Albuquerque scrap yard directory
Where to sell scrap metal in Albuquerque
Albuquerque has a handful of real scrap yards that weigh your metal and pay cash — and a few things they flat-out won't buy. Here's the honest rundown of where to go, what pays, and what to do with the rest.
If you've got metal piling up — old wire, radiators, a dead water heater, a truck bed of steel — a scrap yard will weigh it and pay you for it. This is a straight list of real Albuquerque yards, what they buy, and the honest math on whether hauling it yourself is worth your time. Where it isn't, I'll tell you that too.
Call ahead before you load up the truck. Yards change what they take, set minimum quantities, and update prices constantly — some every couple of days, tracking the global metals market. A quick phone call confirms they'll take your material and saves you a wasted trip. Nobody here can quote you a price over the web; only the yard can, on the day you go.
The honest math: is hauling it yourself worth the cash?
Scrap yards pay by weight, measured on their own scale — usually per pound for non-ferrous metals and per ton for ferrous. That one fact decides most of it:
- Non-ferrous pays real money. Copper, aluminum, and brass command substantially higher per-pound prices than steel and iron. A clean, sorted load of copper wire or aluminum is genuinely worth the drive.
- Sorting is where the money is. Yards pay a mixed bucket at the lowest grade in it. Separating your metals by type, and stripping off insulation, dirt, and non-metal attachments, gets you a higher payout than dumping one unsorted pile.
- Ferrous-only loads pay little for the effort. Steel and iron are priced per ton, so a small mixed pile of heavy junk often isn't worth the labor to dismantle, load, and haul once you value your own time.
So it's worth doing yourself when the load is clean, heavy, sorted, and non-ferrous in enough quantity to justify the scale trip. It's usually not worth it for a small mixed pile, one awkward heavy item, or an appliance you'd have to wrestle into a truck. Because prices move daily, call the yard for the current rate before you commit.
Full-service yards that pay cash
These buy both ferrous (steel, iron) and non-ferrous metals, and pay cash.
Acme Iron & Metal — 6142 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107 · (505) 345-2457. A large, family-owned full-service scrap recycler. Buys ferrous and non-ferrous scrap — steel, iron, appliances, aluminum cans, and junk cars — and pays cash. They operate additional yards around the metro; ask which location suits your load. Bring a driver's license, and call ahead — metal prices change daily.
National Metals — 3906 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107 · (505) 344-1777. A long-established, family-owned recycler. Buys copper, aluminum, brass and bronze, insulated wire and cable, steel and iron, and stainless. Confirm hours by phone before hauling a load.
Pueblo Metals Recycling — Broadway Blvd SE · (505) 967-4766. Online listings disagree on the street number, so call to confirm the address before you drive out. A public yard that accepts walk-ins, weighs on site, and pays by cash or check. Buys steel, cast iron, aluminum, copper, brass, stainless, insulated wire, radiators, lead-acid batteries, electric motors, catalytic converters, and more — plus junk cars. Rates fluctuate, so confirm current pricing the day you go.
Omar's Recycling — 2930 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107 · (505) 304-3307. Family-run North Valley yard that buys ferrous and non-ferrous scrap — aluminum (cans, scrap, wire), copper, brass, stainless, steel, and iron — and pays cash. Call ahead to confirm hours and current rates.
Rather not deal with it? Free scrap metal & equipment removal →
Non-ferrous specialists (copper, aluminum, brass, wire)
If your load is mostly wire and non-ferrous metal, these two focus there.
Rudy's Downtown Recycling — 1224 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 · (505) 247-4576. Family-run yard; buys non-ferrous scrap (copper, aluminum, brass, radiators, stainless), takes commercial loads, and offers commercial pickups. Staff speak Spanish and English. Primarily non-ferrous, so call first if you have steel or iron.
Zia Recycling — 2701 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107 · (505) 507-8508. Buys a broad range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals — aluminum, copper, brass, stainless, titanium, nickel, steel, lead, and lead-acid batteries. Their site describes buying from businesses, manufacturers, and other scrap dealers, so call ahead to confirm they'll take material from an individual and to check current rates.
Rather not deal with it? Free scrap metal & equipment removal →
Bring your ID: New Mexico's scrap-metal rules
You can't sell regulated scrap metal anonymously in New Mexico. This is an anti-theft measure, so plan for it:
- You must show valid personal identification — under the statute that means a driver's license, a military ID, or a passport recognized by the U.S. The dealer has to visually verify it at the time of purchase.
- The yard must be a registered Secondhand Metal Dealer with the NM Regulation and Licensing Department, and is legally required to record your ID plus the year, make, model, and license plate of the vehicle you used to transport the metal.
- Dealers keep that record on site for a year and make it available to a compliance officer or peace officer on request. Expect to be asked for ID every time — it is the law, not the yard being difficult.
No individual seller's license is required — you just need to show who you are.
What the yards won't buy
Some metal items scrap yards routinely refuse. Here's where each actually goes.
Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units. These hold refrigerant, and federal EPA rules require it be professionally recovered — with signed documentation — before the unit is scrapped. Many yards won't take them without proof the Freon was removed, and some charge a fee. The easiest free route is the City of Albuquerque Large Item Pick-Up (311 / 505-768-2000), which collects appliances curbside for residential Solid Waste customers and handles the refrigerant disposal for you — request it at least 24 hours ahead, Mon–Sat, with the appliance emptied and doors taped shut. For the full walkthrough, see our appliance removal guide.
Prefer to self-haul appliances? The City's convenience centers take them for a per-load fee: Eagle Rock (6301 Eagle Rock Ave NE, 505-768-3925), Montessa Park (3512 Los Picaros Rd SE, 505-768-3930), and Don Reservoir (117 114th St SW, 505-768-3920). Important: Don Reservoir does not accept refrigerators — take refrigerant appliances to Eagle Rock or Montessa Park.
Televisions. Neither the City e-waste program nor the scrap yards take TVs. Albuquerque Computer & Electronics Recycling Co. (3726 Hawkins St NE, 505-990-3732) recycles them — it describes itself as the only place in New Mexico that does. A processing fee applies and TVs with shattered glass aren't accepted; pickups are business-only, so residents bring items in.
Metal-bearing electronics (e-waste). Computers, printers, and similar go to the City's e-waste drop-off at Eagle Rock (6301 Eagle Rock Ave NE, 505-768-3925); disposal fees apply. CRT tube monitors and TVs can't go in the recycle cart — call 311. Small appliances like toasters and microwaves aren't classed as e-waste here.
Propane tanks and batteries. These metal items yards usually refuse go to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (2720 Girard Blvd NE, 505-884-2277) — free for City and Bernalillo County residents. It takes batteries of any kind (including automobile batteries) and propane bottles, but does not accept general e-waste, appliances, or tires.
Cans, foil, and pots and pans. Household-scale metal belongs in the City's blue recycling cart or drop-off sites (e.g., 1250 Menaul Blvd NE) — aluminum and tin cans, clean foil, and pots and pans. Scrap metal, appliances, and large or sharp metal items are not accepted there and can damage the recycling equipment.
Rather not deal with it? Free scrap metal & equipment removal →
Clearing out more than metal?
If the scrap is mixed in with gear, tools, bikes, or electronics you'd rather sell or donate, see our companion guide on where to sell or donate used gear in Albuquerque — real local shops, addresses, and phone numbers for the resale-worthy stuff.
Rather not deal with any of it?
I offer free scrap metal and equipment removal — but I don't pay cash. If you want money for a clean, heavy, sorted load, one of the yards above is your route, plain and simple. What I offer instead is convenience: I clear the space and keep whatever salvage value there is, and you get a Reclaim Receipt showing where it ended up. I'm a for-profit reuse service, not a charity, so it's not tax-deductible. Pickup is by request and at my discretion, so the surest option is to text me a photo and arrange a drop-off.
Common questions
Where can I sell scrap metal in Albuquerque?
Full-service yards that buy ferrous and non-ferrous metal and pay cash include Acme Iron & Metal (6142 2nd St NW), National Metals (3906 4th St NW), Pueblo Metals Recycling (Broadway Blvd SE — call to confirm the address), and Omar's Recycling (2930 2nd St NW). Rudy's Downtown Recycling and Zia Recycling focus on non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum, and brass. Call ahead — what a yard takes and the day's price both change.
Do scrap yards pay cash?
Yes. Yards like Acme Iron & Metal, Pueblo Metals, and Omar's pay cash based on your metal's weight on their scale (Pueblo also pays by check). Non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminum pay far more per pound than steel or iron. Prices move daily, so call for the current rate before you load up, and bring valid ID — New Mexico law requires the yard to record it.
Who picks up scrap metal for free in Albuquerque?
Abq Reclaimed offers free scrap-metal and equipment removal, but it does not pay cash — so if you want money for a clean, heavy load, take it to a scrap yard instead. For appliances specifically, the City of Albuquerque's free Large Item Pick-Up collects them curbside for residential Solid Waste customers. An Abq Reclaimed pickup is by request and at Josh's discretion; texting a photo to arrange a drop-off is the surest option.
Will a scrap yard take my old appliance?
Plain-metal appliances like stoves, washers, and dryers, usually yes. But refrigerators, freezers, and AC units contain refrigerant that federal law requires be professionally recovered first, so many yards refuse them or charge a fee without documentation. The easiest free route is the City of Albuquerque Large Item Pick-Up, which handles the refrigerant disposal for you — see our appliance removal guide.
What won't scrap yards buy?
Refrigerant appliances without proof the Freon was removed, televisions, hazardous items like propane tanks and loose batteries, and household-scale cans and foil. Route TVs to Albuquerque Computer & Electronics Recycling Co., propane and batteries to the Household Hazardous Waste center on Girard, e-waste to the Eagle Rock drop-off, and cans, foil, and pots and pans to the City's blue recycling cart.
Do I need ID to sell scrap metal in New Mexico?
Yes. You cannot sell regulated scrap anonymously — you must show a valid, non-temporary driver's license, military ID, or U.S.-recognized passport, and the yard is legally required to record it along with your vehicle's license plate.
Rather not deal with any of it?
Send a photo of what you've got and I'll tell you honestly what I can take — then haul it free, across Albuquerque. Pickup is limited and at my discretion; drop-off by text is the surest option.
Request a pickup