Home › By item › Scrap metal › Norfolk
A public resource guide
Free scrap metal removal in Norfolk, VA
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Norfolk, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Norfolk
Home › By item › Scrap metal › Norfolk
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Norfolk, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Norfolk
12
free bulk collections a year, 3 cubic yards each, scheduled through 757-664-6510 or MyNorfolk
4
tires per collection day (12 a year), included in bulk pickup
Tue and Sat
free e-waste drop-off at the SPSA Norfolk Transfer Station, noon to 4 p.m.
Every route for scrap metal in Norfolk, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Norfolk guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Norfolk, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Norfolk scheduled bulk waste collection: scrap metal
Free, with a step firstMetal items are bulk waste by scheduled collection, or go to a scrap yard.
Who qualifies: Households with City of Norfolk Waste Management collection.
How to schedule: City code requires you to schedule before anything goes out: call Norfolk Cares at 757-664-6510 (311) or use the MyNorfolk app. Standard bulk collections are free, limited to 3 cubic yards each and 12 per year; larger volumes are charged by the cubic yard.
Limits: 3 cubic yards per collection, 12 collections a year. Up to 4 tires per collection day and 12 per year, non-commercial sizes.
Set-out: At the curb as directed when you schedule, on the scheduled day, separate from carts. Glass sectioned and taped or boxed.
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 Norfolk: 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 Norfolk: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Norfolk, Virginia provides free curbside bulk waste pickup with a generous annual allowance: up to 12 bulk waste pickups per year, max 3 cubic yards per collection, by request through the MyNorfolk app, online portal, or Norfolk Cares phone line. Requests must be made by 3 PM the day prior to your trash collection day. Recycling is bi-weekly on the same day as trash. Up to 20 clear bags or bundles of yard waste are accepted per collection. Multi-family properties of 4 units or fewer are eligible for city service. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Norfolk residents.
The Norfolk rule for scrap metal: Metal items are bulk waste by scheduled collection, or go to a scrap yard.
Program basics: 3 cubic yards per collection, 12 collections a year. Up to 4 tires per collection day and 12 per year, non-commercial sizes. At the curb as directed when you schedule, on the scheduled day, separate from carts. Glass sectioned and taped or boxed.
What the city will not take: Electronics (free at the SPSA Norfolk Transfer Station on Tuesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4), household hazardous waste, and construction debris.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Norfolk: How Do I Dispose Of (bulk waste, tires, e-waste), Norfolk City Code section 41-32 (bulk waste scheduling, 3 cubic yards, tires), via city rule summary. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Norfolk. Use the city’s Waste Wizard tool at norfolk.gov/recycling to determine if a specific item is trash, recyclable, or requires special disposal.
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 Norfolk households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept, or service before the next bulk request slot, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Norfolk area 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 Norfolk with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Norfolk proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Norfolk 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 Norfolk: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Norfolk pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes, after scheduling, or a scrap yard.
How much does paid scrap metal removal cost in Norfolk?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single scrap metal pickup in Norfolk starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Norfolk households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept, or service before the next bulk request slot, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Norfolk area 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 Norfolk page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Norfolk guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.