Every scrap metal transaction runs into the same question eventually: what, exactly, are we buying? A ton of “copper” can mean a dozen different grades, each with a different price, different contamination tolerance, and different mill acceptance criteria. The industry’s answer to that ambiguity is the ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular, published by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. For any buyer sourcing scrap metal for sale in volume, understanding this system isn’t optional – it’s the difference between a clean purchase order and a rejected load.
This guide walks through how ISRI specifications work, why they matter for procurement, and how to use them when writing contracts, RFQs, or vetting a new scrap metal scrapyard vendor.
What ISRI Specifications Actually Are
ISRI has published its Scrap Specifications Circular since the 1960s, and it remains the closest thing the North American scrap industry has to a common legal and commercial language. Instead of describing material in prose every time (“clean, unalloyed copper wire, no coating, minimum gauge…”), buyers and sellers reference a short code name – Barley, Birch, Shred, Zorba – that maps to a precise, agreed-upon definition.
These aren’t government regulations. ISRI is a trade association, and the Circular is a voluntary industry standard. But because mills, brokers, exporters, and scrapyards all reference the same document, it functions as the default contract language for the sector. When a purchase order says “No. 1 Copper Wire, per ISRI,” both parties know exactly what’s being promised – down to gauge, coating, and contamination limits – without re-negotiating definitions on every deal.
That’s why scrap metal grading standards matter so much in B2B sourcing: they collapse a subjective, dispute-prone judgment call (“is this good copper?”) into an objective, citable reference.
Why This Matters More at the Buyer Level Than the Seller Level
Sellers usually already know their material. Buyers are the ones exposed when a grading dispute happens after a truck has already been unloaded. A few concrete stakes:
Pricing accuracy. Grades within the same base metal can differ by 20-40% in price. A buyer who can’t distinguish a No. 1 from a No. 2 grade on paper is negotiating blind.
Contract enforceability. A PO or RFQ that cites the specific ISRI code and revision date gives you a documented basis for rejection or price adjustment if delivered material doesn’t conform. Vague language (“clean scrap metal”) gives you none.
Vendor vetting. A scrapyard or supplier that can quote ISRI codes fluently, sort to spec, and document contamination levels is signaling operational maturity. One that can’t is a compliance and consistency risk before you’ve even placed an order.
Compliance and downstream acceptance. Mills and refiners set their own intake specs, but they’re almost always expressed as variations on ISRI baseline grades. Sourcing to spec reduces the odds of a load being downgraded or rejected at the mill gate.
Reference Table: Common ISRI Codes by Material Category
The table below covers commonly referenced ISRI code names across the material categories most relevant to buyers sourcing through a platform like ScrapGo. Grades and definitions are periodically revised by ISRI, so treat this as an orientation table – always confirm exact tolerances against the current Scrap Specifications Circular before finalizing a contract.
| Material Category | Common ISRI Code / Name | General Description |
| Ferrous – Prepared Steel | No. 1 Heavy Melting Steel (HMS) | Clean iron and steel scrap, minimum thickness, no excessive coating |
| Ferrous – Prepared Steel | No. 2 Heavy Melting Steel (HMS) | Similar to No. 1 but with thinner gauge and broader tolerances |
| Ferrous – New Steel | Busheling | Clean, new factory steel scrap such as sheet clippings and stampings |
| Ferrous – Processed | Shredded Scrap (“Shred”) | Auto and appliance scrap processed through a shredder |
| Ferrous – Structural | Plate & Structural (P&S) | Heavier structural steel sections and plate |
| Copper – Bare Wire | Barley | Bare, bright, uncoated copper wire, minimum gauge specified |
| Copper – No. 1 | Berry | No. 1 copper in various forms, unalloyed, uncoated |
| Copper – No. 2 (combo code) | Birch/Cliff | No. 2 copper wire and copper solids/tubing, nominal 96% copper content |
| Copper – Nodules | Candy | Copper wire nodules from recovery processing |
| Aluminum – Shredded Nonferrous | Zorba | Mixed shredded nonferrous scrap, predominantly aluminum |
| Aluminum – Extrusions | Tense/Talk (varies by alloy/coating) | Clean aluminum extrusions, sorted by alloy series |
| Aluminum – Nodules | Tall | Chopped/shredded aluminum nodules, high aluminum content |
| Mixed/E-scrap | Twitch | Aluminum-bearing scrap, various forms per current Circular |
Because code definitions can be revised, buyers issuing formal RFQs should cite both the code name and the ISRI Circular edition year, not just the shorthand nickname.
Building It Into Your Procurement Process
In RFQs, name the ISRI code, not just a material description. “Copper, clean” invites disputes; “No. 1 Copper Wire per current ISRI Circular” doesn’t.
In contracts, reference the specific Circular edition and attach the relevant spec page as an exhibit. Prices and market listings – including scrap metal for sale postings on marketplaces – should map back to a named grade, not a generic material label.
In vendor vetting, ask prospective scrapyard suppliers to grade a sample lot using ISRI terminology and compare it against your own inspection. Consistent, accurate grading is a stronger signal of reliability than price alone.
In dispute resolution, keep photos, weight tickets, and grading notes tied to the ISRI code cited in the PO. That documentation is what makes a rejection or short-pay defensible.
The Bottom Line
ISRI’s Scrap Specifications Circular isn’t just industry trivia – it’s the closest thing scrap metal trading has to a shared contract language. Buyers who reference it explicitly in RFQs, purchase orders, and vendor scorecards reduce grading disputes, price ambiguity, and mill rejections. Buyers who don’t are negotiating without a shared vocabulary, which tends to cost money exactly when volumes are largest. For sourcing teams working across multiple scrap metal scrapyard vendors, standardizing on ISRI codes is one of the highest-leverage, lowest-cost changes available in the procurement process.
Frequently Asked questions
What is the ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular?
It’s the reference document published by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries that defines standardized grade names and specifications for ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal, used industry-wide as common contract language between buyers and sellers.
Are ISRI codes legally binding?
Not on their own. ISRI is a trade association, and the Circular is a voluntary standard. However, once a code is cited in a signed purchase order or contract, it becomes part of the enforceable agreement between the parties.
How often are ISRI specifications updated?
ISRI periodically revises and adds specifications, particularly for nonferrous and electronics-related grades, as material streams change. Buyers should always confirm they’re referencing the current Circular edition rather than an older printing.
Why do ISRI codes use nicknames like Barley or Zorba instead of numbers?
The code names originated as shorthand for faster verbal and written trading, and they’ve stayed in use because they’re unambiguous within the industry – a single word replaces a full technical description.
How do ISRI grades affect scrap metal pricing?
Grade directly drives price because it reflects purity, contamination, and processing cost. Higher grades like No. 1 copper wire command a premium over mixed or No. 2 grades because they require less downstream processing by the mill or refiner.
Do I need to know ISRI codes if I’m buying through an online marketplace?
Yes. Even when sourcing scrap metal for sale through a platform, listings that reference ISRI grades give you a verifiable basis for what you’re purchasing, which protects against disputes when material arrives and needs to be weighed and inspecte