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MetalBase

Pricing

The rate board

These are the grades we buy and how each one is assessed. Rates move daily with the index, so we quote them directly rather than publishing a number that is stale by the afternoon.

Rates are quoted, not posted. Send a photo and a rough weight and a grader will come back with a firm number the same day.

Stream 01

Non-ferrous

Higher value per kilo and by far the most sensitive to how well the load is separated. Graded on arrival, alloys confirmed by XRF where it matters.

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Non-ferrous grades and specifications
GradeSpecification
Bare bright copperClean, uncoated, 16 gauge or heavier
#1 copperClean tube and bus bar, no fittings
#2 copperSolder, paint or light plating acceptable
High-grade insulated cableRecoverable copper above 60%
Low-grade insulated cableData, comms and flex under 40%
Mixed brassFittings, valves, taps, drained
Clean aluminium extrusionNo thermal break, no ends
Aluminium sheet & plateClean, no attachments
Cast aluminiumWheels, housings, no iron
Aluminium cans (UBC)Loose or baled, dry
LeadSheet, weights, flashing
Stainless 304Non-magnetic, clean
Stainless 316Verified by XRF on arrival

Stream 02

Ferrous

Priced per tonne over the weighbridge. Mostly a question of size and cleanliness — if it fits a charge box and isn't full of concrete, it grades well.

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Ferrous grades and specifications
GradeSpecification
Heavy melting steel 16mm+ plate, cut to 1.5m
Heavy melting steel 23mm+, mixed lengths
Structural & plateBeams, columns, purlins
Light gauge / mixed steelUnder 3mm, sheet, roofing
Cast ironEngine blocks, baths, pipe
Reinforcing bar & meshConcrete-free
End-of-life vehiclesDrained, de-gassed, no tyres
WhitegoodsDegassed, compressor removed

Stream 03

Specialty streams

Mixed-material items where the value sits inside. Sampled and graded individually; larger parcels quoted on assay.

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Specialty streams grades and specifications
GradeSpecification
Electric motorsNo gearboxes, no pumps
Copper radiatorsNo steel frames
Aluminium / copper radiatorsAutomotive and HVAC coils
Lead-acid batteriesAutomotive and industrial
Lithium packsQuoted per parcel, handling applies
Mixed e-wasteServers, PCs, comms racks
Circuit boardsTelecom and server boards

How a load gets graded

Grading is where most yards lose people’s trust. Ours happens in front of you, before the load is tipped.

  1. 01

    Weigh in

    Gross weight over a certified bridge, tare on the way out. The docket shows both.

  2. 02

    Grade

    A grader inspects the load before it is tipped and tells you the grade to your face. Non-ferrous alloys are confirmed with a handheld XRF gun where it matters.

  3. 03

    Deductions, stated up front

    Attachments, moisture and contamination reduce yield, so they reduce grade. We tell you what is being deducted and why before the load is committed.

  4. 04

    Get paid

    Cash in your hand at the weighbridge, against the grade on your docket. Prefer it in the bank? We will transfer to your nominated account instead — just say so before the load is committed.

Volume & contract

Index-linked pricing for regular tonnage

If you generate metal on a schedule, a posted board rate is the wrong instrument. Contract customers are priced as a formula — a published index, less an agreed treatment charge — so the rate moves with the market instead of with a phone call.

  • Index nominated in the agreement
  • Treatment charge fixed for the term
  • Reconciliation by grade and tonnage
  • Rebate paid on a set day, not on request

Not sure what grade you've got?

Send a photo and a rough weight. A grader will tell you what it is, what it's worth today, and whether it's worth separating further before you bring it in.