Recycle for Cash in Singapore: What Actually Pays

Most household recycling in Singapore pays nothing. The blue bins are free to use, but you do not get paid for what you put in them. A few materials do earn cash, and metal earns by far the most. Here is what actually pays, who pays for it, and how to get the best rate.

What You Can Recycle for Cash in Singapore

Material	Who pays	How it is paid
Copper (wire, cable, pipe)	Scrap metal dealer	Per kg by grade — the highest-paying common scrap
Brass and bronze	Scrap metal dealer	Per kg by grade
Aluminium (frames, sheet, extrusions)	Scrap metal dealer	Per kg by grade
Stainless steel	Scrap metal dealer	Per kg, by grade (304, 316)
Steel and iron	Scrap metal dealer	Per kg, at a much lower rate than non-ferrous metals
Car and UPS batteries (lead-acid)	Scrap metal dealer	Per piece or per kg
Lithium-ion battery packs (e-bike, PMD, power tool, solar storage)	Scrap metal dealer	By battery type and weight
Catalytic converters	Scrap metal dealer	Per piece, by type
Drink cans and plastic bottles	Beverage container return scheme	10-cent deposit refunded at a return point
Newspapers and cardboard	Karang guni	Small amounts by weight
Plastic, glass, general recyclables	No one	Blue recycling bins (free, unpaid)
Old phones, laptops, small electronics	No one	Public e-waste bins (free, unpaid)

Why Metal Pays and Plastic Doesn't

Metal can be melted down and reused again and again without losing quality, and it trades on a global market. Copper, aluminium, nickel and lead all have a daily price on the London Metal Exchange (LME), so scrap metal always has a buyer. Recycling aluminium also uses around 95% less energy than making it from ore, which is why smelters want it.

Most plastic and glass are cheap to make new and costly to sort, so there is little money in them. They are still worth recycling, just not for cash.

Which Metals Pay the Most?

1. Copper — especially clean, bare bright wire.
2. Brass and bronze.
3. Aluminium and stainless steel.
4. Lead, including lead-acid batteries.
5. Steel and iron — low per kilo, but it adds up in bulk.

Rates move with the market. See current scrap metal prices, or estimate your load with our scrap metal calculator.

Where to Recycle for Cash

• A licensed scrap metal dealer — for anything metal. Drop off at our yard at 170 Gul Circle with no minimum, or book a free pickup once your load meets our minimum.
• A karang guni — for paper, clothes and small mixed household loads. See karang guni vs scrap metal dealer.
• Beverage container return points — Singapore's deposit scheme puts a 10-cent refundable deposit on most pre-packed drinks in cans and plastic bottles. Return the empty container to get it back.
• Blue recycling bins — for everything else. Free, but unpaid.

How to Get Paid More for Your Scrap

• Sort by metal. Mixed loads are paid at the rate of the cheapest metal in them.
• Remove plastic, rubber and steel attachments from copper, brass and aluminium.
• Strip cable where it is worth the time — see how to strip copper wire.
• Save it up. Larger loads earn better rates and qualify for free pickup.
• Sell to a licensed dealer who weighs in front of you and gives an itemised receipt.

What to Bring When You Sell

Bring your NRIC or FIN. If you are selling for a business, bring your company's ACRA bizfile. Licensed dealers have to record who they buy from — see selling scrap metal without ID. We pay by bank transfer, cheque or cash; see cash vs bank transfer for the difference.

Recycle for Cash FAQs

Can you recycle for cash in Singapore?
Yes, mainly with metal. Scrap metal dealers pay per kilo for copper, brass, aluminium, stainless steel, steel and lead-acid batteries. Drink cans and plastic bottles also earn back a 10-cent deposit at return points.

Which recyclables pay the most?
Copper pays the most of the common scrap metals, followed by brass, then aluminium and stainless steel. Steel and iron pay much less per kilo.

Do aluminium cans pay?
Yes, but they are very light, so it takes a lot of cans to make a kilo. Most pre-packed drink cans also carry a 10-cent deposit you can claim back. See aluminium can recycling.

Is there a minimum to sell scrap metal?
Not for walk-in drop-off at 170 Gul Circle. Free pickup applies once your load meets our minimum.

Do I need ID to sell scrap?
Yes. Bring your NRIC or FIN, or your company's ACRA bizfile if you are selling for a business.

Recycling for Cash: Other Questions

Can I get cash for old electrical appliances in Singapore?

Not from Molten Steel for whole appliances. We do not buy whole electronic devices, circuit boards or full e-waste; those go to e-waste collection points. We buy the metal that comes out of electrical equipment, such as copper cable, transformers, heat sinks and server racks, as well as UPS lead-acid batteries. See e-waste metal recovery.

How is scrap copper wire valued when I recycle it for cash?

Copper wire is valued on how much copper it contains. Bare, clean copper wire pays the top copper rate, while insulated cable is priced on its copper recovery, so thick power cable pays more per kilo than thin, heavily insulated wire. Keep copper apart from aluminium cable and other metals. Rates follow the LME; see our guide to types of copper wire scrap.

Can I get paid for recycling e-bike or PMD batteries?

Yes. Molten Steel buys lithium-ion packs from e-bikes and PMDs, along with power tool, UPS, solar storage and EV packs. They are priced by chemistry, weight and condition rather than a per-kg rate, and damaged or swollen packs must be declared before delivery. Phone batteries and AA cells are not bought; put them in an e-waste bin. See battery recycling.

When can I drop off scrap metal for cash at Molten Steel?

Our yard at 170 Gul Circle, Singapore 629624, is open Monday to Saturday 8:30am–6:30pm and Sunday 8:30am–3:30pm, and on some public holidays (call +65 9106 7577 to confirm). Bring your NRIC or FIN, or your company’s ACRA bizfile. Your metal is weighed and graded on arrival, and you receive an itemised receipt. See our scrap yard page.

Is renovation scrap worth recycling for cash?

Often, yes. Aluminium window frames, copper pipe and cable, brass taps, stainless sinks and steel grilles from a renovation are all paid by weight. Copper and brass earn the most per kilo; steel earns little per kilo but adds up when there is a lot of it. Separate the metals and remove tiles, glass and wood first. See construction scrap metal.