Steel is a metal alloy made of iron and carbon and is also one of the oldest materials used by humanity. Due to its versatility, the possibility of recycling steel was soon discovered. Metal recycling in Melbourne is one of the most important initiatives in promoting sustainability, as it helps conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and minimise waste in landfills.
This process is as old as its use. It is practical, reduces environmental impact, and the metal retains its properties. Metal alloys are used in various types of materials, the main ones being steel itself, stainless steel, bronze, gold, and brass.
To demonstrate how efficient it is, we have outlined the step-by-step process and its advantages, along with some facts for you to keep in mind. So, shall we begin?
How is steel recycling done?
Steel recycling is a relatively simple process, but it requires special equipment and facilities. The steel recycling system can be divided into a few basic steps, as outlined below.
Collection and selection: steel can be found in various products, including cars, food cans, appliances, buildings, and bridges. To recycle it, it is first collected and separated from non-metallic materials, such as plastics and glass, which may be mixed in.
Shredding: the collected material is transported to a recycling facility, where it is shredded into smaller pieces to facilitate melting. Shredding also helps remove any impurities from the material.
Magnetic separation: after the previous step, the material is subjected to a magnetic separation process to remove any remaining impurities and separate other ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Melting: what remains is placed in melting furnaces, where it is heated to high temperatures and melted into liquid. The molten steel is poured into moulds to create products.
Rolling: after being moulded, it can be rolled and transformed into various solid and durable structures, such as beams, tubes, wires, sheets, and other options, across various industries.
What percentage of “scrap” is in steel composition?
A curiosity about steel recycling is the percentage of scrap in the composition, which varies depending on the type of material produced and the process used by the steel mill.
On average, steel produced from scrap can contain 25% to 100% recycled material, depending on the quality and specifications of the final product.
In some cases, it can be used as the primary raw material in production, while in other projects, it is added in smaller quantities to adjust the properties of the item.
Either way, using scrap is an important and increasingly common practice in the steel industry because it is a sustainable and economical process when compared to manufacturing steel from iron ore.
What is the importance of metal recycling?
The preservation of natural resources is one of the main reasons to recycle metals. In this way, the need to extract new resources is reduced, lessening the pressure on the environment.
It also helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, prolonging the life of these sites and reducing the need to build new spaces like these. After all, metallic elements take hundreds of years to fully decompose.
In the reuse of aluminium, for example, only 5% of the energy needed to produce aluminium from ores is consumed.
Another interesting factor is water savings. Extracting the minerals that originate metals demands a lot of water, which can mean excessive spending and impacts on the planet. Therefore, metal recycling helps mitigate these environmental impacts.
There are many advantages, for example, there is no difference between a stainless-steel object that contains recycled steel and one that doesn’t. The quality between the two is the same!
Basically, there are no barriers to steel recycling and its use. Since the properties are controlled and do not suffer losses in the process, it can be used in civil construction, household utensils, furniture, and more. Thus, steel can and should be recycled according to the desired application, as is increasingly done in metal recycling in Melbourne and in the big cities’ initiatives.
Do You Need to Sell Scrap Metal?
Then look no further than Metal Men Recycling! If you have been inspired by this list of ways to recycle, reuse, and repurpose materials for Christmas gifts and you have scrap metal that you want to recycle, then we can help. Plus, if you are a business in need of professional metal recycling services, Metal Men can assist with that too. With over 50 combined years of metal industry experience, we proudly provide our customers with a seamless experience from start to finish.
When you are ready to recycle scrap metal, sell it to us by contacting 03 5941 6677, or fill out our online contact form.
