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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Corpus Christi, verified October 2026.
Checked against Corpus Christi Solid Waste
Several
heavy brush and bulky collections a year per area, on the published schedule
6x10x6 ft
maximum pile, one truckload per household, brush separate from bulky
$2,000
per day maximum fine for setting out early or improperly
Every route for scrap metal in Corpus Christi, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Corpus Christi guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Corpus Christi, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Corpus Christi heavy brush and bulky item collection: scrap metal
Free, with a step firstMetal items go in the bulky pile during the window, or to a scrap yard any time.
Who qualifies: Homes with City of Corpus Christi solid waste service.
How to schedule: No appointment. City crews collect heavy brush and bulky items several times a year on a published schedule by area. Set items out only during your authorized set-out period; collection starts the day after the last set-out date and continues until the route is done.
Limits: One truckload per household per scheduled collection. No pile larger than 6 feet high, 10 feet long, and 6 feet deep. Brush and bulky items in separate piles.
Set-out: Near the curb in the same spot as your carts, only during the authorized set-out window. Early or improper set-outs draw a Notice of Violation, fees up to $231, and fines up to $2,000 a day.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Corpus Christi: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering scrap metal, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Corpus Christi: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Corpus Christi, Texas (#63 nationally) is served by Solid Waste Services through City utility accounts. The City uses a 10-zone collection system with weekly trash and bi-weekly recycling, with brush and bulky pickup scheduled twice annually per zone on a rotating schedule. The J.C. Elliott Collection Center on Hwy 286 at Ayers handles transfer station drop-offs. Distinctive features: monthly Litter Critter drop-off events at rotating community locations (often schools), the $2 per bag extra trash sticker program for overflow, and curbside cooking oil recycling at the J.C. Elliott Collection Center. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Corpus Christi residents.
The Corpus Christi rule for scrap metal: Metal items go in the bulky pile during the window, or to a scrap yard any time.
Program basics: One truckload per household per scheduled collection. No pile larger than 6 feet high, 10 feet long, and 6 feet deep. Brush and bulky items in separate piles. Near the curb in the same spot as your carts, only during the authorized set-out window. Early or improper set-outs draw a Notice of Violation, fees up to $231, and fines up to $2,000 a day.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste, construction debris, tires, and mixed brush-and-bulky piles. The J.C. Elliott Transfer Station takes most of those from residents.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Corpus Christi Solid Waste Services: Heavy Brush and Bulky Items. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi offers home HHW pickup, residents call to schedule, fees apply. This convenience eliminates the need to drive HHW to a facility.
Why scrap metal are different from ordinary bulk. Most household scrap is mixed. An appliance is a steel shell around a copper motor and aluminum fins; a bike is a steel or aluminum frame with rubber and plastic. Yards accept mixed items at the steel rate, so sorting pays only if you have enough non-ferrous metal to make it worth the time. A magnet and ten minutes usually tells you.
Three mistakes that get scrap metal left at the curb:
Paid options barely exist for metal, except when the metal is attached to things that are not metal.
Mixed loads to a transfer station
$20 to $60If metal is mixed into a larger cleanout, transfer stations charge by weight for the whole load. Pull the metal out first and give it to a scrapper; it reduces the fee and keeps metal out of the landfill.
Most transfer stations have a free metal pile. Ask before you tip.
LoadUp paid scrap metal pickup
$80+For Corpus Christi households needing in-home pickup, immediate disposal that can’t wait for the next twice-annual brush/bulky window, hurricane recovery cleanouts, or service when crew labor is needed, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your scrap metal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book scrap metal pickup in Corpus Christi with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Corpus Christi proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Corpus Christi junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national scrap metal disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Corpus Christi: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Corpus Christi pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes, during your window, or a scrap yard.
How much does paid scrap metal removal cost in Corpus Christi?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single scrap metal pickup in Corpus Christi starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Corpus Christi households needing in-home pickup, immediate disposal that can’t wait for the next twice-annual brush/bulky window, hurricane recovery cleanouts, or service when crew labor is needed, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders for upfront-priced pickup.
Will someone pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes. Independent scrappers in every metro collect appliances, grills, frames, and other metal from the curb free, usually the same day you post it, because they sell it by weight. Many city bulk programs also collect metal.
How much does a scrap yard pay?
Steel pays a few cents per pound; a washer or water heater might bring a few dollars. Aluminum pays several times more, and copper and brass pay the most, often a few dollars per pound. Prices change weekly with commodity markets.
How do I tell what kind of metal I have?
Use a magnet. If it sticks, the metal is ferrous (steel or iron) and pays the base rate. If it does not, it is aluminum, copper, brass, or stainless and worth sorting out. Copper is reddish, brass is yellow, aluminum is light and silver, stainless is heavy and silver.
Can I scrap a refrigerator or air conditioner?
Yes, but the refrigerant must be recovered first by a certified technician or by the yard if it has recovery equipment. Do not cut the lines. Many yards accept sealed units and recover the gas themselves; call first.
Is this Corpus Christi page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Corpus Christi guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.