Visit any scrap yard and you'll see similar processes happening. Much you won't see. Scrap metal recycling is a process of sorting, processing, melting, purifying, and solidifying. A lot goes on behind the scenes.
1. Collection of Scrap Metal
The first step in metal recycling is the collection of scrap metal. This can come from various sources, including old appliances, vehicles, construction sites, and manufacturing facilities. This is where everyone can join the process of metal recycling. You can contribute to this process by selling or donating your scrap metal to a recycling center near you. Miami Valley Metal Recycling accepts ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including wires, computers, laptops, and electronics. When you're ready to recycle your scrap metal, send us a photo or call (937) 371-6700 to confirm the materials we accept.
2. Sorting Scrap Metal
The next step in the metal recycling process is sorting, which involves separating recyclable materials from non-recyclable ones. It's crucial to ensure that the quality of the metal being recycled is high since this affects the quality of the final recycled product.
The general rule is that a product needs to be at least 50% metal, so even if other materials like plastic surround it, it's still worth recycling if most of the item is made of metal. Even products with small amounts of metal can be recycled if the metal can be easily removed – for example, the metal rings from a notebook.
Metal scrap yards use various methods to sort and separate metal, such as visual identification, spectrometers, magnets, and electrical currents. Some may use a magnet to identify ferrous and non-ferrous metals or observe their color or weight to determine the type of metal. For instance, aluminum is silver and light, copper is yellow, and brass is red. Keeping metals grouped is essential since they must meet specific quality standards, which means no cross-contamination with other metals or materials. We ensuring that all metals are free from paint, grease, and oil, as these can be hazardous if left in the recycling process.
Overall, sorting metals helps ensure that only recyclable materials are processed and that different types of metal can be recycled as efficiently and effectively as possible. For example, aluminum cans are smelted to produce aluminum ingots; steel is melted down and shaped into new products, and copper and brass can be refined and shaped into various objects.
3. Scrap Metal Processing
Once the materials have been sorted, the next step is to compact or squeeze them. This is done to minimize the amount of space they occupy on the conveyor belts. After the materials have been crushed and broken down, the shredding process begins. Shredding involves breaking down the metal into tiny pieces or sheets to allow for further processing. The small pieces have a larger surface area to volume ratio, making it easier to melt them using less energy than in large pieces. Steel is typically changed into steel blocks, while aluminum is converted into sheets. This processing step is essential for reusing recycled metals in new products.
4. Scrap Metal Melting Process
The next step, melting scrap metal, occurs in a large furnace, which uses a significant amount of energy. However, the energy required to melt down recycled metal is generally lower than that needed to produce metal from raw materials. Further, the process of melting scrap metal may vary depending on the metal type and the required purity level. For example, aluminum has a much lower melting point than steel, so the process of melting aluminum will differ from that of melting steel.
5. Scrap Metal Purification
During the purification step, impurities are removed from the melted metal. This can be done through various methods such as electrolysis, vacuum distillation, or chemical reactions.
6. Scrap Metal Solidification
After the melting and purification processes, the molten metal undergoes solidification. The metal is transformed into different forms during this stage, including bars, wire, coil, and sheets, depending on the metal recycling plant's specialization. In some cases, chemicals are added to the metal to alter its properties or density. The solidifying process is crucial as it transforms the molten metal into its final form. Once solidified, the metal is ready to be used again.
Metal recycling is a crucial practice that benefits the environment and the economy. By recycling metal, we conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At Miami Valley Metal Recycling Centre, we offer comprehensive metal recycling services to help individuals and businesses dispose of their scrap metal in an eco-friendly manner. With our state-of-the-art technology and experienced professionals, we ensure that all metals are recycled efficiently and safely. Trust us for all your metal recycling needs and contribute to a sustainable future. Contact us today to learn more about our metal recycling services.