Sell scrap cans: aluminium and steel can recycling for businesses
Aluminium drinks cans are among the most valuable packaging materials by weight, and steel food cans also have a ready market. Separate the two with a magnet and bale them to earn the best price.
This guide is for businesses. If you are a householder, use your council's recycling service or your local recycling centre instead.
What are scrap cans worth?
Aluminium cans are quoted per kilo or per tonne and follow the aluminium market. Steel cans are sold per tonne at a much lower price.
What you are paid depends on:
- The metal. Aluminium is worth several times more than steel, so separation pays.
- Cleanliness. Leftover drink, food, plastic and glass lower the price.
- Density. Baled or crushed cans cost less to store and haul.
- Volume. Buyers offer better terms for regular, larger loads.
For current market figures, see our scrap metal prices page, which is updated every month.
Types of scrap can
| Type | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium cans | Used drinks cans. Not magnetic | The highest paid |
| Steel cans | Food tins and some drinks cans. Magnetic | Lower, and sold per tonne |
| Mixed cans | Aluminium and steel together | Lower, as the buyer must separate them |
| Foil and trays | Clean aluminium foil and food trays | A separate, lower grade |
| Aerosols | Empty aerosol cans | Only where the buyer accepts them. Never pierce or crush them |
How to prepare cans for sale
- Separate aluminium from steel with a magnet. Steel sticks and aluminium does not.
- Empty the cans and give food tins a quick rinse.
- Keep out plastic bottles, glass and food waste.
- Crush or bale the cans to save space and haulage.
- Store them dry and under cover.
- Keep aerosols separate unless your buyer has agreed to take them.
Your legal duties when you sell cans
- 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 cans 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 cans.
- Browse the directory of waste processors to find buyers and carriers who handle scrap cans, 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 cans
Frequently asked questions
How many cans make a kilo?
An empty 330 ml aluminium can weighs roughly 13 to 15 grams, so a kilo is around 65 to 75 cans.
Do I need to crush the cans?
No, but crushed or baled cans take up far less space and cost less to haul, which improves the price you are offered.
Are aerosols accepted?
Only by some buyers, and only when completely empty. Never pierce or crush an aerosol.
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 aluminium, Sell scrap steel, Sell glass waste.