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Copper Recycling That Keeps the Material Circular

Owner-operated · Minneapolis Local

Copper Recycling That Keeps the Material Circular

Licensed Twin Cities crew, volume-based pricing, and a 10% price-beat guarantee on every copper recycling job.

4.9 from 1,987 Google reviews

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What copper recycling involves

Copper recycling is worth doing right, and it starts with understanding the value in what you're holding. Scrap copper is one of the few materials that retains its quality through infinite recycling cycles, which is why demand from manufacturers and the secondary metals market stays high year-round. If you're wondering whether it's worth recycling your copper rather than tossing it, the answer is almost always yes. Junk Genius has been hauling and recycling metal across the Twin Cities metro for about 15 years, with MN License #3772090-2, 1,987 Google reviews averaging 4.9 stars, and a 10% price-beat guarantee. Call (612) 444-5865 for a free, no-obligation quote.

Copper recycling with Junk Genius covers residential scrap, commercial overstock, and everything in between. The cost of recycling copper varies based on volume, type (bare bright, #1, #2, insulated wire), and whether you need pickup or drop-off. We offer flexible options for both. What drives the price up or down isn't mysterious: cleaner copper grades (bare bright wire, uncoated tubing) command better processing rates than insulated or painted material. Volume matters too. Every job is different, contact Junk Genius for an accurate estimate.

WHY RECYCLE COPPER

Copper Is Too Valuable to Throw Away

Recycling copper uses about 85% less energy than extracting it from raw ore: that's not a rounding error, it's a structural advantage.

Copper mining depletes finite natural resources and generates significant carbon output at every stage of extraction and refining. Recycling bypasses most of that. The 85% energy savings figure is well-documented across the metals industry, and it translates directly into lower greenhouse gas emissions per pound of usable copper produced. Every piece of copper recycled through our process supports the kind of circular economy where materials stay in use rather than getting buried. We don't treat recycling as a back-office afterthought, our crews hold Recycling Management certifications, and we track where material goes after pickup. If you're also clearing out appliances, old electronics, or general clutter, our electronics recycling and removal service runs alongside copper pickup on the same job.
Junk removal service in progress showing a stripped vehicle body and automotive scrap metal being hauled away on a rooftop.

WHAT WE ACCEPT

Copper Grades and Forms We Recycle

Not all copper is the same grade, and knowing the difference affects your rate.

Bare Bright Copper Wire

The cleanest and highest-value grade. Uncoated, unalloyed copper wire stripped of insulation. This is what gets top processing rates in the secondary metals market.

#1 Copper Tubing and Bus Bars

Uncoated copper tubing, clippings, and bus bars with no paint, solder, or heavy oxidation. Common in plumbing renovations and HVAC replacements.

#2 Copper and Mixed Scrap

Coated, soldered, or lightly corroded copper from older construction. Still fully recyclable, though it processes at a lower rate than cleaner grades.

Insulated Copper Wire

Electrical wiring still in its insulation jacket. We handle this too. The insulation is separated during processing, and the core copper is recovered.

Copper Pipe from Demolitions

Renovation and light demolition projects produce copper pipe in volume. We can coordinate a pickup alongside a broader construction debris removal job.

Commercial and Industrial Copper

Larger volumes from manufacturing, electrical contractors, or building teardowns. We offer on-site commercial pickups and can scale to the volume you have.

HOW IT WORKS

Three Steps from Scrap to Recycled

  1. 01

    Get Your Free Quote

    Call (612) 444-5865 or submit an online estimate. Tell us what you have, roughly how much, and whether you need pickup or drop-off. No obligation, no pressure.

  2. 02

    We Collect and Sort

    Our crew picks up at your location or you drop off at a designated point. We sort by copper grade on-site to ensure each material type is processed correctly.

  3. 03

    Copper Gets Recycled, Not Landfilled

    Sorted copper goes directly to licensed recycling processors. None of it ends up in a landfill. You get confirmation, and the material goes back into the supply chain.

WHO CALLS US

Residential and Commercial Copper Recycling

Homeowners doing a bathroom or kitchen remodel pull copper pipe. Electricians finishing a commercial job have leftover wire. HVAC contractors swap out old coils and tubing. All of it is recyclable, and none of it should go in a dumpster when it still has material value. We work with homeowners who have a single bundle of wire and contractors who have a truck bed full of tubing from a large-scale renovation. For whole-property cleanouts that include copper along with everything else, our house and garage cleanout service covers the full scope in one visit. If you're dealing with a larger commercial situation, our commercial junk removal team handles volume pickup with on-site scheduling.
Garage junk removal service showing an empty garage space after debris and clutter have been cleared out.

OUR PRICING

Volume-Based Pricing and a 10% Price-Beat Guarantee

No-Obligation Quotes

Every copper recycling quote is free and comes with zero pressure. Tell us what you have and we'll give you a straight number before we schedule anything.

Volume-Based Pricing

Larger quantities of copper are priced to reflect scale. The more you have, the better the per-unit economics. We don't apply flat minimums that penalize small jobs either.

10% Price-Beat Guarantee

If a licensed competitor quotes you a better rate for an equivalent copper recycling service, we'll beat it by 10%. Bring the competing quote and we'll do the math.

Flexible Pickup and Drop-Off

Need us to come to you? We schedule on-site collection for residential and commercial customers. Prefer to drop off? We'll confirm the location and timeframe when you call.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

What Our Customers Say

Diane Hansmeier

I had a few places come do estimates, and Junk Genius was definitely the most reasonable. They were also able to switch our day/time when we had something coming up. Big shout out to Lester and Isaiah! They were friendly, respectful of the space, and incredibly efficient!

Dusty Kemmis

Fast and very good communication. Cleaned out some debris I have been looking at for months. Well worth the price for getting it gone quickly. Saved me a day of doing it myself. Thank you!

Shannon Stordahl

Owen and Curtis were so helpful in figuring out how to address my unwanted items! They had great ideas to make it for my budget. Very kind, professional, and explained everything. Great experience.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Copper Recycling Questions, Answered Directly

How much can I get for 1 lb of copper?
Copper scrap prices fluctuate with commodity markets, so there's no single fixed answer. Bare bright copper wire typically commands the highest per-pound rate; #2 mixed copper and insulated wire run lower. For a current rate on your specific grade and volume, call (612) 444-5865 and we'll give you a straight quote based on what you actually have.
How much will I get for recycling copper?
The total value of a copper recycling job depends on grade, weight, and current market pricing. A small residential bundle of bare copper tubing from a plumbing swap-out is a different conversation than 200 lbs of insulated electrical wire from a commercial renovation. We price by volume, we don't charge hidden processing fees, and our 10% price-beat guarantee means you don't have to wonder if you're getting a fair number.
Is it worth it to scrap copper?
Honestly, yes, for almost any quantity. Copper is one of the few materials that retains full recyclability through repeated cycles, and the secondary market for it is active year-round. Even smaller residential quantities have value. What's not worth it is driving across town for a handful of fittings. We'll tell you upfront whether a pickup makes sense or whether drop-off is the right call for your volume.
What are the current scrap metal prices in Minnesota?
Scrap metal prices in Minnesota, including copper, track the London Metal Exchange and domestic demand from manufacturers. They shift week to week. Rather than publish a rate that's outdated by Tuesday, we quote from current market data when you call. For copper specifically, grades and condition have a bigger impact on your rate than most people expect, bare bright wire can run significantly higher per pound than heavily corroded #2 pipe.
Can I mix copper with other scrap metals for pickup?
Yes, but mixed loads are sorted before processing, and copper is separated from aluminum, steel, and other metals regardless. If you've got a full cleanout with copper tubing, old appliances, and general debris, we can handle the entire haul in one trip. The sorting happens on our end. See our electronics recycling and removal page if you also have computers, monitors, or other e-waste in the mix.
Do you recycle copper from older Twin Cities homes being renovated?
All the time. Homes in the metro with original plumbing from the mid-20th century often have substantial copper pipe throughout. When homeowners or contractors pull that material during a remodel, it shouldn't go in the trash. We pick up renovation copper from active job sites and completed remodels alike. If there's a larger cleanout happening at the same time, our house and garage cleanout service covers the full scope.
More questions (1)Fewer questions
What copper types do you NOT accept?
We don't accept copper that's been contaminated with hazardous materials, copper attached to live electrical systems, or material that requires specialized hazmat handling. If you're unsure about what you have, call us first and describe it. We'd rather tell you upfront than show up and have to leave it behind. Clean, disconnected copper in any condition is almost always recyclable.

GET STARTED

Ready to Recycle Your Copper the Right Way?

Copper recycling pickup or drop-off, your call. We make it straightforward.

Call (612) 444-5865 Get a free quote

4.9 from 1,987 Google reviews

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