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.

Contact Us

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