Newbie help with Aluminium cans

Hi guys i'm new in this world, then i would need your help to learn.
I'm interested in buying Aluminium used baled cans to recycle or sell. I did my homework but my brain is on fire...

First i need to know the right price to buy and sell.
I found some website where the price per pound is: 0,2 - 0,5 - 0,8 - 0,9 USD with an average of 0,57$. Same of 1,26$ per Kg. But from 0,2 to 0,9 there's so much!

After i moved to some marketplaces where some sells baled tons of UCB at: 200 - 250 - 450 - 650 - 950 - 1100 - 2000 USD. Average of 800$ that means 0,36$ pound (0,80$ Kg), about 40% less than what i found above. All of those claim to have a quality of 96% to 99,7% of 6063.

Shropshire Waste wrote “Sell them to a scrap metal merchant, you’ll need 0.5 tonne (ca. 30,000 cans) and can expect at least £100 for that. If you separate them first (so you have ONLY ALUMINIUM) & bale them & deliver them you’ll get more like £400 for ur 0.5t”


What happened? What the fair price? Why some sells from 200$ and other arrives until 2000$? (i know there's can be some scammers, but i'm able to go once a month in that place to see with my eyes).

Moreover (last question) i see a lot of alu types, so what to search for cans? 6063 maybe? How to check in thousands of baled tons of cans which kind of alu is there and it's quality? I wonder if every can has the same property...i wouldn't want to get scammed...




Thank you guys for reading and helping me!!

Hi miked, i don't want to buy in US but in asian country because seems cheaper prices and, due to my work, i travel in china and india once every 2 months.

But i don't want to get scammed, because i don't understand the real quote and i don't know if there is something to know about cans...

Originally Posted by alessandromagno

hi guys i'm new in this world, then i would need your help to learn.
i'm interested in buying aluminium used baled cans to recycle or sell. I did my homework but my brain is on fire...

first i need to know the right price to buy and sell.
i found some website where the price per pound is: 0,2 - 0,5 - 0,8 - 0,9 usd with an average of 0,57$. Same of 1,26$ per kg. But from 0,2 to 0,9 there's so much!

after i moved to some marketplaces where some sells baled tons of ucb at: 200 - 250 - 450 - 650 - 950 - 1100 - 2000 usd. Average of 800$ that means 0,36$ pound (0,80$ kg), about 40% less than what i found above. All of those claim to have a quality of 96% to 99,7% of 6063.

shropshire waste wrote “sell them to a scrap metal merchant, you’ll need 0.5 tonne (ca. 30,000 cans) and can expect at least £100 for that. If you separate them first (so you have only aluminium) & bale them & deliver them you’ll get more like £400 for ur 0.5t”


what happened? What the fair price? Why some sells from 200$ and other arrives until 2000$? (i know there's can be some scammers, but i'm able to go once a month in that place to see with my eyes).

moreover (last question) i see a lot of alu types, so what to search for cans? 6063 maybe? How to check in thousands of baled tons of cans which kind of alu is there and it's quality? I wonder if every can has the same property...i wouldn't want to get scammed...


Thank you guys for reading and helping me!!

isri code: Taldon - baled aluminum used beverage can (ubc) scrap

Originally Posted by miked

So how much can you sell them for? I assume you are selling in Italy. Mike

Yes miked, in italy i called some industries which can pay me 570/600 euros per ton. This because they don't know the real quality of cans, the aluminium alloy code, etc.. For me sounds strange but i'm not an expert.

Aren't the cans the same all over the world?