What your scrap is actually worth — paper, plastic, metal and e-waste
22 January 2026 · 5 min read · by Imran S
Most households underestimate what is sitting in their storeroom. The value is rarely in any single item — it is in the accumulated weight of things nobody thought to sell. Here is how the categories break down, and what actually moves the price.
Paper and cardboard
Newspapers, magazines, notebooks, office paper and cardboard cartons. This is the most common category and the one almost every home has. The rate per kilo is modest, but volume adds up quickly — a year of newspapers is heavier than people expect.
The one thing that hurts you here is moisture. Damp paper weighs more but is worth less to a recycler, and vendors price accordingly. Keep it dry and stacked.
Plastic
PET bottles, containers, buckets, polythene and packaging film. Clean, dry plastic is worth noticeably more than plastic with food residue in it, because contamination has to be removed before recycling. Rinsing bottles before pickup is a genuinely worthwhile two minutes.
Metal
Usually the highest-value category by weight. Iron and steel form the bulk of what people sell, but aluminium, copper and brass are worth substantially more per kilo. Old wiring, discarded utensils, window grills and broken fittings are all worth separating out rather than lumping in with general scrap.
E-waste and appliances
Refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, computers, cables and batteries. These are priced by unit rather than by weight, and they are the category where responsible disposal matters most — electronics contain materials that should never reach a landfill.
Glass and general household scrap
Bottles, jars, furniture and mixed items. If you are unsure whether something qualifies, add it to your cart anyway; the app will tell you, and the vendor will confirm at pickup.
Three things that get you a better rate
- Separate metals from everything else — mixed loads get priced at the lowest common rate.
- Keep paper dry and plastic clean; contamination is the most common reason a rate drops.
- Accumulate before you book. One larger pickup is worth more to you and to the vendor than three small ones.
Live rates for every item are shown in the Trade2Cart app once you select your area, because prices genuinely differ between locations and change over time.