There are many recycling companies that will take water heaters and scrap them for the metal. Most water heater tanks are made from steel, and have copper and brass attachments. Recycling centers will often pay you the going rate, however, some may charge you a fee to dispose of the appliance.
Are old hot water tanks worth anything?
How Much Is A Water Heater Worth? Depending on the size of your water heater and the types of material used to build it, you could be looking at anywhere from $7 to $30* for scrapping a water heater. This depends largely on whether you bring the whole tank to the scrap yard or whether you separate parts out.