Sell scrap brass: grades, prices and how to sell
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and as scrap it is usually worth more than any common metal except copper. Remove steel and plastic attachments and keep turnings separate to protect the grade.
This guide is for businesses. If you are a householder, use your council's recycling service or your local recycling centre instead.
What is scrap brass worth?
Scrap brass is quoted per kilo or per tonne, and its price follows the copper and zinc markets.
What you are paid depends on:
- The alloy. The more copper it contains, the higher the price. Gunmetal earns more than yellow brass for this reason.
- Cleanliness. Steel screws, plastic handles and rubber washers lower the grade.
- Form. Solid brass earns more than turnings, which carry oil and fine steel.
For current market figures, see our scrap brass prices page, which is updated every month.
Scrap brass grades
| Grade | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed brass | Taps, valves and fittings, with small attachments allowed | The most common grade |
| Clean heavy brass | Solid brass with nothing attached | Above mixed brass |
| Brass rod ends | New offcuts from machining | Among the best brass grades |
| Brass turnings | Swarf from machining. Must be dry and free of oil and steel | Below solid brass |
| Gunmetal | A redder alloy with more copper, used in valves and bearings | Above brass |
| Copper brass radiators | Older radiators with copper tubes and brass tanks | Priced as their own grade |
How to prepare scrap brass for sale
- Check with a magnet. Brass is not magnetic, so anything that sticks is plated steel.
- Unscrew steel bolts and remove plastic or rubber parts.
- Keep gunmetal apart from yellow brass, as it earns more.
- Store turnings in their own drained container.
- Keep rod ends and other new offcuts separate from old mixed brass.
Your legal duties when you sell scrap brass
- Licensed dealer. In England and Wales the buyer must hold a scrap metal dealer's licence from the local council.
- Identity check. The dealer must verify the seller's name and address, so whoever delivers the metal should bring identification.
- No cash. Dealers can only pay by bank transfer or by cheque. Paying cash for scrap metal is illegal.
- Duty of care. Your business must store its waste safely and hand it only to someone authorised to take it. See the official guidance.
- Registered carrier. Whoever collects your material must be a registered waste carrier. Check the public register before the first collection.
- Waste transfer note. Complete one for every load, or a season ticket for regular collections, and keep it for two years.
- Carrying it yourself. If you regularly transport your own business waste you must register as a waste carrier. In England this is free when you only carry waste your own business produced, unless it is construction or demolition waste.
- Separation at work. In England, workplaces must keep dry recyclables, food waste and non recyclable waste apart. The rules began on 31 March 2025, and firms with fewer than 10 full time equivalent employees have until 31 March 2027. Read the rules.
- Digital waste tracking. Since 1 October 2026, permitted sites that receive waste in England and Wales must record each load in the government's digital service. Carriers and dealers are due to follow in a later phase, so keep your transfer notes.
Rules differ slightly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is a plain English summary, not legal advice.
How to sell scrap brass on The Green Alchemist
- Register your business on The Green Alchemist.
- Create a selling listing with the grade, quantity, location and a clear photo of your scrap brass.
- Browse the directory of waste processors to find buyers and carriers who handle scrap brass, and contact them directly.
- Compare offers on price, collection and payment terms, and check each buyer's registration.
- Agree the collection, complete the waste transfer note and get paid by bank transfer.
Register and list your scrap brass
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell brass from copper and gunmetal?
Brass is yellow, copper is red or pink, and gunmetal is a reddish brown. A light file mark shows the true colour beneath tarnish or plating.
Do chrome plated taps count as brass?
Yes. Most taps are plated brass and sell as mixed brass. If a magnet sticks, the item is plated steel instead.
Is brass swarf worth selling?
Yes, as long as it is dry and free of steel. It earns less than solid brass because of the oil and fine contamination it carries.
Can a dealer pay me in cash?
No. In England and Wales scrap metal dealers can only pay by bank transfer or by cheque, and they must verify the seller's name and address.
Related guides: Sell scrap metal, Sell scrap copper, Sell scrap aluminium.