Convert Your Precious Metal Scrap To Buying Power!

Returning your scrap to Rio for a direct refund check or Rio Grande credit is easy as can be and really hits your bottom line. See our frequently asked questions below or download the return form now..

We accept silver, gold, gold-filled, palladium, fired PMC® and platinum items. We cannot accept base metal, electroplating solutions, photographic processing materials or sweeps (if you have sweep metal you wish to donate to a good cause, please visit riogrande.com/sweepsforcerf for information about donating your sweeps). Please do not send plated non-precious metal jewelry;
we cannot recover the precious metal from this type of jewelry.

Payment amounts are based on market value current on the day we settle your scrap return, regardless of when it was shipped or received.

Note: Cleaning scrap, separating metals, melting small pieces and clearly labeling scrap before shipping will significantly speed this process.

Important: Rio Grande reserves the right to physically alter the metal scrap in order to determine its purity. Please note your piece might be damaged or malformed during testing. Therefore, if you request the piece be returned to you, it may not arrive in the same condition you sent it in.

How do I send in my scrap?

You will need to ship your scrap along with the scrap packing list. Fill out the form completely and accurately to ensure a speedy transaction.

1) Separate scrap by metal type. Package each type separately in plastic bags. Note: Do not use tape or any other adhesive to seal the bag—scrap can get caught or stuck and may be overlooked.

2) Package all bags and your completed scrap metals return form in a box and ship it to us. Use any shipping method you choose; UPS is preferable for larger shipments. We recommend insuring your package, regardless of its size.

Send the box to:
Attention: Returns
Rio Grande
7500 Bluewater Road NW
Albuquerque, NM 87121

3) A copy of your transaction (your invoice) will be mailed to you.
On this invoice, you will find the type and weight of the scrap we received from you, the rate(s) at which it was paid and the total payment (or credit).

IMPORTANT: Please review your invoice immediately. Any disputes regarding metal purity, weight or payment amount must be reported within 14 days from the date on the invoice.

Refining your scrap metals is an easy way to recycle your materials and recover costs. Please follow the guidelines above to make this process quick and easy and to maximize profitability for your business.

1. What types of metals can I send in?
Sterling and fine silver, gold, platinum, palladium, and gold-filled. (We do not accept base metal, electroplating solutions, electronic scrap, photographic processing materials or sweeps.

2. Do I have to separate the metals?
Yes. Please put each metal type (silver/gold-filled/10K/14K/18K/platinum etc.) in a separate bag.

3. Do you accept dental scrap? Yes, provided the metal is free from any organic (non-metal) material.

4. Can you apply my refund to my credit card or checking account? Unfortunately, we can only apply credit to your Rio Account or send a refund check.

5. Can you send me a refund check? Yes.

6. What is the percentage paid for refund and/or credit to account? See the table above.

7. Do you accept sweeps or dust?
We do accept silver dust. We do not accept sweeps for payment, but we are happy to forward these sweeps to CERF as a donation, if you wish. Learn more about our CERF program at www.riogrande.com/sweepsforCERF.

8. How long will it take to process my scrap?
Normal turn-around time is 1–2 days after we receive your scrap.

9. How should I package my scrap?
Please package each metal type in a separate, sealable plastic bag so none of the scrap can fall out. Do not use tape or adhesive on the bag to seal it, as this may capture some of your scrap and cause it to be overlooked. When placing your scrap in a shipping box, make sure all the ends of the box are taped so that if some scrap does happen to spill out of the bags, it will not fall out of the box.

10. What address do I send it to? 
Send your shipment to:
Attn: Returns
7500 Bluewater Road NW
Albuquerque, NM 87121

11. Why doesn’t the shipping weight match what you calculated during processing? 
We weigh our metal in troy ounces. Standard postal scales weigh in avoirdupois ounces. We calibrate our scales monthly.

12. Can you take my scrap if I don’t have a Rio Grande account? 
Yes, you may send in your scrap, and we will create an account for you upon receipt in order for you to receive a refund.

13. Can you split my scrap payment between credit and refund?
Yes. Please indicate “this scrap is for credit” and “this scrap is for refund” on your scrap metals return form.