Metal Recycling: An Endless Process

Metal Recycling: An Endless Process

A fascinating fact about metals is that they can be recycled almost indefinitely, especially steel, iron and aluminium. Nearly all kinds of metal can be recycled again and again without the degradation of its properties.

So, why don’t we recycle more metal? 

Recycling is essential since we generate hundreds of millions of tons of waste metal in junk, trash, and consumer goods made with various metals. An important reason for the low recycling rate is the design of different metal products.

The increasing complexity of numerous modern products and their material mix makes recycling increasingly difficult. For example, a mobile phone can contain many other elements. So, it is challenging to extract every kind of material from a mobile phone and reuse them in new products.

Metal Recycling Facts:

• Nearly 40 per cent of global steel production uses recycled steel.
• Iron and steel are the most recycled metals in the world.
• An estimated 400 million tons of metal are recycled worldwide each year.

A Closer Look at Metal Recycling

Metals can be ferrous or non-ferrous. Although aluminium is technically a non-ferrous metal, it is practically in a class by itself for recycling purposes.

Ferrous Metals

All ferrous metals contain iron, and a magnet will stick to ferrous metal. Steel is the most well-known combination of iron and carbon. The most common ferrous metals include stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, wrought iron, and cast iron.

Non-Ferrous Metals

The most common non-ferrous metals are copper, lead, zinc, and tin—and aluminium, of course. In addition, all precious metals are non-ferrous, including gold, platinum, silver, titanium, iridium, and palladium.

Nearly all Metals can be recycled infinitely without affecting their properties. Steel is the most recycled material on the planet; after steel comes aluminium, copper, silver, brass, and gold.

How Well Do You Know Your Metals?

Aluminium

Silvery and lightweight metal. Aluminium is extensively used for packaging, beverage cans, and aerospace.

Brass and Bronze

Copper alloys use either zinc or tin. They are commonly used for ornamental objects.

Copper

A reddish metal that tarnishes green and is used to make pennies, wire, and pipes.

Cast Iron

Iron combined with carbon and silicon is used for frying pans and kitchen tools.

Steel

A silver-coloured metal made primarily of carbon and iron used in tools, appliances, and cans.

Stainless Steel

Steel alloy uses chromium that doesn’t rust like untreated steel.

Tin

A silvery metal is used to make pewter. “Tin” cans are tin-coated steel cans.

Rare Metals

Rare metals include titanium, lithium, molybdenum, and tantalum.

Environmentally Friendly Choice for Metal Recycling

Reclamet is not one of those impersonal scrap metal merchants that use nice-sounding slogans about environmental responsibility. At Reclamet, we are wholly committed to recycling as much of the metal we pick up as possible. Reclamet’s goal is to be efficient in our operations and keep our landfills free of unnecessary items.

Call Reclamet, the scrap metal specialist you can rely on.

Call: 01843 800800
Email: enquiries@reclamet.co.uk