Scrap
Scrap can be used in a Research table and Workbench to unlock and research items. Often used as a currency throughout the world.
In Rust, 11 crafting recipes call for Scrap, and the Workbench Level 3 (1,250), Workbench Level 2 (500) and Gears (100) take the most per craft. When recycled, 25 other items give it back. It cannot be crafted, and Buried Treasure drops it most often, at 100%.
About the Scrap
Present Drop gives the biggest single find, 140 to 160 at a time. Gutting fish gives it too: Catfish (6, 20% of the time), Orange Roughy (6, 20% of the time), Salmon (6, 20% of the time) and 1 more. Opening Small Present (8 to 12) can give it as well.
Stablehand pays it out: 5 to 700 for an animal and 5 to 450 for a lot of wool. It stacks to 1,000 in one inventory slot.
It is for sale at 21 vendors, among them Fish Exchange for 2 Small Shark, Scrap 4 Sale for 1 Red Keycard and Fish Exchange for 2 Orange Roughy. In all, 20 loot sources drop it; the full list of where it drops gives the chance for each.
Comes from
Orange RoughyWhat you can craft with Scrap
By workbench, 1 needs none, 3 need a Level 1, 3 need a Level 2 and 4 need a Level 3.
Research Table
Workbench Level 1
Workbench Level 2
Workbench Level 3Needs is how many of this item one craft takes, at the workbench the recipe asks for.
What to recycle for Scrap
A green recycler gives back the most from the Jackhammer (30), Rifle Body (25), Tree Lights (25) and 22 more.
Decorative Baubels ×1 +60%×2×2 +40%×3 
Decorative Tinsel ×2 +40%×3×3 +60%×4 +50% 
Egg Basket ×12×15×18×22 +50% 
Electric Fuse ×16×20×24×30 
Empty Propane Tank +80%×1×1 +20%×1 +50% 
Gears ×8×10×12×15 
Heavy Fuse ×16×20×24×30 
Jackhammer ×24×30×36×45 
Krieg Large Backpack ×8×10×12×15 
Large Backpack ×8×10×12×15 
Metal Blade ×1 +60%×2×2 +40%×3 
Metal Pipe ×4×5×6×7 +50% 
Metal Spring ×8×10×12×15 Minigun Ammo Pack ×8×10×12×15 
Nailgun ×8×10×12×15 
Pumpkin Basket ×12×15×18×22 +50% 
Rifle Body ×20×25×30×37 +50% 
Road Signs ×4×5×6×7 +50% 
SMG Body ×12×15×18×22 +50% 
Salvage Workbench Upgrade ×16×20×24×30 
Semi Automatic Body ×12×15×18×22 +50% 
Sheet Metal ×6 +40%×8×9 +60%×12 
Star Tree Topper ×8×10×12×15 
Tech Trash ×16×20×24×30 
Tree Lights ×20×25×30×37 +50% What one of each item gives at each recycler: the guaranteed count, and after the + the chance of one more.
Small Present 6.5%×8–12 The chance is for a single roll of what the item gives when opened.
Where to find the Scrap
Buried Treasure has the best chance at 100%, followed by Present Drop at 56% and Supply Drop at 56%.
Metal Detector (deep sea) — 4.1% ×30–50 Metal Detector — 2.7% ×7–13 Shops that hand it out
Fish ExchangeShop×90for2
Small Shark
Scrap 4 SaleShop×80for1
Red KeycardFish ExchangeShop×65for2
CatfishFish ExchangeShop×55for2
Salmon
Stables ShopkeeperShop×50for12
RoseScrap 4 SaleShop×40for1
Blue KeycardFish ExchangeShop×30for5
Small Trout
Produce ExchangeShop×10for15
CornProduce ExchangeShop×10for80
Cloth
StablehandShop×5–700paid for an animal, more for a better oneStablehandShop×5–450paid for a wool lot, more for a better lotStats checked against the Rust game files on 13 November 2026.
