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Metal recycling is a responsible way to keep metals out of landfills where they can contaminate groundwater and damage local ecosystems. It also turns old junk into cold, hard cash for you and other people. Before heading to a scrap yard, have a handheld magnet handy. Then, you can check whether what you’ve found is ferrous or non-ferrous.
What Metals Can Be Recycled?
If your home workshop has a collection of old metal parts and you need help with what to do with them, scrap metal recycling is an easy solution. It prevents priceless resources from ending up in landfills, where they could leak dangerous chemicals into the soil and water over hundreds or even thousands of years. Recycling metal requires much less energy than mining new materials from the earth. It also contributes to the goal of a circular economy that reduces the need for raw materials while eliminating greenhouse gases. The metals that can be recycled fall into two categories: ferrous and non-ferrous. You’ll find non-ferrous metals in window frames, auto hoods, and bicycles, as well as electrical wires and plumbing pipes.
Aluminum
Aluminum cans are the most well-known product people recycle, but copper and other non-ferrous metals also make up a big chunk of what’s recycled. Recyclable metals have a higher value than ferrous scrap metals because they maintain their chemical properties after multiple recycling cycles. Keeping these metals out of landfills reduces greenhouse gases and keeps them from entering the environment, too. Landfills create carbon dioxide and methane, both potent greenhouse gases that are bad for the planet. Scrap metal dealers NJ take care of this waste and repurpose it into something new. These products can include cooking utensils, baking trays, and aluminum foil. The metal is melted and shredded to prepare the materials for the following process stage. It is done to make the bales lose any coatings or paintings that aren’t made of aluminum so they can be sorted appropriately and melted into the correct forms for their subsequent use. The melted material is prepared into bars, coils, or sheets for the next stage in the process.
Copper
Because of its strength and effectiveness as a heat and electrical conductor, copper is among the most profitable scrap metals. It can be found in various home and business applications, including wires, plumbing, and electronics. Furthermore, it has a strong resistance to corrosion and rust. Before being recycled, all metals are sorted and separated to ensure non-ferrous and ferrous metals are kept separate. It can be done manually or with the help of machines and magnets. The sorted metals are then melted, with any impurities rising to the surface and being separated from the liquid. It is then ready to be prepared into specific shapes for use, or it can undergo further refining processes to reach its final destination. For example, antimicrobial copper alloys are used in healthcare facilities to reduce the spread of dangerous pathogens, which can survive on non-copper surfaces.
Steel
Metals like steel are found in various household items, from bathtubs to washing machines. It’s one of the heaviest and least expensive types of metal, and it is also straightforward to recycle. Steel can be recycled up to 100 times without losing its quality. By recycling steel instead of throwing it away, we save energy and reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants produced by mining fresh raw materials. The first thing to be done with metal scrap is sorting it. It will help ensure that non-ferrous and ferrous metals are separated. It can be done by hand or using machinery, magnets, and electrical currents. For example, if you’re collecting copper wires to bring to your local scrap yard, it’s worth taking the time to separate them from the rest of your scrap. You’ll get a better return for them if they’re separate, and you’ll also make it easier on the facility to separate your metals.
