Up here cast Aluminium (stuff like engine blocks, intakes, cyl heads) is at 52 cents a lb. Stuff like AC condensers and rads and such is at 57 cents per lb, and wheels and cans (in the same classification ) is at 68 cents a lb.
I've been stripping out bad engines and trannys from shops lately. In two loads ( a total of 500 lbs) I've got $280.
the catch is it has to be "clean" aluminum. that means NO other metal in there. all studs, pins, plates,and sleeves have to be removed.
and ,no. we figured it out. if you live in a state with a 5 cent return on cans, you make a lot more on the return. don't scrap them.
We've had problems here with aluminum theft. street signs, aluminum siding, anything. Fortunatly the scrapyards are helping. They don't accept signs, and you have to have proof of where the siding came from.