North American copper and aluminum Scrap Prices Rise, Increasing the Value of Efficient Metal Recovery

May 29, 2026

North American scrap metal markets recorded modest gains during the week of May 22–28, 2026, with copper, aluminum, and brass scrap prices moving higher. The latest market trend highlights the growing importance of improving non-ferrous metal recovery efficiency for recyclers and material processing companies.

Copper Scrap Prices Continue Upward Trend

Copper scrap prices in North America increased slightly during the reporting period. Prices for #1 Copper Bare Bright and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing rose by approximately 0.32%, while #2 Copper Wire and Tubing increased by around 0.33%.

The continued strength in copper scrap pricing is supported by demand from electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, grid modernization, infrastructure projects, and the rapid development of AI-related data centers. As copper demand continues to grow, recovering more usable copper from mixed waste streams becomes increasingly valuable.

Aluminum Scrap Shows Broader Price Gains

Aluminum scrap prices also moved higher during the week, with several major categories recording noticeable increases. E.C. Aluminum Wire increased by $0.04 per pound, representing a 2.41% weekly gain. Prices for 6063 Extrusions, Old Cast, and Used Beverage Cans (UBC) each increased by $0.02 per pound.

Demand for recycled aluminum remains strong in the automotive, packaging, construction, and infrastructure sectors. Lightweight vehicle manufacturing and secondary aluminum production continue to support the need for clean and efficiently recovered aluminum scrap.

brass Prices Increase While Ferrous Markets Remain Stable

Brass and bronze scrap prices also recorded modest weekly gains. Red Brass rose by approximately 0.55%, while Yellow Brass increased by about 0.58%.

In contrast, steel, stainless steel, lead, and zinc scrap prices remained largely unchanged during the same period, reflecting relatively balanced market conditions in these segments.

Higher Non-Ferrous Metal Values Make Sorting Efficiency More Important

As copper and aluminum scrap prices rise, recyclers have a stronger incentive to recover valuable non-ferrous metals from mixed material streams such as:

• Automotive shredder residue (ASR)

• Municipal solid waste processing residue

• Recycled plastic materials contaminated with metal

• Mixed construction and demolition waste

• Scrap metal processing lines

Even small amounts of aluminum or copper lost in the waste stream can represent significant lost revenue over time, especially when market prices remain firm.

An efficient separation system can help recycling operations improve product purity, increase metal recovery rates, and reduce the amount of valuable material sent to landfill or sold at a lower grade.

EDDY CURRENT SEPARATORs for Non-Ferrous Metal Recovery

EDDY CURRENT SEPARATORs are widely used to recover non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, brass, and zinc from mixed waste materials. They are particularly effective for separating aluminum cans, aluminum fragments, and other conductive metals from plastics, rubber, glass, and other non-metallic materials.

For industries processing ASR, recycled plastics, household waste, or mixed scrap, an eddy current separator can help convert previously overlooked material into a valuable recovered product.

Before non-ferrous separation, MAGNETIC-SEPARATOR-p.html target='_blank'>MAGNETIC SEPARATORs can be used to remove iron and steel materials from the feed stream. This improves the stability of downstream processing and helps protect other separation equipment.

A combined system using magnetic separation and eddy current separation can provide a more complete solution for mixed metal recovery, allowing recyclers to separate ferrous metals first and then recover valuable non-ferrous metals more efficiently.

Conclusion

The latest increase in North American copper and aluminum scrap prices reflects the continuing market value of recovered non-ferrous metals. For recycling companies, improving separation efficiency is not only a technical upgrade but also a practical way to capture more value from every ton of processed material.

Our eddy current separators and magnetic separation systems are designed to help recycling operations improve metal recovery, enhance material quality, and build more profitable processing lines.