Make Money Scrapping and Recycling

We accept all aluminum cans. Aluminum cans that are included in the redemption program are paid for using a dual value system. Bruno’s acts as an agent for the state by refunding that portion of the assessed value due you. We also return to you a value for the metal itself. This value will fluctuate in accordance with the metal market. Being a metal processor, we are able to consistently pay you top dollar for this portion of the can value.

100 lb limit per day.

There are seven different grades of plastic included in the CRV Program. Almost all beverage containers containing juice, fruit drinks, water, and soda, are part of the program. You can determine the grade of plastic that you have by looking near the bottom of the container. Within the formed triangle, you will find a number. This number corresponds to the grade of plastic. See the section that follows below.

We accept CRV plastic only. Must contain “CA Cash Refund“ or similar message/symbol. 100 lb. limit per day.

Bruno’s Iron & Metal purchases scrap metals in various forms and quantities. Materials such as: Iron, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Aluminum, Titanium, Nickel, and much more. 

We also specialize in the purchase of all types of working or non-working salvageable machinery and equipment including: Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Turbines, Chillers, Tanks, Radiators, Pumps, Valves, Flanges, Transformers, Generators, Electric Motors, Circuit Breakers, All types of Electrical Wire and Cable, etc. 

Non-Ferrous Metals

Aluminum

To receive the highest value possible, all steel or foreign components must be removed from the aluminum. Remove screws, brackets, rivets and any other material that will attract a magnet. The highest priced aluminums are those that are non-painted or tarnished. Various aluminum alloys have different values. For instance aluminum car wheels and window frames warrant a higher price then cast aluminum. Your Bruno’s representative will be happy to explain the difference to you.

Die Cast Metal

Die Cast has an appearance close to aluminum. It can be found in products such as: carburetors, car grilles, and door handles.

Coppers

There are four basic grades of Copper:

1. B&S Bright and Shiny: Shall consist of stripped, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire not smaller than 16 gauge per strand.
2. #1 Burnt: Shall consist of clean, burnt, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire and cable not smaller than 16 gauge per strand.
3. #1 Tubing: Shall consist of clean unalloyed uncoated tubing or solids (clippings, punchings, bus bars, ect.).
4. #2 Copper: Shall consist of miscellaneous, unalloyed copper scrap (wire, tubing, or solids) having a nominal 96% copper content (minimum 94%).

Coppers should also be free from the following:

Excessively leaded, tinned, or soldered copper scrap, brasses or bronzes, excessive oil content, iron and non-metallics, copper tubing with other than copper connectors or with sediment, copper wire from burning, containing insulation, hair wire, and should be reasonably free of ash.

Insulated Coppers

Insulated coppers carry a large range of prices. The price structure is predicated on the percentage of recovery; that is the amount of copper relative to the amount of insulation. Good #1 insulated copper can bring more that twice the value of the #2 insulated copper to your pocketbook. At times it will be worth your while to strip the insulation from your wire. Again your Bruno’s representative can help you with your decision to strip the wire by indicating price differences as well as strip procedures.

Yellow Brass

Many materials are made from yellow brass such as: faucets, tubing, bolts, ect. To get the most value from your yellow brass all conflicting metals must be removed. If you are not sure is you have yellow brass, file the outside slightly. If you see a pale yellow tinge, then you can be almost certain that you have yellow brass.

Red Brass

Red brass carries a higher value than yellow brass. You will find red brass used in applications such as: valves, bushings, pump parts, and ect. To determine if you have red brass, once again, use the file test. You will notice a burnt orange hue to the material. As always a Bruno’s representative will be happy to assist you in understanding the differences in your brasses.

Radiators

The standard radiator is well worth recycling. To maximize the value you need to remove all pieces from the radiator that are magnetic.

Aluminum/Copper Radiators

The ACR has a higher value than the standard radiator. This is due to the copper content in the radiator. Once again you will get the most value from the material by removing all magnetic components.

Heater Cores

Heater cores have the appearance of a small radiator. However they carry a relatively reduced value in comparison. This is because heater cores have a higher lead content then standard radiators. The material assumes a value that is below that of a radiator.

Stainless Steel

High quality stainless steel is completely non-magnetic. Once again to maximize your money, remove all other metals. Many of the stainless steel pieces you will find also have other metals attached. Most times, but not always, it will be worth your time to clean your stainless. If your stainless pieces have a slight magnetic draw, Bruno’s would advise you not to take the time and effort to clean them. The stainless steel with a draw could be considered a 400 Series stainless steel and only has a value comparative to steel.

Breakage

Breakage is a general term used for materials such as compressors, generators, starters, electric motors and computer components (Computer Monitors are not accepted!). If you are not sure if you have breakage, analyze the piece. If there are recoverable non-ferrous metals with in the structure, you probably have breakage. Bruno’s will, more than likely, find a home for it in an overseas market. These metals will be eventually segregated and returned to circulation.

Ferrous Metal

#1 Steel

#1 steel is steel that has a 1/4″ or larger thickness, 4 feet or less in length, and 2 feet or less in width. The criteria for judging whether or not you have #1 Steel is straightforward. If Bruno’s does not need to further process the material before it is shipped to a smelter, it is considered to be #1.

#2 Steel

# 2 steel has the same dimensions as #1 steel, it’s thickness however is 1/8″ to 1/4″ . Steel truck wheels are also considered to be #2 steel.

Tin

Tin consists of any sheet steel too thin to be #2 steel. It consists of white goods or other sheet metal pieces such as car doors, fenders, or hoods.

Unprepared

This is a term used for all ferrous materials that need further handling prior to being ready for the recycling circle. The materials can be any grade of steel larger than 4 foot by 2 foot. The pricing structure is dependent on the amount of work needed to ready the material for shipment. If we need to hand torch-cut the material the value will be lower than material that can be machine processed.

Cast Iron

Good uncontaminated (with other metal) cast iron has a value higher than that of #1 steel. The size requirements are 2 feet by 2 feet, with each piece not weighing more than 300 lbs. Ceramic lined cast iron has a value approximately equal to #1 steel. The ceramic lining acts as a contaminant, therefore it has a value less than clean cast.

Motor Blocks

Motor blocks are completely recyclable. Bruno’s requires the removal of all fluids before we will accept these motors. Oil filters must be removed and the pan must be either removed or have a large hole in it to assure us that fluids are not present.

Most ready-to-drink beverages purchased in glass containers are part of the CRV program. Bruno’s requires that the lids be removed from the glass containers. It is important that glass bottles be sorted by color.

At this time Bruno’s does not accept Non-CRV glass, such as jars, lightbulbs, window glass, or mirrors.

CalRecycle requires a 500 lb. limit on CRV glass.

Glass Recycling Facts

• 41 billion glass containers were produced in the U.S. in 1992.

• Glass containers are 64% clear, 23% brown, and 13% green.

• All glass food and beverage containers can be recycled.

• Recycling a glass jar saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.

• All newly purchased glass food jars contain at least 35% recycled glass.

• In 1994, approximately 13.3 million tons of glass waste was generated in the U.S. Food and beverage containers made up 91% of this amount: the remainder came from products like cookware and glassware, home furnishings, and plate glass.

• Glass constituted 6.3% of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream in 1994.

• About 25.8% of all glass food and beverage containers were recycled in 1994. Glass had an overall recovery rate of 23.4% that same year.

• Most of the glass recovered in the U.S. is used in new glass containers. A portion is also used in fiberglass and “glasphalt” for highway construction.

  Information courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency