Hi Norm,
You're dealing with the wrong scrap yard. Most decent yards pay good money for Ally. We've got a scumbag one close to us that will only pay $1.00 for a car battery when we all know they are worth around $8.00 plus depending on size.
In Adelaide a company called "Trading Metals" pays the best money for scrap, more than anyone else, but in saying that I wouldn't expect you to come over here just to dispose of a Lawn Mower base. There are much better places out there with contracts to fill quotas and those pay the best coin.
Cheers,
BB.