Steel Recycling Prices & Guide

Steel is the most recycled material on the planet. In the UK alone, over 10 million tonnes of steel scrap are recycled annually. The process is straightforward: scrap steel is collected, sorted by grade, shredded, and melted down in electric arc furnaces to produce new steel. Recycling steel uses 74% less energy than producing steel from iron ore.

The UK exports a significant portion of its ferrous scrap, primarily to Turkey. This is why UK scrap steel prices track the CFR Turkey benchmark — the cost of shipping scrap to Turkish steelworks sets the floor price for UK yards.

Heavy steel (HMS 1): Steel beams, rails, axles, heavy machinery, thick-walled pipe, steel plates. Minimum 6mm thickness. This is the highest-value ferrous grade.

Light steel (HMS 2): Car bodies, sheet metal, thin pipe, light structural steel. Thinner than 6mm but still substantial material.

Light iron: Tin cans, biscuit tins, white goods (washing machines, dryers, fridges after degassing), thin sheet metal.

Cast iron: Radiators, manhole covers, engine blocks, old pipes, cast iron cookware, firebacks.

Stainless steel: Kitchen sinks, cutlery, surgical instruments, marine fittings, food processing equipment. See our stainless steel prices page for current rates.

Sort by grade. The single most impactful thing you can do. Separating heavy steel from light iron, and stainless from mild steel, can increase your payout by 20-30%. Use a magnet to identify stainless (it won't stick to most stainless steel grades).

Remove non-metal attachments. Rubber, plastic, wood, concrete, and other non-metallic materials reduce value. Remove bolted-on plastic parts, cut away rubber seals, and knock off concrete.

Cut to size if possible. Some yards offer better prices for material cut to their preferred size (usually under 1.5 metres). If you have cutting equipment, this can be worth the effort for large quantities.

Drain fluids. Radiators, cylinders, and machinery should be drained of oil, water, and other fluids before scrapping. Yards may refuse items containing hazardous fluids.

Licensed scrap yards are the primary buyers. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, all yards must hold a local authority licence. Check your local council's register of licensed dealers.

Mobile scrap collectors will come to you, which is convenient for large items like radiators or old machinery. They typically pay slightly less than yards because of their travel costs.

What to bring: Photo ID (driving licence or passport) and proof of address (utility bill). Cash payments for scrap metal are banned in the UK — you'll be paid by cheque or bank transfer.

Recycling steel has significant environmental benefits. Producing steel from scrap uses 74% less energy than producing it from virgin iron ore. It also reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 58%, conserves natural resources, and diverts material from landfill.

Steel can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties. Every tonne of steel recycled saves 1.5 tonnes of iron ore, 0.5 tonnes of coal, and 40% of the water used in production.