How to Sell Scrap Metal in Melbourne: A First-Timer’s Guide (2026)

How Do You Sell Scrap Metal in Melbourne?

To sell scrap metal in Melbourne: sort your metals by type, remove non-metal attachments, get a quote from a licensed recycler, then either drop your load at a yard or book a free collection. Bring valid photo ID — it’s required by Victorian law for every sale — and expect to be paid by bank transfer or EFT, not cash, which has been banned for scrap transactions in Victoria since 2018. Your metal is weighed and graded, and payment lands once the load is priced.

Step by Step: Selling Scrap Metal for the First Time

1. Collect and sort your metals. Separate copper, brass, aluminium, stainless and steel into their own piles. A fridge magnet quickly splits ferrous (steel/iron — magnetic) from the more valuable non-ferrous metals.
2. Remove non-metal parts. Strip plastic, rubber and timber where practical. Cleaner metal grades higher.
3. Weigh or estimate the load. A rough kg figure per metal helps you get an accurate phone quote and compare fairly.
4. Get a quote. Call with your metal types and approximate weight, or send a photo. Rates move daily, so confirm on the day you sell.
5. Choose drop-off or collection. Take smaller loads to a yard; book a free pickup or bin for heavy or bulk quantities.
6. Bring photo ID and get paid by EFT. Your load is weighed and graded, and payment is transferred to your account.

For smaller quantities you can visit a metal recycling yard in Melbourne. For anything heavy or bulky, Manhari’s scrap metal collection service comes to you across Victoria, and you can request a free scrap metal bin for ongoing loads.

Victoria’s Scrap Metal Rules — What Every Seller Must Know

Victoria has some of Australia’s tightest scrap-metal rules, introduced to combat metal theft by creating a clear paper trail for every transaction. Two rules matter most for sellers:

These requirements come from the Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act framework and apply to every licensed recycler.

Manhari operates in full compliance — you can read more about our business and history since 2007, or see how our current prices reflect the daily market on our scrap metal prices page.

How You Get Paid — and Why It’s Safer This Way

Payment by EFT means the money goes straight to your bank account once your load is weighed and priced — traceable, quick and secure. The no-cash rule protects honest sellers: it deters metal theft, keeps prices transparent, and gives you a clear record of what you sold and for how much. If you’re a business, that record also makes bookkeeping straightforward.

How to Get the Best Price for Your Scrap

• Sort thoroughly. Mixed loads are graded down to the lowest metal present. Separate everything.
• Clean where practical. Remove attachments and coatings; strip heavy copper cable if you have the volume.
• Sell in volume. Bigger loads often attract better rates and free collection — especially for low-value steel.
• Time it sensibly. Prices move with the global market; a quick call on the day gives you the real rate. Don’t over-store trying to time a peak.
• Use a licensed, established recycler. You’ll get fair grading, legal EFT payment and a transparent process.

Selling as a Business, Tradie or Industrial Site

If you generate scrap regularly, a one-off drop-off isn’t the most efficient route. Manhari works with tradies, workshops, factories and demolition crews through industrial metal recycling and full industrial site clean-ups, with scheduled bins and pickups. End-of-life vehicles are handled through car recycling and auto wrecking — see our guide on how to dispose of a car in Victoria if that’s your situation.