If you’ve got copper wiring, aluminum parts, or pieces of old cast iron lying around Eau Claire, knowing current prices can mean a healthy payout instead of getting shorted. Here's what's going on locally in 2025 and how you can trade smarter.
Local Yard Prices in Eau Claire (Cooley’s Statewide Scrap & Salvage – updated August 2025)
- Steel & Iron
- Junk Cars & Sheet Iron: $120/ton
- 3′ Prepared Iron: $180/ton
- #1 Cast Iron: $185/ton
- Unprepared Steel: $160/ton cooleysscrap.com
- Copper
- #1 Copper: $3.50–3.60/lb
- #2 Copper: $3.35–3.45/lb
- THHN Insulated Copper Wire: $2.25–2.35/lb
- Romex Copper Wire: $1.80–1.90/lb
- Household Extension Cord Wire: $0.50–0.60/lb
- Harness Wire: $1.00/lb
- Clean Auto Radiators: $2.00–2.10/lb cooleysscrap.com
- Brass
- Yellow Brass: $2.20–2.30/lb cooleysscrap.com
- Aluminum
- AL-CU Radiators: $1.50–1.60/lb
- Aluminum Cans: $0.60/lb
- Aluminum Rims: $0.75–0.85/lb
- Cast Aluminum: $0.40–0.50/lb
- Clean Aluminum: $0.45–0.55/lb
- Painted Siding: $0.50–0.60/lb cooleysscrap.com
- Miscellaneous
- Catalytic Converters: $15–300 each
- Auto Batteries: $0.15/lb
- Electric Motors: $0.20/lb
- Soft Lead: $0.35/lb
- Non-Magnetic Stainless Steel: $0.25/lb cooleysscrap.com
Citywide Averages in Eau Claire (via ScrapMonster, May 2025)
- Aluminum: $1.55/lb (Al/Cu radiators), $0.60/lb (cans), $0.80/lb (rims) ScrapMonster
- Brass: Up to $2.25/lb for yellow brass ScrapMonster
- Copper: #1 Copper around $3.55/lb, #2 at $3.35/lb ScrapMonster
- Lead: Soft lead roughly $0.35/lb ScrapMonster
- Stainless Steel: Non-magnetic grade about $0.25/lb ScrapMonster
- Steel & Cast Iron: $95–185/ton depending on type ScrapMonster
- Zinc Die Cast: ~$0.30/lb ScrapMonster
What This Means for You
| Metal | Cooley’s Rate (Typical) | Citywide High Averages | Fast Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Copper | ~$3.50–3.60/lb | ~$3.55/lb | You're getting fair rates. |
| Aluminum Cans | $0.60/lb | ~$0.60/lb | On point, but check for cleaner lots. |
| Clean Copper Radiators | ~$2.05/lb | — | Very strong rate—nice margin. |
| Yellow Brass | ~$2.25/lb | ~$2.25/lb | Fair match with high average. |
| Cast Iron | ~$185/ton | ~$185/ton | Top dollar—great for bulky loads. |
Even minor grade variations, like clean versus mixed aluminum or copper with insulation, make real price differences. So keep your scrap tidy—it pays.
Why Local Rates Swing
- Quality: Clean and sorted scrap (think stripped wire or alloy-specific loads) fetch dramatically better rates.
- Volume: Dumps heavier loads—higher profit potential if bulk pricing applies.
- Timing: Yards react to national and global scrap trends—prices change often.
- Transparency: Some shops update frequently; others lag behind.
Trade Smarter with ScrapTrade
Instead of rushing from yard to yard, ScrapTrade gives you:
- Live pricing view across copper, aluminum, brass, steel, and more.
- Access to verified buyers beyond Eau Claire, with competitive offers.
- Escrow-secured transactions, so your money is safe from the first weigh.
- Effortless logistics, including pickups that remove distance from your strategy.
You still get the convenience of local yards—but with market beating offers and zero hassle.