Your First Visit to Langley Recycling: What to Expect (And What to Bring)

If you’ve never sold scrap metal before, walking into a scrap yard for the first time can feel a little uncertain. What do you bring? How does payment work? Do you need an appointment?

It’s simpler than you think! We’ve helped first-timers through this process more times than we can count so here’s exactly what to expect when you visit Langley Recycling.

A Little Background

Langley Recycling has been part of Kansas City since 1931 — started by Henry L. Langley and his father, originally collecting bones and rags by horse-drawn wagon. Today, nearly a century later, we’re one of the largest metal recycling facilities in the KC area, still family-owned and operated, now in our fourth generation.

That history means we’ve helped every kind of customer: homeowners clearing out a garage, contractors finishing a demolition job, weekend scrappers, and commercial businesses looking for a reliable recycling partner. Whatever brought you here, you’re in the right place.

What to Bring

Before you load up the truck, a few things to have ready:

• A valid government-issued photo ID. Missouri law requires scrap yards to record seller information. It’s quick, routine, and protects everyone.
• Your scrap metal. We accept a wide range of materials — copper (all grades and insulation types), aluminum (sheet, cast, wheels, wire, radiators, cans, extrusions, and more), brass, iron and steel, stainless steel, electric motors, alternators, starters, catalytic converters, auto batteries, e-scrap (computers, laptops, hard drives, phones, circuit boards, processors), die cast/zinc, lead, and even gold and silver scrap. If you’re not sure whether we take something, call us or check our full materials list.
• Separated materials if possible. You’ll generally get a better price if different metals are separated: copper from steel, aluminum cans from aluminum sheet, and so on. It’s not required, but it helps.
• A vehicle rated for the weight. Scrap adds up fast. Make sure your truck, trailer, or vehicle can safely handle the load.

How the Process Works

Here’s the visit from start to finish, and what our staff sees confuse people when they don’t know what to expect:

• Pull in and weigh in. Our scale is right at the entrance. Your vehicle is weighed with your scrap on board. First-timers are often surprised by this step, but it’s fast and straightforward.
• Unload. We’ll direct you to the right area. Our staff handles unloading, by hand or by crane magnet, depending on your load. Our drives are concrete, so no flat tires.
• Weigh out. Once your vehicle is empty, you drive back over the scale. The difference is the weight of your scrap.
• Get paid. Payment is fast. No waiting around.

The whole process typically takes less than 30 minutes, even for larger loads. We accept unlimited quantities so there’s no cap on how much you can bring in.

What Determines Your Payout

Scrap metal prices are market-driven and fluctuate based on commodity prices globally. That means we can’t post a single “forever” price, what copper pays today may differ from what it pays next week.

A few things that affect your payout:

• Metal type. Non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum, brass) pay more per pound than ferrous metals (steel, cast iron). The easiest way to tell: ferrous metals stick to a magnet.
• Condition and cleanliness. Wire with insulation stripped, aluminum without steel attachments, and metals free of debris will generally yield higher prices. Separating copper grades — bare bright vs. #1 vs. #2 — is worth the extra few minutes.
• Weight. More metal, more money.

For current pricing, check out our price sheet, request a quote, or give us a call at 816-924-8452. We’re always happy to give you a ballpark before you make the trip.

Thursday Is Metal of the Month Day

Every month we feature a Metal of the Month, a special offer on a specific material. The deal is valid every Thursday that month. It’s a great reason to time your drop-off strategically. Check our website or social media to see which metals are featured this month.

Our Hours

• Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 12:45PM – 4:30 PM
• Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Sunday: Closed

We’re located at 3557 Stadium Drive, Kansas City, MO 64129. No appointment needed, just show up.

Ready to Come In?

Whether you’ve got a truckload of copper pipe, a few bags of aluminum cans, a box of old electronics, or a junk car you’re finally ready to let go of, we’re ready for you. Langley Recycling has been turning scrap into cash for Kansas City for over 90 years. We’d love to do the same for you.

Questions before your first visit? Call us at 816-924-8452.

Frequently Asked Questions