Every single time we speak to someone first getting involved in the scrap metal industry, the first question we ask them is "Do you know the laws in your area?". So many beginners, including ourselves when we got started, underestimate how regulated the buying and selling of scrap metals really is. Some states have incredibly restrictive laws, that require records, payment restrictions and more. The US can be a complex place to sell scrap, because each state has their own individual laws. Some being incredibly strict and some very lenient.
Tennessee has some of the strictest laws in the US in an attempt to combat its scrap metal theft problem. To help get your head around these laws we have been through all the laws and summarized everything that you need to know before you set foot on a scrap yard.
First and foremost do not forget your ID. You will not be able to sell scrap in Tennessee without it (or any other state for that matter). Scrap yards are required to keep a copy of your ID, a description of the car or vehicle including the license plate number. Most surprising to most newcomers, all scrap yards in Tennessee are required to keep a copy of your fingerprints. All of this must be kept on record for a minimum of three years. Finally are the payment restrictions. All payments must be paid by check, which is sent to the home address of an individual or the working address of a business.
Now that you have a good idea of how the laws work for selling scrap metal in Tennessee, let's take a look at some of the better scrap yards. Starting in Nashville, Tennessee's state capital and largest city, our recommendations are: Southern Recycling LLC and PSC Metals LLC. Our research in Memphis found that the best scrap yards are: Memphis Industrial Scrap LLC and Iskiwitz Metals. Both have great service and the best scrap metal prices.
Below is a list of cities in Tennessee for which we have looked up the latest scrap metal prices and the best scrap yards.
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
Aluminum | $1.07 |
Aluminum Alloy | $0.90 |
Copper | $3.87 |
Brass | $2.98 |
Lead | $0.83 |
Nickel | $7.11 |
Tin | $13.37 |
Zinc | $1.25 |
Last Updated On 2024-10-14
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
Aluminum 1100 | $0.74 |
Aluminum 3003 | $0.74 |
Aluminum 356 Wheels (clean) | $0.74 |
Aluminum 356 Wheels (dirty) | $0.52 |
Aluminum 5052 Scrap | $0.99 |
Aluminum 6061 Extrusions | $0.65 |
Aluminum 6063 Extrusions | $0.86 |
Aluminum 6063 Extrusions/Fe | $0.63 |
Aluminum/Cu Radiators | $1.73 |
Aluminum/Cu/Fe Radiators | $1.60 |
Aluminum Radiators | $0.42 |
Aluminum/Fe Radiators | $0.31 |
Transformers | $0.18 |
Breakage 50% Recovery | $0.23 |
Chrome Wheels | $0.69 |
E.C. Wire | $1.14 |
Litho Sheets | $0.74 |
Mixed Turnings | $0.43 |
MLC Clips | $0.73 |
Aluminum Old Cast | $0.70 |
Aluminum Old Sheet | $0.69 |
Painted Siding | $0.68 |
UBC | $0.73 |
Zorba 90% NF | $0.69 |
Aluminum Cans (clean) | $0.53 |
Aluminum Cans (dirty) | $0.27 |
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
Red Brass | $2.03 |
Yellow Brass | $1.91 |
Brass Rod | $1.86 |
Brass Hair Wire | $2.00 |
Brass Pipe | $1.82 |
Brass Radiators | $1.55 |
Brass Shells | $1.72 |
Brass Turnings | $1.76 |
Bronze | $2.09 |
Bronze Turnings | $1.09 |
Dirty Brass | $0.91 |
Dirty Brass Radiators | $0.91 |
Plumbers Brass | $1.82 |
Semi-Red Brass | $1.85 |
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
#1 Bare Bright Copper Wire | $3.39 |
#1 Copper Tubing | $3.17 |
#1 Flashing Copper | $3.17 |
#2 Copper Tubing | $2.99 |
#2/3 Mix Copper | $2.90 |
#3 Copper with Tar | $2.72 |
#3 Roofing Copper | $2.81 |
Dirty Roofing Copper | $2.62 |
Electric Motors - Copper | $2.35 |
Enameled Copper | $2.67 |
Insulated Copper Wire | $2.72 |
Lead Coated Copper | $2.29 |
Silver Plated Copper | $2.90 |
Tin Coated Copper | $2.53 |
Tin Insulated Copper Wire | $2.53 |
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
Lead Batteries | $0.17 |
Lead Shot | $0.39 |
Lead Wheel Weights | $0.25 |
Solid Lead | $0.52 |
Soft Lead | $0.54 |
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
New Zinc Die Cast | $0.78 |
Old Zinc Die Cast | $0.67 |
Metal | Price per Gram | Price per Troy Ounce |
---|---|---|
9ct Gold | $27.56 | $857.23 |
14ct Gold | $42.99 | $1,337.27 |
18ct Gold | $55.12 | $1,714.43 |
22ct Gold | $67.32 | $2,093.89 |
24ct Gold | $73.49 | $2,285.67 |
In the table above you'll find today's scrap gold price for the different purities of gold. Scrap gold prices (as well as scrap prices for other precious metals) are usually set in troy ounces.
One troy ounce (Oz) is equal to around 31.1 grams.
Metal | Price per Gram | Price per Troy Ounce |
---|---|---|
Palladium | $22.39 | $696.53 |
Platinum | $20.39 | $634.20 |
Silver | $0.74 | $22.88 |
Above are today's scrap prices for silver, palladium and platinum.
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
#1 Bundle | $0.09 |
#1 Busheling | $0.09 |
#1 HMS | $0.06 |
HMS 80/20 | $0.05 |
Sheet Metal | $0.05 |
Shredded Auto Scrap | $0.07 |
Structural Steel | $0.06 |
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
201 SS | $0.26 |
301 SS | $0.38 |
304 SS Solid | $0.55 |
304 SS Turning | $0.47 |
309 SS | $0.71 |
310 SS | $1.08 |
316 SS Solid | $0.71 |
330 SS | $1.77 |
Above are today's prices for stainless steel. Stainless steel is very much in demand currently due to it's use in construction.
Metal | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
Scrap #1 Prepared | $0.07 |
Scrap #2 Prepared | $0.08 |
Scrap #1 Unprepared | $0.05 |
Scrap #2 Unprepared | $0.06 |
Scrap Auto Slabs Whole | $0.06 |
Scrap Cast Iron | $0.09 |
Scrap Dishwashers | $0.06 |
Scrap Dryers | $0.06 |
Scrap Oversize Torch | $0.08 |
Scrap Rebar | $0.18 |
Scrap Washing Machines | $0.06 |
Scrap Water Heaters | $0.06 |
Electronics | Price Per Pound |
---|---|
Scrap Back Panels | Contact local scrap yard |
Scrap Cellphones | |
Scrap Computer Wire | |
Scrap CPU Chips | |
Scrap CRT Monitors | |
Scrap Empty PC Servers | |
Scrap Graphics Cards | |
Scrap Hard Drives | Contact local scrap yard |
Scrap Hard Drive Boards | |
Scrap Laptops | |
Scrap LCD Monitors | |
Scrap Low Grade Boards | |
Scrap Mainframes | |
Scrap Memory | |
Scrap Mice | |
Scrap Motherboards | Contact local scrap yard |
Scrap Non-Green PC Boards | |
Scrap PC Boards | |
Scrap PC Tower | |
Scrap Power Supplies | |
Scrap Printers/Fax Machines | |
Scrap Servers | |
Scrap Speakers | |
Scrap Telecom Equipment | Contact local scrap yard |