How do I know if a buyer's aluminium grading standard matches international ISRI codes?
Short answer: Ask the buyer directly which specification they grade against. Many yards and traders — including outside the US — reference the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries' scrap specifications circular as a common industry reference point. A legitimate buyer should be able to name the grade they've assigned your material and show you the written definition, rather than only giving a verbal, unreferenced grade.
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List Free →Why a named standard matters
“Clean aluminium” or “mixed aluminium” can mean different things to different buyers if there’s no shared reference point. Having a buyer point to a named, written specification — rather than an informal, case-by-case judgement call — gives you something concrete to check your material against, and something to point back to if a dispute comes up later.
What to actually ask
- Which specification or grading system do you use for aluminium grades?
- Which specific grade have you assigned to my material, and what does that grade’s definition require?
- Can I see the written definition, not just be told the grade name?
A buyer who trades at any real volume, whether local or exporting internationally, will usually be familiar with industry-standard scrap specifications and can answer these without hesitation. Hesitation or a refusal to name any reference standard at all is worth treating as a flag.
What this doesn’t guarantee
Referencing a named standard doesn’t mean every buyer applies it identically — there’s still judgement involved in matching real-world scrap to a written grade definition. But it moves the conversation from “trust me” to “here’s the definition, let’s look at your material together,” which is a fairer basis for resolving any disagreement over price.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Every verified buyer on ScrapTrade lists the grading standard they trade against as part of their profile, so you can check it before you ever agree to a price — not after your material is already on their truck.
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