Make More Money
At Green Guy Recycling, we want you to get the most for your metal. Sorting and testing can contribute to maintaining the value of your materials. Follow these helpful processes to maximize your sale. Material can be purchased as a mixed load, but the price will be lower. Sort your metal!
if it sticks to a magnet, it’s ferrous
Non-Ferrous vs. Ferrous Metals - Magnet Test
A magnet is your best tool for sorting metals. If the magnet sticks to your material, it is ferrous, which means it contains iron. All ferrous metals are purchased across the truck scale, in the yard. If it does not stick, your material is non-ferrous. All non-ferrous metals are purchased on the floor scale, inside the warehouse.
More than just paper
Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum - Spark Test
Stainless steel and aluminum are very similar in appearance. The best way to tell them apart is to test them with an angle grinder or bench grinder. Stainless steel will throw sparks, aluminum will not. Stainless steel may also have a slight magnetic pull, aluminum will not.


Copper vs. Brass
Pure copper will appear pink. If it is tarnished, it will look red or brown. If it is oxidized, it will be green. The color of brass is more yellow. Running the material across a grinder will reveal the true color for identification.


Yellow Brass vs. Die Cast Aluminum
Die Cast aluminum is often painted to look like yellow brass. The best way to identify the metal is to run it across a grinder. Yellow brass will be yellow and die cast will have a silver color.
Pre-Process Your Metal
Cleaning up material is often a quick way to increase the value of your metal. Below are some common examples:
clean up your materials –> make more money
Sheet Aluminum
Remove all screws, caulking and other contaminants from sheet aluminum. This increases the grade from Irony-Sheet to Clean-Sheet.
Irony-Sheet Aluminum Bottom Left
Light sheet aluminum with a small amount of steel or iron contamination. Includes siding and gutters with steel screws.
Clean-Sheet Aluminum Bottom Right
Light sheet aluminum that is free from all contaminants. Includes unpainted siding, soda can pull tabs, and gutters stripped of steel screws.
Copper Wire
Insulated copper wire that recovers at least 80% copper can be stripped to increase the grade from 80/90% Insulated CU Wire to Bare Bright Copper.
80% - 90% Copper Wire Bottom Left
Insulated copper electrical wire which upon stripping will recover at least 80-90% bare bright wire. Individual strands must be at least the diameter of a standard paper clip. Wire must be presented in a manner that will untangle easily. Must be larger than 6 AWG. Excludes tin-coated wire.
Bare Bright Copper Bottom Right
Perfectly clean, pure, bright and shiny copper electrical wire with no insulation. Individual strands must be at least the diameter of a standard paper clip. Excludes hard-drawn ground wire.
Window Frames
Removing the glass from a window frame will make the material Secondary Extrusion.
Shreddable Steel Bottom Left
Light sheet steel with a small amount of contamination. Includes household appliances, water heaters, 4 wheelers, riding lawn mowers, tin, steel siding, and roofing. There is a minimum of 150 lbs of material in order to receive payment for shreddable steel.
SECONDARY Extruded Aluminum Bottom Right
Extruded aluminum that contains a small amount of contaminants. Includes door and window frames that have screws, small amounts of rubber, glue, and other material.
Radiators
Cutting the steel ends off of air conditioning cores adds value.
Dirty Aluminum Fin/Copper Core radiators Middle Left
Evaporator and condensing coils from A/C units. Also known as “coils.” Contains copper tubing with aluminum fins. Dirty cores have the steel ends intact. See documentation requirements for the sale of this material.
Clean Aluminum Fin/Copper Core Radiators Middle Right
Perfectly clean, pure, bright and shiny copper electrical wire with no insulation. Individual strands must be at least the diameter of a standard paper clip. Excludes hard-drawn ground wire.
Aluminum Fin/Copper Core Radiators Ends Bottom
Ends cut off from Al/Cu Cores. Contains steel with U-shaped copper tubing end loops.
paper and cardboard
Depending on the volume and type of material being collected, opportunities may exist for your company to receive scrap rebates. Sometimes equipment rentals can even be provided free-of-charge. If you currently own your baler or compactor, contact us to discuss rebate programs. We offer the highest value for your scrap.
San Marcos
937 Texas 80
San Marcos, TX 78666
512-353-3266
Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday:
8:00am–5:00pm
Saturday:
8:00am–12:00pm
Sunday:
CLOSED
San Marcos
Mill Road
New braunfels
937 Texas 80
San Marcos, TX 78666
512-353-3266
Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday:
8:00am–5:00pm
Saturday:
8:00am–12:00pm
Sunday:
CLOSED
Coming Soon in 2026
395 Wright Avenue
New Braunfels, TX 78130
512-353-3266
Note: this location provides document shredding and cardboard and paper recycling services only
Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday:
8:00am–12:00pm
1:00pm-4:00pm
Saturday-Sunday:
CLOSED
San Marcos
937 Texas 80
San Marcos, TX 78666
512-353-3266
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday:
8:00am–5:00pm
Saturday:
8:00am–12:00pm
Sunday:
CLOSED
Mill Road
191 Mill Road
Maxwell, TX 78656
512-353-3266
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday:
8:00am–5:00pm
Saturday:
8:00am–12:00pm
Sunday:
CLOSED
Coming Soon in 2026
New braunfels
395 Wright Avenue
New Braunfels, TX 78130
512-353-3266
Note: this location provides document shredding and cardboard and paper recycling services only
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday:
8:00am–12:00pm
1:00am–4:00pm
Saturday-Sunday:
Closed
