Every year, Australians discard thousands of tonnes of metal waste—aluminium cans, old appliances, car parts, copper wiring, steel beams, and more. But what happens after that scrap metal leaves your home, business, or construction site? Where does it go, and how does it get transformed into something useful again? If you step inside Metal Men Recycling, you will find a surprisingly complex, efficient, and environmentally essential process underway every day. From sorting and shredding to smelting and shipping, metal recycling is more than simply crushing cans – it is a critical industry that helps to support Australia’s sustainability goals and circular economy. Come with us as we take a closer look into scrap metal recycling and learn what really happens to your scrap metal.
Step 1 – Delivery or Collection
The journey really begins when we receive your scrap metal, which can be done in one of two ways: you drop off your scrap metal to us, or we can collect it from your home or business. We recycle scrap metal from all over Melbourne, from a variety of different sources, including households, construction sites, commercial businesses, and manufacturers.
Step 2 – Weighing and Inspection
Upon arrival at the recycling facility, your scrap metal is weighed. This isn’t just about determining its value—it also helps the recycler log volumes for tracking, compliance, and reporting. Next, the load undergoes visual inspection and, if needed, a chemical or magnetic analysis. Why? Because not all metals are created equal.
Recyclers need to sort ferrous metals (those containing iron, like steel) from non-ferrous metals (like aluminium, copper, and brass). They also need to check for contaminants—such as plastic, rubber, or other materials—that must be removed before processing.
Step 3 – Sorting and Separation
Efficient sorting is key to high-quality recycling. At this stage, the facility uses a combination of manual labour, magnets, and advanced technology to separate different metals. In many Melbourne plants, you’ll find equipment like:
- Overhead magnets – to extract ferrous metals
- Eddy current separators – to identify and separate non-ferrous metals
- Infrared sensors and X-ray sorters – to detect specific alloys or contaminants
- Shears and shredders – to reduce large metal objects into manageable sizes
Skilled workers also play a vital role, especially when separating mixed loads or identifying valuable metals like copper or stainless steel.
Step 4 – Processing and Preparation
Once sorted, the scrap is processed based on its type and end use.
- Ferrous metals (like steel and iron) are typically shredded into smaller pieces and sent to electric arc furnaces or blast furnaces for melting.
- Non-ferrous metals (like aluminium, copper, brass) are baled, granulated, or compacted before being smelted.
Melbourne recycling facilities often prepare metals to meet the specific requirements of buyers—such as foundries, smelters, or manufacturers—who rely on recycled material to reduce costs and lower environmental impact.
For example:
- Aluminium cans are shredded and cleaned before being melted into ingots
- Copper wiring is stripped of its insulation and granulated
These processes require heavy-duty machinery and strict safety protocols, as well as compliance with Australian standards for recycling and waste management.
Step 5 – Smelting and Purification
After initial processing, metals are transported to smelters or foundries—sometimes locally, sometimes interstate or overseas—where they’re melted at high temperatures and purified to remove impurities. These newly purified metals are just as good as (and in many cases, cheaper and more sustainable than) virgin metals mined from the earth.
Recycled metal is then sent to manufacturers who turn it into new products—everything from building materials and car parts to electronics, cans, and furniture.
So Why Does This Process Matter?
The metal recycling process offers many significant environmental advantages. In Australia, recycling aluminium can save up to 95% of the energy required to produce it from raw materials, while recycling steel uses approximately 60 to 74% less energy compared to mining and processing virgin ore. This process not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also conserves valuable natural resources such as iron ore and bauxite.
Additionally, this process helps divert waste from landfills and lessens the need for environmentally damaging mining practices. Melbourne, like many Australian cities, is facing growing pressure to meet ambitious sustainability targets. The Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Policy and Recycling Victoria plan both aim to extend the life cycle of materials, and metal recycling serves as a powerful example of how this vision can be realised in practice.
Do You Need a Scrap Metal Recycling Facility?
Look no further than Metal Men Recycling. We make selling scrap metal a straightforward process so that you can turn your scrap into extra cash easily and without fuss. When you need to sell scrap metal, get in touch with Metal Men.
Contact us at 03 5941 6677 or fill out our online contact form and we will get back to you.
