Scrap metal and recovered paper prices and where to sell them in Spain
Find out current prices and selling points for scrap metal and recovered paper in Spain. Don't throw away waste without knowing what it's worth.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
A practical guide to recycling and making money from waste: scrap metal and cardboard
Where can you sell scrap metal and recovered paper in Spain? If you've got piles of metal or cardboard building up, the idea of not just leaving them in a bin or on the street without getting something back is a calculation many people are making. The reality is that the process isn't uniform; it depends on the type of material, your location and, frankly, on who is willing to buy it.
The scrap metal and metals market
The value of scrap fluctuates wildly with metal prices. Sales of metals at around €210/tonne have been reported. The type of metal is key: aluminium, for example, breaks down into parts such as melted LEDs, and a mix of aluminium from electronic components and parts has been known to easily exceed 4 kilos. There are references noting that drink cans are mainly aluminium, although warnings about the presence of tinplate. As for logistics, stockpiling metal in rural areas has been raised, but doubts remain about whether scrapyards accept mixed loads.
Valuing recovered paper and cardboard
Paper and cardboard present a more ambiguous picture. Although there are references to wholesale prices on platforms such as ASpapel, payment per tonne is estimated at no more than €20-30/Tn. The disappearance of street collectors means having to look for specific selling points; locations in Madrid have been mentioned, such as Arganzuela or Marqués de Viana, although information about where paper is bought is patchy.
The encyclopaedia question: sell, give away or recycle?
Old documents or encyclopaedias pose a dilemma between market value and sheer volume. Traditional channels such as resale platforms or second-hand shops are reluctant to buy large lots, preferring titles with specific demand or old editions. Strategies range from selling by weight to donating to community libraries, as seen in initiatives seeking to revitalise cultural spaces in rural areas, such as Priaranza.
With this data, it's clear that waste is not a passive matter; it's an asset that requires research so it doesn't end up in landfill simply because you didn't know the collection points or the real prices.
Related forum discussions
Where can you sell scrap metal and recovered paper in Spain? If you've got piles of metal or cardboard building up, the idea of not just leaving them in a bin or on the street without getting something back is a calculation many people are making. The reality is that the process isn't uniform; it depends on the type of material, your location and, frankly, on who is willing to buy it.
The scrap metal and metals market
The value of scrap fluctuates wildly with metal prices. Sales of metals at around €210/tonne have been reported. The type of metal is key: aluminium, for example, breaks down into parts such as melted LEDs, and a mix of aluminium from electronic components and parts has been known to easily exceed 4 kilos. There are references noting that drink cans are mainly aluminium, although warnings about the presence of tinplate. As for logistics, stockpiling metal in rural areas has been raised, but doubts remain about whether scrapyards accept mixed loads.
Valuing recovered paper and cardboard
Paper and cardboard present a more ambiguous picture. Although there are references to wholesale prices on platforms such as ASpapel, payment per tonne is estimated at no more than €20-30/Tn. The disappearance of street collectors means having to look for specific selling points; locations in Madrid have been mentioned, such as Arganzuela or Marqués de Viana, although information about where paper is bought is patchy.
The encyclopaedia question: sell, give away or recycle?
Old documents or encyclopaedias pose a dilemma between market value and sheer volume. Traditional channels such as resale platforms or second-hand shops are reluctant to buy large lots, preferring titles with specific demand or old editions. Strategies range from selling by weight to donating to community libraries, as seen in initiatives seeking to revitalise cultural spaces in rural areas, such as Priaranza.
With this data, it's clear that waste is not a passive matter; it's an asset that requires research so it doesn't end up in landfill simply because you didn't know the collection points or the real prices.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (38 replies).
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