As Hawaii’s leading recycling facility, Island Recycling is an excellent resource for residents who want to repurpose various materials. They not only have three locations on Oahu for convenient disposal of recyclable items but purchase a variety of scrap metals, including copper.

Copper is one of the most valued materials in the scrap metal industry, so selling unused objects made of it to a recycling center can provide a significant profit. Copper is broken down into grades for sales purposes:

• No. 1 Copper: This category includes clean, uncoated copper that is unalloyed. Common pieces include pipes, punchings, clippings, and tubes. Wire falls into this category as well if it’s no less than one-sixteenth of an inch thick. Copper wire also is divided into high (thick) and low (thin) grades.

• No. 2 Copper: The metal in this category is clean and unalloyed but can be coated or oxidized. Typical pieces include pipes and tubes that have not been soldered, as well as punchings and bus bars.

• No. 3 Copper: This category is known as light copper — a product that’s less than one-sixteenth of an inch thick. It usually isn’t worth as much money as scrap metals from the first two categories.

Determining copper types and sorting items is the first step of the selling process. You then will print and fill out a seller’s statement that includes a detailed description of the copper. You’ll note its origin, the date of the sale or transfer, and the price you paid for it, if applicable.

If you need recycling solutions for copper or other scrap metals, turn to the team at Island Recycling. Whether you bring in scrap steel, HI-5 cans, paper, plastic, or cardboard, their team will ensure the materials are prepared for reuse. Visit the company’s website to learn more about items they accept and find a nearby drop-off location.