If you’re searching for where to sell scrap metal near Boston, the answer is closer than you think. Second Street Iron & Metal sits at 285 Second Street in Everett, just a few minutes north of downtown. We’ve been buying scrap from Greater Boston homeowners, contractors and businesses for more than a century.
First visits to a scrap yard can feel a little intimidating. There are trucks, scales, cranes and piles of metal everywhere. This guide walks you through exactly what happens, start to finish, so you show up prepared and leave with cash in hand. Read more below!
Why Everett Is the Easy Answer for Greater Boston
Our yard is centrally located for most of the metro area. Everett borders Boston, Chelsea, Malden, Medford and Somerville, and it’s a short drive from Route 1, Route 16 and I-93. That means less time in traffic and more time getting paid.
Here’s roughly where our customers come from:
Boston neighborhoods: We regularly serve customers from Boston, East Boston, South Boston, Brighton and Jamaica Plain.
Right next door: Residents of Chelsea, Revere, Malden, Medford and Somerville are often here in 10 to 15 minutes.
Cambridge and the inner suburbs: Customers from Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown and Brookline find us an easy run.
North Shore: We see plenty of loads from Lynn, Saugus, Peabody and Salem.
North and the 128 belt: Contractors from Woburn, Melrose, Stoneham and Wakefield use us for job-site scrap.
South Shore: Customers from Quincy, Braintree and Milton make the trip for bigger loads.
Don’t see your town? Check our full list of service areas. We serve more than 50 communities across Massachusetts.
Before You Go: What to Bring and How to Prep
A little preparation at home makes your visit faster and can raise your payout.
Bring a valid photo ID. Massachusetts requires scrap dealers to keep records of who they buy from, so expect to show a driver’s license or state ID.
Separate your metals. Keep copper, brass, aluminum and steel in different buckets or bins. Mixed loads are often paid at the lowest grade in the pile.
Do the magnet test. If a magnet sticks, it’s ferrous (iron or steel). If it doesn’t, it’s likely non-ferrous, like copper, aluminum or brass, which is usually worth more. Our guide to ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals explains the difference.
Strip what you can. Removing plastic, rubber, wood or insulation from copper wire and pipe usually earns a cleaner, higher-paying grade.
Drain and empty. Appliances, tanks and engines should be free of fluids. Call ahead about anything that held refrigerant, fuel or chemicals.
Check today’s prices. Look at our pricing page before you load up, so you know what to expect.
Bring your title for a car. If you’re scrapping a full vehicle, read our Scrapping Cars FAQ first so you have the right paperwork.
What Happens When You Arrive at Our Everett Yard
Most first-time visits are simple and quick. Here’s the typical flow.
Pull in and check in. Drive into the yard at 285 Second Street and let our team know what you’re bringing. They’ll point you to the right spot.
Unload by material. Ferrous metal like steel and iron is weighed separately from non-ferrous metal like copper, brass and aluminum. Our staff will help you sort anything that isn’t obvious.
Weigh-in. Your metal goes on a certified scale. Larger loads may be weighed in your vehicle, unloaded, and then weighed again empty.
Grading. We check each material’s grade. Clean copper pipe, for example, is worth more than copper with fittings or solder still attached.
Show your ID and get paid. Once everything is weighed and graded, you’ll complete a quick record with your ID and receive payment for your load.
Contractors and Big Loads: Skip the Trips With a Roll-Off
If you’re clearing a construction or demolition site, hauling scrap in a pickup isn’t efficient. We rent scrap metal roll-off dumpsters throughout Greater Boston. Load it on site, and we’ll haul it back to Everett for weighing and payment.
We charge a pickup and drop-off fee for smaller loads, but we waive that fee for larger jobs. Contractors in Waltham, Newton, Burlington and Lexington use this service to keep job sites clear and turn scrap into revenue.
See our services for businesses or our full list of scrap metal services to learn more.
5 Tips for Getting the Best Price
Sort before you arrive. Separated metals get graded individually, so your copper isn’t paid like steel.
Clean your copper. Remove fittings, solder, paint and insulation where you safely can.
Save up for one trip. A single larger load saves gas and time compared with several small runs.
Watch the market. Metal prices move with global demand. Check our pricing page or call for today’s numbers.
Don’t overlook small items. Brass faucets, aluminum cans, old wiring and car batteries add up fast.
Ready for Your First Visit? Come to Second Street Iron & Metal Today!
Whether you’re cleaning out a garage in Medford or wrapping up a demo job in Quincy, Second Street Iron & Metal makes selling scrap near Boston simple. We’re a third-generation, family-owned yard, and we treat first-timers and longtime contractors the same way. Visit us on our website or call (617) 387-1188.
