Scrap Metal Prices in Albany
Albany is the largest town in WA's Great Southern region, 400km south-east of Perth. Scrap yards here serve agricultural, marine and residential customers across a wide rural catchment, with transport distance to Perth smelters limiting payout rates.
Current scrap metal prices in Albany
Spot price equivalents adjusted for Albany's regional rate (0.76×). Actual yard payouts apply the grade-specific payout rate on top — typically 12–78% of spot depending on grade.
| Metal | Sydney spot | Albany equiv. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | $17.88 | $13.59 | Grades & payouts → |
| Aluminium | $4.54 | $3.45 | Grades & payouts → |
| Brass | $13.46 | $10.23 | Grades & payouts → |
| Steel | $0.42 | $0.32 | Grades & payouts → |
| Stainless Steel | $2.33 | $1.77 | Grades & payouts → |
| Lead | $2.81 | $2.14 | Grades & payouts → |
| Zinc | $4.49 | $3.41 | Grades & payouts → |
| Nickel | $22.91 | $17.41 | Grades & payouts → |
How Albany compares
Scrap yards in Albany pay roughly 24% below the Sydney national benchmark (0.76× regional adjustment). Among Australian regional centres, rates here are closest to Burnie (0.78×). The lower payout reflects Albany's distance from major smelters and ports — transport costs to processing facilities reduce what yards can pay sellers.
Other Western Australia scrap markets
Yards across Western Australia pay rates relative to their distance from major smelters and ports. Perth is the state capital and typically has the most competitive rates in the state.
Popular items: what they're worth in Albany
Estimated scrap value at Albany yards. Assumes properly prepared material (oil drained, copper stripped from motors, refrigerant degassed where required).
Scrap yards in Albany
We don't have any verified yards in Albany yet — submit one to help build the directory. View directory page →
Frequently asked questions about scrap metal in Albany
Where are the best scrap metal yards in Albany? +
We're building a verified directory of Albany scrap yards with hours, accepted metals, and seller reports. Until that's live, the practical approach is to call 2-3 yards in your area before transporting a load — published rates are useful guides but actual offers vary by day, load size, and material quality.
Why does Albany pay less than Sydney for scrap metal? +
The 24% gap to Sydney reflects transport costs. Metal sold in Albany eventually travels to a smelter or export port — typically via Perth — and yards price the freight cost into their offer. Our regional adjustment is modelled from observed yard rates plus distance to processing facilities.
What's the highest-paying scrap metal in Albany? +
Copper, by a wide margin. Clean bare-bright copper currently pays around $10.60 per kilogram in Albany. Brass and aluminium follow, with steel paying the least per kilogram but compensating through volume — most ferrous loads are weighed on commercial weighbridges where small differences in rate matter less than tonnage.
Do Albany scrap yards require photo ID? +
Yes for most non-ferrous metals and always for lead-acid batteries and catalytic converters. Western Australia legislation requires yards to record seller identification on regulated transactions, primarily to deter metal theft. A driver's licence is the most commonly accepted form. Cash payments above certain thresholds may require additional documentation under state-specific regulations.
What other WA cities have scrap yards? +
Yes — Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Mandurah, and others all have active scrap yards covered on this site. Perth (the Western Australia capital) generally has the most yards and most competitive rates in the state.
When is the best time of week to bring a load to a Albany yard? +
Tuesday through Thursday mornings generally produce the best experience. Yards are less crowded than Mondays (when weekend volume arrives), prices are stable mid-week, and weighbridge wait times are shorter. Many Albany yards close early on weekends or operate reduced hours, so confirm opening times before transport.