Aluminum Recycling Guide: What Pays and What Does Not

Aluminum is everywhere in modern construction, transportation, and consumer goods. It is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and one of the most recycled materials in the world. It is also one of the most commonly misunderstood metals at the scrap yard — because not all aluminum is the same, and the price differences between categories are significant.

This guide covers every major form of aluminum you might bring to Texoma Recycling in Ardmore and what each one is worth relative to the others.

Why Aluminum Has So Many Price Categories

Aluminum is not a single alloy — it is a family of alloys with different compositions, strengths, and end-market values. The 6000-series aluminum in a window extrusion is chemically different from the 1100-series aluminum in a beverage can, which is different again from the silicon-rich cast aluminum in an engine block. Mills and smelters pay based on the alloy composition and the level of contamination, and those factors drive the price categories you see at the yard.

The Categories, Ranked by Typical Value

1. Cu/Al Radiators (Copper-Aluminum) — Highest Aluminum-Category Value

Copper-aluminum radiators contain copper tubes running through aluminum fins. Because of the copper content, they pay significantly more per pound than clean aluminum alone. These are found in older vehicles, heavy equipment, and industrial HVAC systems. Remove steel brackets and plastic end tanks before bringing them in for the best rate.

2. Aluminum Rims — High Value Cast Aluminum

Cast aluminum wheels and rims from passenger vehicles, SUVs, and light trucks are a consistently high-value category. Remove tires before bringing rims in — rims with tires on are accepted but pay at a lower rate to account for the tire weight. Steel rims (typically found on older or base-model vehicles) are not aluminum and price as iron.

3. Aluminum Cans (UBC) — Used Beverage Cans

Beverage cans are made from 3004-series aluminum — a very clean, consistent alloy that the beverage industry recycles aggressively. UBC (used beverage can) scrap pays well per pound and has one of the most stable scrap prices of any aluminum category. Crushed or uncrushed accepted, clean and dry preferred.

4. Clean Extrusion / Sheet Aluminum

Window frames, door extrusions, gutters, aluminum siding, and structural angle aluminum fall into this category. This is 6000-series aluminum — strong, clean, and consistently recyclable. Must be reasonably free of steel fasteners and non-aluminum attachments. Paint on siding is generally fine in modest amounts.

5. Cast Aluminum — Engine Parts, Brackets, Cookware

Cast aluminum (engine blocks, intake manifolds, transmission cases, heavy cast parts) prices separately from sheet/extrusion aluminum because the alloy composition and contamination level are different. It is still good value — just priced on its own scale.

6. Aluminum Radiators (No Copper) — Newer Vehicles

Modern vehicle radiators are all-aluminum with no copper tubes — just aluminum fins, aluminum tanks, and often plastic end caps. Remove the plastic end tanks for the best rate. These price lower than copper-aluminum radiators but are still solid aluminum value.

7. Dirty or Contaminated Mixed Aluminum — Lowest

Aluminum with excessive steel, iron, or non-metal contamination grades at a lower rate because the processing cost for the mill increases. This is the category to avoid by doing basic cleanup before arrival — removing bolts, steel brackets, and non-aluminum attachments takes minutes and makes a real difference.

HVAC Aluminum: Contractors Take Note

HVAC contractors in the Ardmore, Gainesville, and Sherman areas generate significant aluminum scrap from condenser coil replacements. Condenser coils with copper refrigerant lines grade as Cu/Al (high value). Evaporator coils that are all-aluminum grade as aluminum radiator. Both are excellent scrap — just bring them in separated if possible and let us grade them accurately.

What Makes Aluminum Worth Less

• Steel fasteners and inserts — bolts, threaded steel inserts, and iron castings mixed into aluminum loads require sorting or grading down
• Tires on rims — tire rubber is not aluminum; it has to be disposed of and its weight dilutes your per-pound return
• Plastic end tanks on radiators — plastic is not recyclable at a scrap yard and reduces your net aluminum weight
• Heavy grease or oil contamination — significant oil on cast aluminum (common with engine parts) may affect grading

A Quick Reference

Use the price calculator to see today's exact rates on each aluminum category, or call us at (580) 490-2096 if you have an unusual load and want to talk through the grade before making the trip.