What Is Scrap Metal Recycling?
Scrap metal recycling plays a critical role in protecting the environmental health of our community. It is a process that 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, while offering a much lower carbon footprint and more efficient utilization of resources than new material.
By recycling your metal, you’re doing the following:
Protecting Landfills
Metal slows down the process by which other materials are broken down.
Reducing Your Dependence on Mining:
Metal recycling lowers the demand for mining, which helps protect the land from damaging environmental impacts.
Commonly-Recycled Metals
Many metals used in consumer products today can be recycled to create new products. A metal is considered desirable for recycling when it can be melted and re-formed without losing considerable strength and durability. Some of the most commonly-recycled metals today are aluminum, steel, copper, nickel, platinum, gallium, gold, and silver. The most frequently-recycled metal items include beverage cans, metal food containers, electronics, automobile components, and appliances.
Recycling Metal – The Process
Each scrap metal yard has its own process, but most work in this general order:
When metal is collected for recycling, it must be sorted by type before processing can begin. In some cases, larger pieces are cut into smaller components for ease of processing. They are also inspected for any radiation.
The metal is then cleaned and exposed to high temperatures in a furnace to create a molten metal solution, which is then tested for purity. Additional metals or gases can be added to change the purity of the metal solution or create alloys for manufacturing purposes.
After purification, the metal is transported to cooling chambers to solidify for transport.
The molten metal is then poured out of the furnace. Metal may be formed into ingots, rods, billets, or slabs, depending upon its intended purpose. Alternatively, metals may be pulverized into a powder or transported in liquid form to a manufacturing facility, where they are used to create new components and products.
Recycled Metal In Daily Life
Recycled metal is very apparent in everyday life. It is very rare that you utilize metal that has not been recycled. Here are a few things we use that are composed of recycled metals:
- Automobiles
- Aircraft
- Appliances
- Ductwork
- Food packaging
- Roofing
- Aluminum Foil
Metal recycling is an essential element of products we use everyday and is critical to protecting the environment.
Contact Mr.Waste today to discuss any waste removal needs you may have!