Copper ones, always cut the steel off. If it is aluminum, don't worry about it. At least here where I am, that is how it is.

Also, for the side pieces that you do cut off, here is 2 ways of doing it.



1. Before you cut the ends off, or even after, knock all the copper windings off. Turn them in as clean #2.

2. Turn them in with the metal still attached. Sometimes they will knock a little off and pay you for dirty #2, and other times, they wont.