SCRAP RECYCLING
Scrap metal recycling is a process as well as being the basis for a powerful industry. Scrap metal recycling involves the recovery and processing of scrap metal from end-of-life products or structures, as well as from manufacturing scrap, so that it can be introduced as a raw material in the production of new goods. It can be recycled repeatedly with no degradation of its properties. It provides the raw material for new products, while offering a much lower carbon footprint and more efficient utilization of resources than new material.
Aside from environmental benefits, metal recycling is an extremely powerful economic activity.
When talking about scrap metal recycling, it is important to differentiate between the two main categories of scrap metal: ferrous metal, and nonferrous metal. While ferrous metal contains some degree of iron non-ferrous metal does not contain iron as a component. Nonferrous scrap includes aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, zinc and others.
THE SCRAP RECYCLING PROCESS
Metals are valuable materials that can be recycled again and again without degrading their properties. Scrap metal has value, which motivates people to collect it for sale to recycling operations.
Scrap Metal Recovery Volumes and Recycling Rates
The largest source was provided by the automobiles industries which were recycled. While the volume of ferrous metals recovered is much greater, nonferrous metals generate more industry revenue due to their greater value, and as such are aggressively recycled. Recovered nonferrous scrap, including aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, zinc and others, was valued at million, generating a volume of million metric tons.
The recycling rate is a very important measure in terms of landfill diversion. Scrap metal has been recycled for thousands of years because it has been long recognized as being a more efficient process than mining and processing new ore. Recycling rates for metal are generally high, due to its value. For example, ferrous metals have a recovery rate as follows:
- for cars: 106 percent
- for appliances: 90 percent
- for steel cans: 66.8 percent
- for structural steel: 98 percent
- for reinforcement steel: 70 percent
Maintaining the recycling rate for predominantly consumer goods can be more challenging, such as in the case of aluminum beverage containers. In jurisdictions that have beverage container deposit laws, the recovery rate is much higher.