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What You Should Know About Scrap Metal Recycling

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It's impossible to imagine a world without metals. They have versatile functions which are important in industries such as health, construction, telecommunication, entertainment, technology, and transportation. You should be careful how you get rid of used metals to ensure a safer and greener environment. Scrap metal recycling is a good way to get rid of unwanted metals, which entails collecting and processing waste metals. This article discusses what you should know about scrap metals. 

Which Metals Are Recyclable?

Do you know that not all metals are recyclable? Non-recyclable metals can be found in propane tanks, oil cans, and radioactive metals such as uranium. Scrap metal recycling services deal with recyclable metals, which are of two types, mainly ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Ferrous metals are mostly magnetic, such as iron and steel. They are found in durable goods, including containers, packages, cars, motor blocks, and construction and building materials. The second type is non-ferrous metals, which can undergo recycling endlessly since they maintain their chemical composition during the recycling process. They entail metals such as aluminum, zinc, lead, tin, and copper and are usually more valuable than ferrous metals.

Scrap Metal Recycling Process

Scrap yards can require a form of identification when you take your metals to the yard for processing to limit theft. The metals undergo weighing then you receive compensation according to the weight and type of metals you sell. After weighing, metals undergo sorting, where the metal grouping occurs to ensure quality standards before cutting the metals into specific shapes and sizes. The next step is melting and refining to eliminate impurities from the specific metals. Lastly, the molten metal is solidified into bars, wires, coils, or sheets and transported to different sectors that need specific metals.

Why You Should Recycle Scrap Metal

Scrap metal recycling offers a couple of benefits. First, it is an environmentally friendly option. That is because extracting virgin metals direct from the earth occurs through mining which causes deforestation and sinkholes that contribute to land and water pollution. Scrap metal recycling is a greener option as it doesn't need tree cutting or hole digging. Scrap metal recycling also limits the mining of natural resources that are depleting as mining occurs. In addition, the metal recycling process uses less energy than the mining process, thus saving energy. Moreover, you can also earn money when you sell your scrap metal, making it an economically viable option. Many industries rely on scrap metals which are cheaper than virgin metals.

Take Away

Scrap metal recycling offers numerous benefits to varying industries and needs. You should opt for scrap metal recycling services to ensure a greener environment. 

For more information about scrap metal recycling, contact a local company. 


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