We serve San Marcos and the surrounding Hays County area with paid scrap metal recycling for residents, contractors and commercial operations, with drop-off available at our Austin facility and scheduled pickup and container service for businesses with ongoing scrap.

Metal Recycling in San Marcos, TX: Drop-Off and Pickup Options

San Marcos and the broader Hays County area generate a steady stream of scrap metal across construction, manufacturing, trades and property management. Our Austin facility is approximately 20 minutes north of San Marcos via I-35, making it a practical option for operations across the area and the Austin metro. For a full overview of what we offer, visit our recycling services page.

Not every customer comes to us the same way. Homeowners, property cleanouts and smaller contractors typically load up and drop off on their schedule. Manufacturers, fabrication shops, auto and repair operations and utilities with ongoing scrap accumulation are better served by scheduled pickup or a container program.

What Is the Difference Between Drop-Off and Scheduled Pickup Service?

	Drop-Off	Pickup / Container Service
Best For	Homeowners, contractors and small businesses with their own transport	Commercial accounts, fabrication shops, auto shops and ongoing scrap operations
Typical Volume	Single loads or occasional scrap accumulation	High-volume, recurring or bulk material streams
Timeline	Same-day. Bring it in during business hours, Monday through Friday.	Scheduled. Call to arrange; 48-hour container pickup available.
What You Need To Do	Load and transport your material; bring valid ID	Call to schedule; we handle transport and container swap

Why Pick Gardner Metal Recycling for Metal Recycling in San Marcos, TX?

Family-owned and operated for over 50 years, based in Austin and serving San Marcos and Hays County
Transparent, market-based pricing with on-the-spot quotes from an experienced sales team
Staff assistance with unloading and sorting for a fast, low-friction experience
Commercial-grade pickup and container programs for high-volume and ongoing accounts
Roll-off containers in multiple sizes with 48-hour pickup availability
Regulatory expertise covering FAA, TCEQ and RCRA compliance requirements
Demolition and clearing support with scrap crediting for contractors and project managers

How Long Has Gardner Metal Recycling Served Central Texas?

Gardner Metal Recycling has served Central Texas as a family-owned business for over 50 years. That means deep familiarity with the industries, regulations and material streams that define this market. For San Marcos customers, it means consistent service standards, established processes and the confidence of working with an operation that has been a known quantity in the regional scrap market for decades. That presence extends across San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, New Braunfels, Hays County and every community we serve today, all connected to our Austin facility via the I-35 corridor.

What Scrap Metals We Buy From San Marcos Residents and Businesses

We buy ferrous and non-ferrous metals from residents, contractors and fabrication shops across San Marcos and Hays County. Some of the most common sources we see from this area include construction and remodel projects, HVAC replacement work and university-area property cleanouts, all of which tend to generate solid volumes of recoverable material.

Copper (bare bright, #1 copper, #2 copper)
Insulated copper wire and cable (value varies by grade)
Copper tubing and pipe
Aluminum (sheet, extrusions, cast, clips)
Brass (yellow brass, red brass, brass radiators)
Stainless steel (304 and other grades)
Iron and steel (ferrous prepared and unprepared grades)
Tin and shred
Cat 5 and Cat 6 cable
Electronics and e-scrap (call to confirm accepted items)
Electric motors
Machine turnings and metal shavings
Carbide
High-temperature and exotic alloys

If you are not sure whether we take a specific item, call us or check the what we buy page before you drive out.

What Metals Are Worth the Most at a Scrap Yard?

Copper is the highest-value common scrap metal, consistently returning more per pound than other materials most customers bring in. Brass, aluminum and stainless steel are strong non-ferrous options that also return meaningfully more per pound than ferrous metals like iron and steel. Rates change daily, so call Gardner Metal Recycling at 512-292-1022 for current per-pound pricing on specific materials. Copper wire is one of the most common high-value materials San Marcos customers bring in, and its value depends on a grade structure that is worth understanding before you drop off.

How Much Is Copper Wire Worth at a Scrap Yard?

Copper wire value at a scrap yard depends on grade and the percentage of copper recovered from the insulation. Bare bright copper returns the highest per-pound value. It carries no insulation, so the full weight is recoverable copper. The three primary grade categories are bare bright (uninsulated, clean copper), #1 insulated (thicker insulation, higher copper content per pound) and #2 insulated (thinner strands, lower copper content per pound). Rates change daily, so call Gardner Metal Recycling at 512-292-1022 for current copper wire pricing by grade.

Do Scrap Yards Take Appliances and Electronics?

Appliances and many electronics contain recyclable metals: copper, aluminum and steel. What we accept varies by material type. Call ahead to confirm before you make the trip, or review our what we buy page for guidance. The value recovered from appliances and electronics depends on the metals they contain, their grade and how well the load is prepared.

Scrap Metal Prices in San Marcos: What Affects Value and How Quotes Work

We cannot guarantee a fixed rate, and you should be cautious of anyone who claims they can. When you call for a quote, you will get a market-based figure tied to what commodities are doing that day. What you are quoted is what you receive. If this is your first time selling scrap, the pricing drivers list below is the fastest way to set realistic expectations before you call.

Metal type: non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum, brass, stainless steel) return higher per-pound value than ferrous metals (iron, steel, tin)
Grade and cleanliness: clean, sorted material grades out higher than mixed or contaminated scrap
Quantity: larger volumes of a single grade typically return stronger per-pound pricing
Preparation: removing non-metal attachments such as insulation, plastic and rubber before drop-off increases recovered value
Contamination: mixed or dirty loads are graded down; keeping grades separate protects your return
Current market conditions: commodity prices fluctuate daily. Call Gardner Metal Recycling at 512-292-1022 for a current quote.

What Is the Difference Between Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals?

Ferrous metals are iron-based, magnetic materials including iron, steel and tin, and they generally return lower per-pound value at scrap yards. Non-ferrous metals are non-magnetic materials including copper, aluminum, brass and stainless steel, and they return higher per-pound value. Knowing which category your material falls into is the first step toward setting realistic value expectations before you call. Our team can help you assess grades on arrival or over the phone.

What Can I Do To Maximize the Value of My Scrap Metal?

The Recycled Materials Association recommends these steps before drop-off. They directly affect what you get paid.

Sort your metals by type. Keep ferrous and non-ferrous separate, and separate grades within each category where possible.
Remove non-metal attachments. Strip insulation from wire, remove plastic fittings and separate rubber components before drop-off.
Drain fluids from HVAC units, motors or any equipment that held liquid before bringing it in.
Keep grades separate. Bare bright copper, #1 copper and #2 copper must not be mixed if you want the highest return on each grade.
Estimate your quantity. Knowing approximate weight or volume helps us provide an accurate phone quote before you make the trip.

Full-Service Scrap Solutions for San Marcos: Pickup, Containers, Demolition and Ongoing Programs

For many San Marcos operations, a single drop-off visit is only part of the equation. We offer structured programs for high-volume and ongoing needs.

Scrap metal pickup: one-time or scheduled service for contractors and commercial accounts in San Marcos and Hays County
On-site container programs: roll-off containers in 20, 30 and 40 cubic yard sizes for ongoing collection
Demolition and clearing: we collect scrap from demolition and clearing jobs and credit the recovered value back against your project cost
Industrial processing: high-volume material handling for manufacturing, fabrication and utility operations
Ongoing commercial programs: tailored pickup schedules and container arrangements for recurring scrap streams

Do You Offer Scrap Metal Pickup or Roll-Off Containers in San Marcos?

Yes. We offer one-time pickup, scheduled recurring pickup and container delivery for San Marcos customers and the surrounding Hays County area. One-time and scheduled pickup serve contractors wrapping up a project in San Marcos, property managers handling a cleanout or commercial accounts and fabrication shops with ongoing scrap accumulation. For container delivery, roll-off containers are available in 20, 30 and 40 cubic yard sizes with 48-hour pickup availability for full containers. Learn more about our pickup service. Get full details on our container rental options. For San Marcos projects involving demolition or site clearing, we offer an additional layer of value through our demolition and clearing program.

Can Gardner Metal Recycling Handle Demolition or Jobsite Scrap in San Marcos?

Yes. We collect scrap metal from demolition and clearing jobs in the San Marcos area and credit the recovered value back against the cost of the project, reducing your out-of-pocket on the overall job. General contractors, property owners, facility managers and utility operations handling equipment teardowns or facility cleanouts use this service regularly. Get full details on our demolition and clearing program.

How Does the Scrap Metal Pickup and Drop-Off Process Work?

Call Gardner Metal Recycling at 512-292-1022 or use the online contact form to describe your materials, estimated quantity and whether you need drop-off directions, pickup scheduling or a container.
For drop-off: arrive at the Austin facility during business hours. For pickup or container delivery: confirm your window or delivery date with our team.
Unload your materials with staff assistance. Our team helps you sort and organize to confirm accurate grading.
We weigh your materials on calibrated scales and grade them by type and cleanliness to determine market-based value.
You get your quote and, if you accept, payment on the spot. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and be prepared to share basic seller and vehicle details for regulated material transactions as required under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1956.
Receive a receipt and transaction record for your files. This is particularly important for commercial accounts and ongoing programs managing recurring scrap streams.

Full detail on the pickup process is at our how scrap metal pickup works page.

Metal Recycling San Marcos, TX: Contact Gardner Metal Recycling for Current Pricing and Pickup Scheduling

The next step is a quick call or a few lines in the contact form. Here is what to have ready before you reach out.

What To Have Ready When You Call:

Metal type (copper, aluminum, steel, wire, mixed. Be as specific as possible.)
Estimated quantity (approximate weight or volume)
Pickup location and site access details in San Marcos (if requesting pickup or a container)
Photos of your materials (optional but helpful for large or unusual loads)
Your valid ID (required for regulated material transactions under Texas law)

Here is where to reach us.

Business: Gardner Metal Recycling
Phone: 512-292-1022
Address: 9701 US Hwy 290 East Service Road, Austin, TX 78724
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Service area: San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, New Braunfels and the Hays County area
Contact online: Contact Gardner Metal Recycling

Do I Need an ID To Sell Scrap Metal in Texas?

Yes. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1956 governs metal recycling entity transactions in the state and requires seller identification and transaction records for regulated materials. The Texas DPS Texas Metals Program oversees compliance statewide. When you come in, bring a valid government-issued photo ID and be prepared to share basic seller and vehicle details when required.

Partner with Gardner Metal Recycling to turn your scrap metal into a valuable asset. Schedule a consultation online or call us at 512-982-0447.

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