The Journey of Recycled Metal and Its Impact on SustainabilityJourney of Recycled Metal and Its Impact on Sustainability

We can’t stress enough how important recycling is for preserving our planet. Those of us living in Australia, in particular, know a few helpful habits we could adopt. What becomes of the recyclables we send off from home or the office, especially the metals that end up in scrap yards? Often, the goal of recycling is to repurpose discarded materials so that they can be used again. 

But how does everything take place?

Once scrap metal leaves the scrap yard, the next steps in recycling it may vary slightly based on the type and value of the metal.

Recycling Old Metal: What is it?

Scrap metal recycling refers to reusing metals extracted from defunct constructions and other items as raw materials to produce brand-new goods.

Scrap Metal Classifications

Below, we differentiate between ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal. 

Ferrous Metal

Both iron and steel are classified as “ferrous,” a term originating from the Latin word for iron. Large electromagnets placed to excavators are commonly used in scrap yards for handling ferrous scrap, as almost all ferrous metals are magnetic.

 Australia’s most common sources of ferrous scrap metal are furniture, tires, and appliances that have outlived their usefulness. According to the EPA 2018, 4.7 million tonnes originated from these long-lasting goods, or 27.8 percent of all ferrous metals recycled.

Many everyday objects are made from ferrous metals. Some instances of this are listed below.

Materials for building and repairing structures include I-beams, ducting, rebar, and electrical wiring.

You can find various car and transportation-related components in places like junkyards and salvage yards.

Containers and Packaging

Steel production also generates scrap metal. Such trash includes things like clippings, busheling, and skeletons.

Metals that are Not Ferrous

Since their chemical properties are preserved during recycling, non-ferrous metals can be reused indefinitely. Aluminum, copper, nickel, lead, tin, and zinc are some of the most often utilized non-ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals are the best examples which include silver and other precious metals. All of them can be used in a wide variety of contexts.

What Happens to My Old Things After I Bring It In?

You’ve arrived at the scrap yard of your choice in Austin, Texas, and have just unloaded your scrap. You’ve helped add to Australia’s annual total of 130 million tonnes of recycled metal. However, much effort remains before your discarded metals may be recycled.

The first crucial stage is sorting. Depending on the scrap yard you went to, pre-sorting your items was likely necessary (not only does it make the scrappers’ jobs easier, but it also raises the value of your scrap). Whether or not you have done so, the recycling professionals will repeat this process to ensure no plastic or wood is mixed in with the metals.

Unless it’s a large item that can be repaired and sold without further processing, your metal will be transported to the smelters afterward. Larger scrap yards may have their smelting facilities. Even yet, most will outsource this step, which requires high-temperature furnaces, to another location. Smelting activity, including building new plants, has expanded in Austin due to recent government initiatives focused on sustainability. A rise in recycling rates would boost the need for recycling centers like these, creating more employment opportunities. Recycling has benefited the community’s infrastructure in addition to helping the planet.

The molten metal is run into ingots and shipped to manufacturers worldwide.

Your metals frequently travel far beyond Austin, sometimes across the country or internationally, on a journey that begins in your home or building site.

The Next Steps…

After your metals have been smelted, they will begin a new journey. Given that ingots are used by any industrial company that works with metal, their ultimate destination could be anywhere in the world. The one constant is that these metals are employed to make a wide range of interesting things, some of which may eventually come back around to you.

Recycling scrap metal also helps save natural resources because of the efficiency of the recycling process. Reusing or recycling just ten pounds of aluminum cans can cut carbon dioxide emissions by sixteen.

Where Can I Get Cash for My Scrap Car?

Do you have Google open and looking for “Cash For Cars Brisbane Service near me”? Take your scrap car to MetalBiz. Contact us; we’ll pick up your scrap car for free. We buy and recycle all metal of unwanted cars in Brisbane.