Metal Recycling Facts

Recycling of metals is being encouraged worldwide for ensuring sustainability and
minimizing wastage. It is not just industrial metals but also household metals that are highly
suitable for efficient recycling. Here are some facts related to the recycling of metals.

Most recycled metal

Steel is one of the most recycled materials in North America. More than 69 percent of steel is
recycled there. In a year over 80 million tons of steel are recycled. Steel is a metal which can
be recycled repeatedly without deterioration of its strength.
(https://www.steel.org/~/media/Files/AISI/Fact%20Sheets/50_Fun_Facts_About_Steel.pdf).

Saving energy with metal recycling

Recycling aluminium takes around 5% of the energy that is required in its virgin production.
Since aluminium takes as long as 200 years to break down and decompose, it can be recycled
over and over again with no loss of properties Moreover, the process of aluminium recycling
is far less time consuming and thus, energy saving.
(http://www.alfed.org.uk/files/Fact%20sheets/5-aluminium-recycling.pdf)
(http://www.world-aluminium.org/media/filer_public/2013/01/15/fl0000181.pdf).

Benefiting the economy through metal recycling

Recycling scrap metal is a significant industry in countries like the USA, where it earned a
total revenue of $29 billion in 2018-19 and employs around 24,698 people
(https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-trends/specialized-market-research-
reports/technology/clean-technologies/scrap-metal-recycling.html). The recycling industry of
the US is worth $117 billion, and it recycles over 130 million tons of scrap metals annually
(https://www.isri.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2018-04-26-rw---cisa-
camu-remarks-docx.pdf?sfvrsn=2&sfvrsn=2).

Lowering carbon emission by metal recycling

Production of metal is a major contributing factor towards increasing carbon emission in the
atmosphere. As recycling of metals consumes less energy, it emits less carbon to the air and
thus helps reduce global warming.

Conserving resources for future

Metal recycling allows more resource availability for future generation. When a ton of steel is
recycled, it saves 2500 pounds of iron ore, 120 pounds of limestone and 1400 pounds of coal
(https://www.steel.org/~/media/Files/AISI/Fact%20Sheets/50_Fun_Facts_About_Steel.pdf).

How is Scrap Metal Processed

In an era of recycling, it is imperative to have knowledge of recycling process in order to take better decisions of the tools and methods of recycling. The recycling process dealt with here in particular, is scrap metal. 

A scrap metal processing yard where one gives away his or her scrap metal for recycling, chiefly categorize the metals into ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Ferrous (from Latin ferrum, meaning "iron") metals comprised of iron and steel (an iron alloy). Copper, aluminium, brass et al., are called non-ferrous metals.

Scrap metal processing in part entails separation of these types of metals from each other using magnetized tools. A number of wrecking yards allow people to purchase scrap metals for specific purposes. Such a sale occurs only after due separation of the metals. This makes for easier identification of the metal by an interested buyer.

The primary basis of the sale of metals by the wrecking yards is the weight of the scrap metal being sold. Quality of the metal is really not that important in such a scenario. This is because the main concern of the yards is what the metalworks factories give them for selling metal. Metalworks factories purchase metals on the basis of weight.

After proper separation and sorting into suitable divisions, the scrap metal is subject to a number of processes which include cutting, shredding, molding and turn into metal cubes. The metal cubes are then purchased by the metalworks factories that melt the metals for the manufacture of new products.

Methods of Recycling Non-ferrous Metals

Conscious efforts towards sustainability have led to the recycling of even non-ferrous metals like aluminum, copper, nickel, silver, and tin. These metals retain their original properties even after undergoing recycling repeatedly. As they are found mixed with liquids and solids, extracting and purifying them before recycling can be a complex task. However, recycling is cheaper than mining metals and saves up to 95% of energy costs.

Three methods widely used to recycle non-ferrous metals are:

Electrowinning: Electrowinning, also known as electroextraction, is a relatively simpler procedure of extracting metals, which dissolves them using electricity. If non-ferrous metals are to be extracted for recycling, the procedure involves the metal in any form of waste to be put in a liquid solution, to dissolve it into the liquid a state known as leaching or leachate and then submerging it using cathodes. Hence, non-ferrous metals like copper, nickel, silver, and tin are recycled for further use.

Precipitation: Another widely used method for recycling non-ferrous metals from aqueous solutions is precipitation. It includes two metal removal sub-methods known as co-precipitation and adsorption. The end-result metal is called precipitate and the chemical that causes it to precipitate is called precipitant, which is mostly sodium and calcium hydroxides or oxides used to increase the pH.

Metal Sensors: Metal sensors are widely being used in sorting and extracting non-ferrous metals from scrap found in vehicles or e-waste. The method might falter as non-ferrous metals of similar densities can’t be separated from each other using gravimetric techniques which ultimately require human observation and intervention.

Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility with Recycling

Recycling may be safe for the environment, but it is also a lucrative and business opportunity. Potentially recyclable items include not only fabrics, metals, electronics, plastics, papers, bottles, but also glasses, organics, woods, industrial materials such as construction and demolition debris, fly ash, concrete, and asphalt.

Recycling as a job opportunity includes a number of processes. It is very hierarchical and includes a variety of processes. Recycling as an industry includes not merely a business opportunity, but it is likewise a societal activity that involves serving society. It is what might some call as an activity for societal good.



A plethora of industries would be covered under recycling, which includes paper industry, plastic industry, Metals and nonmetallic, chemical wastes. Recycling of metals is a very productive and profit making businesses as the price of metals are always increasing. Legislation is required to be passed so that recycling law becomes more stringent.

Conglomerates and large establishments can undertake a social agenda in their local area – improving the environment; the local economy; and society. This can be done through several local recycling companies. These are 'Green Solutions' Corporate can utilize emerging technologies, social will power and Entrepreneurial spirit to come up with solutions for the environment and help with day to day chores like cleaning the roads, planting trees and taking such similar initiatives to achieve an equilibrium in the environment and help attain sustainability.



In concert with the government; corporations can set targets in recycling and achieving their green initiative goals. On an educational level educational establishments like schools and universities can create consciousness about recycling and reusing. There are some famous campaigns like “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”.

Things which usually are recycled include Plastic bottles, batteries, Glass bottles, Electronics. A typical waste bin would consist of organics, paper, metal and glass and even some junk. So we understand that it is not only organic rather it is even paper and other fabrics which can recycle.

While recycling comes with its own challenges it is a good form of CSR for scrap metal recycling companies to be a part of.

Importance of Environment Recycling

Because of the spreading awareness and so many campaigns to make us aware of the benefits and the need for recycling, people are actually taking this option very seriously. Recycling is one process that needs to be done constantly. Well, recycling can be started anywhere, be it your house or your work place.

Here are a few tips to recycle at your office:



 - Know what can you recycle:

Firstly, there is a lot of paper that is used in all offices. There are a lot of junk mails that you receive. You can sort all your junk mail and put it up for recycling instead of simply throwing it in the trash. Office paper, the white high grade one, mixed papers like newsletters, leaflets, newspapers, envelopes, pamphlets can also be recycled. Books, brochures, magazines and booklets are also ideal to be put through this procedure. Apart from the paper waste, there are many plastic and glass materials and things that can be recycled instead of being disposed off. Also, your office might be using a lot of printer cartridges, plastic bottles, electrical equipments which need not be merely thrown away. There are a lot of metal products like office stationeries, food tins, drinking cans, etc. That can be sent to the recycling centres for scrap metal recycling.

 - Why to Recycle?

Well, it is an easy task. Moreover, it saves a lot of space which can be constructively used. Also, a lot of clutter is significantly reduced. Apart from this, it gives a good feeling to be working towards the betterment of the environment.

Recycling is a very cost effective procedure. Selling of scrap metal can earn your business some extra income. Also, it is a noble way to protect the environment. So, start making your employees aware about this process and begin recycling at your work place today.

Save Time and Money with Aluminium Recycling

The process by which scrap aluminium is reused in products after its initial production is called Aluminium recycling. This process basically involves re-melting scrap metal and therefore, it is far less energy intensive and expensive as compared to mining for fresh aluminium ore through the electrolysis of aluminium oxide which is first mined from bauxite ore and then refined using the Bayer process.

Obtaining aluminium from the recycling process requires only about 5% of the energy used to manufacture new aluminium. This process also serves in keeping large quantities of waste from occupying space in landfills and puts the money to better use such as decreased costs for consumers and higher wages for employees. The best part about this precious metal is that it can be recycled infinitely. This is because once it has been recycled, it continues to have the same chemical molecular structure as newly refined aluminium. Since it is the exact same product with identical qualities, recycling all of this metal that is presently in use could meet the rising demand for decades without ever needing to refining new aluminium. This is mainly because the supply of bauxite ore from which this metal is refined, is diminishing at a fast rate.



The most basic aluminium scrap recycling process is the closed-loop method. This technique melts down used beverage cans to make new sheets of aluminium. A second technique uses scrap from various sources to produce aluminium alloy with a particular chemical composition. The scrap is melted in proportions that meet the specifications and is sold as ingots. Specialized methods suitable for steel deoxidizer products or for recovering aluminium from manufacturing waste products are also used. This process also takes considerably less time than refining new aluminum. Refining fresh aluminum is a three step process that requires large amounts of raw materials and water. It also produces large amounts of carbon dioxide and other harmful green house gasses. On the other hand, an aluminum can moves from the recycling bin through the entire recycling and production and reappears on a store shelf as a fresh product in as much as sixty days.