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Metal is a material that, in theory, can be recycled infinitely; however, in practice, it’s a bit more complicated.
It would have been to good to be true, but probably unsurprisingly, recycling meets different challenges, due to:
- social behavior, product design, recycling technologies, the process of separation, etc.
Because of these challenges, recycling is often ineffective or not the best option. In some places, it is close to nonexistent.
There are specific actions that can improve and increase recycling rates. Some ideas include:
- developing better collection methods of discarded products
- improving the technologies for recycling
- enhancing the deployment of modern recycling methodology
- educating the public
- lowering our consumption
- looking at zero waste solutions
This article is a part of my “How To Recycle Anything.” In each blog post, we will focus on different materials. This part is about METAL recycling. We will go through:
What are the benefits of recycling metal?
Is aluminum a metal?
Can all metal be recycled?
How many times can metal be recycled?
How is metal recycled step by step?
What type of metal can be recycled?
10 common metal items that we use & how do you recycle them
Conclusion
What are the benefits of recycling metal?
Do you wonder why are metals recycled? The answers are various. Let’s observe the most significant benefits of recycling one of the most common metals – aluminum:
1) Saves energy
The usage of energy in production is much smaller; the direct energy use is decreased by 93% to produce recycled aluminum. The highest energy usage is the melting step, which is usually performed using fossil fuel.
2) Reduces waste disposal
While aluminum recycling generates solid wastes as well, the volumes are much smaller compared to non-recycled aluminum production.
The mass of solid waste generated per ton of recycled aluminum is 85% lower than that for primary metal.
3) Reduces hazardous waste
Recycling aluminum reduces hazardous waste generation by over 100 kg/ton of metal produced.
4) Reduces emissions
Even though aluminum recycling has air quality challenges, the numbers are drastically reduced when taking into consideration the production of primary aluminum.
The amount of CO2 emitted per ton of metal is reduced by 95% by recycling, and CO generation is reduced by more than 99%!
source: Aluminum Recycling by Mark Schlesinger
5) Creating jobs
Recycling and reuse of materials create jobs. Additionally, it generates local and state tax revenues. A study found that in 2016, recycling and reuse activities (in the US) accounted for:
- 757,000 jobs
- $36.6 billion in wages
- $6.7 billion in tax revenues
Source
6) You can earn money
Last but not least, metal is a great material that you can recycle for money. It is usually paid by the pound.
There are 2 categories of metals:
- ferrous metals, which contain iron or alloys of iron, including:
– steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron
- non-ferrous metals, which DOES NOT contain iron, including:
– aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, titanium, zinc, brass, gold
Non-ferrous metals are worth a lot more per pound than ferrous metals.
You can use a magnet to find out if a metal is ferrous or not. If the magnet sticks to the metal – it is ferrous.
Is aluminum a metal?
Yes, aluminum is a very useful metal because it is very flexible and adaptable. It is a versatile, lightweight, and super-strong when combined with other metals.
Furthermore, aluminum is the most popular metal on our planet. Also, it is the second most common metal for making things, since it is easy to work into new shapes. Aluminum is typically cheaper than other metals, such as stainless steel.
Can all metal be recycled?
ALMOST all metals can be reused and recycled into new items. However, every metal is different, and it requires a specific recycling method. See below which metal CAN & CANNOT be recycled.
How many times can metal be recycled?
Most metals can be recycled endlessly without losing the quality of the material.
But that doesn’t mean that they ARE recycled. The recycling rates of metal are not as good as we all think.
A report from the International Resource Panel shares that the recycling rates are divided into five categories:
- 18 metals (of the 60) are with recycling rate above 50%.
- another 3 are between 25-50%.
- another 3 metals –> 10-25%.
- another 2 metals –> 1-10%
- a very large number – little (~1%) or no end-of-life recycling is occurring either because it is not economic or no suitable technology exist
Source: Recycling Rates of Metals – International Resource Panel
How is metal recycled step by step?
It may vary because each municipality has different recycling facilities, but overall, recycling metals looks something like that:
1 – Collection:
The first step in metal recycling is pretty self-explanatory – the collection of the materials. Once you toss your metal waste in your recycling bin, then it goes to a recycling center.
2 – Sorting:
An essential step in the recycling process of metals. Once the materials reach the recycling facility, they are sorted.
Here, non-recyclable materials are pulled out, and different materials are separated. It is an automated recycling operation, which uses magnets and sensors to aid in material separation.
3 – Crushing and shredding:
The metals are transferred into reprocessing plants, where they are broken down into small pieces. That also allows the process to save energy, too, since smaller pieces need less energy. Aluminum is usually crushed into sheets, and steel is converted into cubes.
4 – Separation:
Next, the shredded metal is placed into magnetic drums which separate the metal from non-metallic materials such as paint or plastic.
This process removes by blowing hot air through the shredded metal, ”sucking up” the impurities, similar to a vacuum.
5 – Melting:
Furthermore, the different scrap metals are melt in large furnaces. Each type of metal has a specially designed heater depending on its characteristics.
The energy required to melt and recycle metals is much less than the energy that is needed to produce metals from raw materials. Some furnaces have fuel-efficient regenerative burners to reduce the amount of energy used and the impact on the environment.
6 – Purification:
It is done to ensure the final product is of high quality and free of contaminants. One of the most common methods used for purification is electrolysis.
7 – Solidify:
Finally, the purified, melted metal is transferred to cool down. The metal can be solidified into a variety of shapes and sizes. Lastly, the solid metal is sent to factories and companies that need metal.
What type of metal can be recycled?
Most common materials that you CAN recycle are:
- aluminum – commonly used in beverage cans
- copper – usually found in wires, pipes, electrical equipment such as motors
- steel – package canned foods; in construction work
- brass – used in gold or green decorative metal objects
- tin – “tin” cans are steel cans coated in tin
- iron – in frying pans or other cooking items
There are a few metals that you cannot recycle, such as:
- Uranium, Plutonium, Mercury (and objects containing Mercury) – but don’t worry; you probably won’t get your hands on these anyway
Source
11 common metal items that we use & how do you recycle them
Aluminum foil:
- Remove food waste before recycling aluminum foil.
- It is best to combine more of it and create a bigger ball. Aluminum foil is very light, and if the pieces are too small, it can be lost during the recycling process.
- Before recycling, separate the foil, in case it comes mixed with other materials.
- In some areas, foil combined with other elements is considered recycling contamination. (source) If the foil is mixed with other materials (candy wrappers, yogurt tops, drink boxes) and can’t be divided, you should throw it away.
Aluminum cans:
- Commonly used for canned drinks, such as beer and soda.
- Rinse the aluminum – is there are food scraps inside the can, it can lead to contamination.
- After that, you can put them in your recycling bin, or you can take your cans directly to a recycling facility.
- You can check where you can donate your cans too.
Razor blades:
- First, make sure that the razor blades you have are recyclable (check for the symbol for recycling on the box).
- You can use an old aluminum/stainless steel can. Start putting your used razor blades inside the can.
- Once it’s full, you can either put it in your recycling bin, or you can take it directly to your local recycling center.
- Make sure that the can is tightly sealed so the blades cannot fall out and injure workers.
Steel cans:
- Used for the packaging of different food products, such as pet food, vegetable soup, canned tomatoes, etc. It is one of the oldest forms of food packaging.
- Steel cans often have paper labels. You can remove them, but it’s not a must since the paper will be removed during the recycling process.
- Once the can is empty, rinse it with water, to remove leftover food. Then, you can place it in your recycling bin.
- Some locations accept steel cans in the curbside recycling program. Find your recycling program and figure out if there are any particular directions, such as whether to wash or smash the cans.
Pop tabs:
- Collect pop tabs from any aluminum can (energy drinks, soup cans, etc). Collect them in a ziplock bag, box, plastic, or metal container.
- Probably you’ve heard of the pop tab recycling program of Ronald McDonald House. Once you have a full box, drop off the pop tabs at:
– their front desk
– in the pop tab house (located outside their front door)
– by mail (Address: 1700 4th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233)
Bottle caps:
- First, you have to determine if the cap is steel or aluminum. You can use a simple fridge magnet for that If the magnet sticks – it is steel.
- Metal lids are made of the same material as the can, so it’s okay to collect them in an empty can for recycling. You can collect the aluminum caps inside an aluminum container and the steel caps inside a steel container.
- Once it’s full, you can place it in your recycling bin.
- Make sure that the top is covered (you can put some tape), so the lids can’t go out.
Metal lids from glass jars:
- These lids can be from glass jars like tahini, honey, of other food products. First, think of a way to reuse such products. They are great for keeping spices, or for storing things like grains, legumes, etc.
- When you want to recycle it, place the metal lids inside your recycling container.
Aerosol cans / Metal paint cans:
- Some can contain hazardous ingredients, that’s why aerosol cans might have a different recycling program than steel food cans.
- If the aerosol cans have a plastic cap, you should remove it.
- Try to use all the material from the can – shake it to see if there is still some liquid inside. However, DO NOT try to make a hole or to remove the spray nozzle on top of the can, since it can explode and hurt you.
- Some recycling programs will specifically exclude paint cans. Verify whether your area accepts aerosol cans.
Scrap metals:
- If you have any other scrap metals, you can bring them to a scrap yard and sell it. The recycling market is dependent on the type of metal, and the price will depend if it’s either ferrous or nonferrous. Keep in mind that a product needs to be at least 50 percent metal, to be qualified and sold. Also, the prices are per pound and can fluctuate a lot.
Metal clothes hangers:
- Thrift stores, donation centers, or dry cleaners can often reuse hangers. You can try to find locally a place where they might need them. Just go and ask if they want free metal clothes hangers.
- If you can’t find a way to reuse them, then you can put the hangers in your recycling container.
CONCLUSION
Don’t forget that recycling is a BUSINESS that revolves around money and it needs to earn a profit.
Recycling, in general, can be tricky because each recycling facility accepts different materials and it can work differently.
Metal materials are everywhere. What is more, nowadays, there are a lot of complex, new, modern items that contain mixed materials.
A simple smartphone can contain more than 30 different elements, so obtaining each material and reusing it for a new product can be challenging.
It is recommendable to check online for your local waste management, so you can see what they accept and if there are any specific things you need to know.
You can also use Earth 911’s locator to find local metal recyclers – just write the material you want to recycle and your zip code.
