The scrap metal recycling industry’s purpose is to recover scrap metal from metal objects and process it so it can be remanufactured into new products. This process turns used metal into new raw materials, reducing the need to mine for new metals. Before you search for a scrap metal recycling company Byram Township NJ, you should know a few things about metal recycling.
Recyclability
Metal can be recycled indefinitely, and its properties will not degrade over time. Therefore, metal recycling companies will produce as much metal as they take in as scrap. Much like glass recycling, nothing is lost during the process. This means that metal recycling does not produce waste products that have to be placed in dumps or refined in another way.
Benefits
In addition, recycling uses much less energy than mining. For example, it takes 90% less energy to recycle copper and 56% less energy to recycle steel. In addition, one ton of recycled steel saves more than one ton of iron ore, over 100 pounds of limestone and 1400 pounds of coal. This process creates raw materials with a much lower carbon footprint than mining new metals.
Metals
Aluminum and steel are the most commonly recycled metals, while precious metals, such as gold and silver, are typically kept by consumers. Copper and brass can also be recycled, but most people do not think about recycling these metals.
Recycling Process
Any metal that is recycled will go through the same process. First, the metals are sorted so, for example, all the copper scrap is placed together. Then, the metals are crushed to reduce their space consumption. Next, they may be transported to a recycling facility, where they are typically shredded into smaller pieces so they melt quicker. During the melting stage, the metals are purified and high-quality metal is produced. Finally, the metal is cooled and formed. Then, it is ready to be sent out for remanufacture.
If you have metal waste, consider recycling it with a reputable scrap recycling center.