The Price of Aluminum Cans Per Pound: How to Maximize Your Recycling Returns

Aluminum cans have long been a symbol of recycling – a simple yet effective way to reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future. But did you know recycling aluminum cans can also be profitable? Let’s focus on maximizing your returns by staying informed about the price of aluminum cans per pound.

Key Factors Determining the Price of Aluminum Cans

The price of aluminum cans per pound is not fixed; it fluctuates based on various factors. Understanding these factors is crucial for anyone looking to make money from recycling cans. Global aluminum market dynamics play a significant role, as do local demand and the purity of the cans you recycle.

Using the iScrap App for Current Market Rates

One of the most powerful tools at your disposal for staying informed about aluminum can prices is the iScrap App. The user-friendly platform provides real-time updates on many scrap metal prices, including aluminum cans. Here are some ways you can use the iScrap App to check the current price of aluminum cans per pound, ensuring you’re always up-to-date on market trends.

With the iScrap App, you can view price points and historical trends to see if you’re in a good spot to sell or hold.

Always Check with Your Local Yards

It’s also crucial to check with local scrap yards before recycling your cans. Not all yards accept or buy aluminum cans, and some might recycle them without providing a monetary rebate. As a scrapper, this is pertinent information to have so that there are no surprises when you show up with your cans in the yard.

You may also be able to use the iScrap App to help you with this, as you can find most yards contact info in our database of over 6,000 yards and growing. See below for where you can access that in this example:

Tips to Boost Returns from Aluminum Can Recycling

You must do more than collect cans to maximize your returns from aluminum can recycling. If you hold onto your aluminum cans for a month or longer to build up a big stash to sell, ensure each can is properly cleaned before you toss it into a bin or garbage bag without being crushed. Liquids like soda and other beverages will leave a sugary residue behind, quickly attracting insects and other pests if you are not careful. Not to mention, if you have any solid debris inside the cans, most yards will reject them, as they can damage the balers when in use.

Another problem is the weight needed to start making substantial money on cans. Scrapping them can become a “physically” large endeavor if you are scrapping hundreds of pounds at a time. We recommend looking at when the market is hot and cashing them in at the appropriate time. Check out the iScrap Aluminum Cans Page to get a birds-eye view of their market price and volatility.

iScrap’s Weekly Price Updates: Your Edge in the Recycling Game

Staying informed about the latest market prices is crucial to success in the recycling game. The iScrap App team creates a weekly report on all things “Scrap” every Wednesday morning, where readers can get up-to-date news on the current state of commodities. We also publish a video every Wednesday evening on our YouTube channel where we cover all these topics in further depth! By subscribing to both platforms, you’ll ensure you always have access to the most current market insights, giving you an edge in maximizing your recycling returns.

Make the Most of Your Recycling Efforts

Recycling aluminum cans not only benefits the environment but can also put some extra money in your pocket. We encourage you to recycle diligently, from properly preparing your cans to choosing the right scrap yard. By regularly consulting the iScrap App for real-time pricing updates and market insights, you’ll be well-equipped to make the most money from your recycling activities.