the difference. A garage that changes a lot of radiators can therefore organize a specific bin for this type of part in order to avoid throwing them away with conventional scrap metal.
THE zinc is around €1.40/kg, quite common in old gutters and roofing. The18/8 stainless steel hovers around €0.70/kg, present in certain exhausts, worktops or industrial equipment. The electric motors, which mix copper, iron and aluminum, cost close to €0.60/kg, while ferrous metals are trading at around €0.28/kg.
For iron and cast iron, the grid generally announces a price between €0.14 and €0.17/kg depending on the quality. A trailer of beams, locksmith scraps or sheet metal certainly brings less per kilo than copper, but the volumes are often greater. A construction company emptying a site can quickly reach several hundred kilos, or even more.
This valuation of ferrous metals remains a good complement to make a trip profitable. Even if the unit sum seems modest, it avoids waste and reduces conventional waste bins. Well-sorted steel thus finds a second life in new structures or new vehicles.
How to quickly distinguish between aluminum, stainless steel and steel?
In the field, differentiating between aluminum, stainless steel and steel is not always easy. A simple trick is to use a magnet. Steel is strongly magnetic, stainless steel is sometimes slightly magnetic depending on its composition, while aluminum does not react. By testing the magnet on a rim, a profile or a sheet, we can already classify it in the correct family.
Color and weight also give clues. Aluminum is generally lighter, with a light gray tint. Stainless steel leans towards a darker gray, often with a shinier finish. Steel, especially if it is rusty, is quickly recognized by its surface. This little identification “game” quickly becomes a reflex, and allows aluminum to be separated from conventional scrap metal before being recycled.
Once you get used to it, a handyman or craftsman can keep a pile of aluminum scraps separately, which he will bring to *AJK Recyclage* to benefit from the specific rate. Sorting errors are reduced, and weighing better reflects the true value of the lot. A simple magnet in your pocket can therefore bring in a few euros more with each visit.
Purchase of batteries, lead and practical conditions at AJK Recyclage
THE batteries cars, trucks or various machines represent an often forgotten source of value. At AJK Recycling, the purchase price of batteries is around €0.35/kg. The lead pure, for example from old ballast or old pipes, tends to cost around €1.00/kg. Even if these amounts seem modest, a pallet of batteries from a vehicle fleet can represent a good sum.
Batteries concentrate lead, acids and other components that are potentially harmful to the environment. Depositing them in a specialized center avoids illegal dumping and ensures secure support. The user does not need to disassemble or open the battery: it is taken as is, then processed in a suitable channel. This simple action avoids lasting pollution of soil and water.
AJK Recyclage also specifies practical conditions, such as minimum billing of €15. This means that below this amount, the transaction is not paid to the customer, because the processing and management fees would be too high. To make a trip profitable, it is therefore better to group together several types of metal: batteries, cables, copper scraps, rims, motors, even scrap metal.
THE catalytic converters constitute a special case. Their value depends on the precise reference and the content of precious metals. For this reason, *AJK Recyclage* does not give prices over the phone. It is necessary to bring the part in order to check the model. An auto professional who changes a lot of catalytic converters knows well that some models are worth significantly more than others, sometimes without it being visible to the naked eye.
How to organize your visit to AJK Recyclage to save time?
Before going on site, a basic sorting saves a lot of time. The ideal is to separate large families: copper and brass, aluminum, scrap and cast iron, batteries, cables, engines and specific parts such as catalysts. Once on site, each category will go into the appropriate bin and will be weighed separately.
For a more detailed estimate, it is possible to consult the updated purchase price grid on the *AJK Recyclage* website and, for certain lots, to request an initial idea by telephone or by sending photos. The prices remaining indexed to the today's course, confirmation will always be made at the time of actual weighing. A regular craftsman knows that it is preferable to check the price the same morning, especially on large volumes.
This organization avoids unnecessary return trips and allows the trailer or truck to be loaded in a logical way: batteries together, non-ferrous metals separately, large volume of scrap metal last. Reception on site is simplified, and the transaction is faster. In the end, those who prepare their visit as little as possible come out with a clear ticket, detailed by type of metal, and above all with the feeling of really having recovered its waste.
How can I find out the purchase price of metals from AJK Recyclage on the same day?
The purchase prices of metals are indexed to market prices, in particular the London Metal Exchange. To find out the daily rate, simply consult the updated grid on the AJK Recyclage website or contact them before traveling. The final price is always confirmed at the time of weighing on site.
Why is clean copper paid more than mixed copper?
Clean copper, such as millberry or deposit, contains very few impurities and requires less processing work. It can therefore be resold for more on the market, which allows AJK Recyclage to pay more per kilo. Copper mixed with brass, iron or tin requires additional sorting and has its price reduced.
Should batteries be dismantled before taking them for recycling?
Batteries must not be dismantled. They are taken back complete, then processed in a specialized sector which recovers the lead and neutralizes the acids. The purchase price is per kilo, generally around €0.35/kg, without the customer having to open or empty the battery.
How to optimize the invoice amount at AJK Recyclage?
To improve the amount obtained, it is advisable to sort the metals by family, clean the parts as much as possible (remove iron and unnecessary plastics) and group together enough material to exceed the minimum billing of €15. Bringing copper, aluminum, cables, batteries and scrap metal all at once often makes the trip fully profitable.
Why are no catalytic converter prices given over the phone?
The value of a catalytic converter depends on its reference and the actual quantity of precious metals it contains. Two models that are very similar visually can have a different value. This is why AJK Recyclage prefers to check the part on site before announcing a price, in order to remain fair and consistent with the market.