my brother uses a yard where if he sees something he likes in the pile they have no problem letting him take it out. I'm pretty sure he scored an old Milwaukee metal tool case the other day. However, if he tried to take copper or aluminum i do not think that would fly at all. I'm sure yards makes good money by the non-ferrous items that end up in the shred pile, buy low sell high theory, and I'm sure the yard would rather see that nice profit in their pocket rather than yours. But it all depends on the yard i suppose, cant hurt by asking tho