16 Jun Chicago Scrap Metal Prices – Week of June 15, 2026
Copper pulled back this week after running hard for most of May and early June. Aluminum is holding strong and is one of the better metals to bring in right now. If you are sitting on copper wire or pipe, here is what the Chicago market looks like heading into mid-June.
Copper Prices in Chicago This Week
Bare bright copper is coming in around $4.50 to $4.55 per pound at Chicago-area yards this week. The market dropped roughly $0.45 from its recent high, which peaked around June 10. Money moved out of copper futures and the spot price followed. That is how the market works – it runs, then it corrects. Nothing about the underlying demand story has changed, but right now buyers are cautious.
Grade matters a lot when copper is moving around like this. If you are bringing in bare bright or clean #1 copper pipe, you are still in solid territory. #2 copper – the stuff with solder, paint, or fittings still on it – runs lower, usually in the $4.15 to $4.30 range. It is worth taking the time to strip what you can before you load up the truck. The difference per pound adds up fast on a full load.
Aluminum Prices This Week
Sheet aluminum and extrusion are running $0.60 to $0.75 per pound and holding steady. Aluminum is one of the stronger stories in the Chicago scrap market right now. Cans are lower, around $0.50 to $0.55 per pound, but if you have got window frames, cast aluminum, or rims, those grades are worth bringing in. Separate your material by grade and you will see a better return.
Steel and Iron Prices
Ferrous prices in the Chicago area are running $220 to $280 per net ton for light iron and HMS depending on grade and condition. The market is softer than it was 30 days ago, down close to 8 percent, but it has been flat week over week. Steel prices are set at the start of the month and do not move around daily the way copper does. If you are moving volume, call ahead and we can talk through what you have.
What This Means for Chicago Scrappers
If you have been holding copper waiting for $5.00, the window may have passed for now. Sell what you have, keep working, and let the market come back to you. Aluminum is your best play this week, so separate your grades and bring in clean material to get the best return.
Bring your scrap to Central Metal Recycling at 5618 W. Fillmore St. We are open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm and Saturday 7am-11am. Call (773) 345-8610 for today’s exact rates.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.