Iron and steel scrap, also referred to as ferrous scrap, and is obtained end-of-life products. Waste ferrous scrap is recovered from automobiles, steel structures, household appliances, railroad tracks, ships, farm equipment and other sources. The largest single source of obsolete ferrous scrap in the United States is used vehicles. According to R.L. Polk & Co. it is estimated that nearly 11.8 million vehicles were scrapped in the U.S. in 2012.
Today, the most recycled material in the United States and worldwide is ferrous scrap . In the U.S. alone, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that 72 million metric tons of ferrous scrap was purchased in 2012. But, domestic ferrous scrap market participants have been facing heightened challenge for available feedstock in recent years, expanding economic output in general and the recently improving conditions in the automotive and construction sectors in particular should bode well for future ferrous scrap supply and demand.
Preparation of Ferrous Scrap
A small proportion of waste ferrous scrap could be directly used by consumers, but the vast majority of purchased iron and steel scrap is segregated and processed by the scrap recycling plant. The scrap recycling plants use a variety of processes including sorting, shearing, shredding, torching and baling to sort and prepare ferrous scrap to commodity-grade specifications.
It was in the late 1950s that the process of shredding was used, this allows the whole cars, appliances and other end-of-life products to be quickly shredded into fist-size pieces of metal, greatly increasing scrap processors´ ability to handle large items and to separate nonferrous material. In 2013, more than 350 shredders were in operation in North America, up from just 120 shredders in the early 1970s.
In addition to shredded, ferrous scrap can be grouped by prime scrap (including busheling, bundles and clips), cut grades such and heavy melting steel, and foundry and miscellaneous grades such as machinery cast. To assist members with the buying and selling of their materials, ISRI has developed standard specifications for scrap commodities including more than 100 ferrous scrap specifications
Scrap metal recycling has lots of important advantages, and plays an effective role in supporting both environmental and economic results. Scrap metal has been reused for thousands of years because it has actually been long recognized as being a more efficient process than mining and processing new ore. Aside from the diversion of material from landfills, other important benefits of metal recycling vs. the creation of virgin metal consist of a reduction in energy consumption along with in using other materials. With efficient recycling, metals can be made use of over and over again, minimizing the need to mine and process virgin products while minimizing energy and water demands as well. http://www.metalrecyclersusa.com/scrap-metal-recycling.html#sthash.vqtoCqxV.dpuf
Five Reasons to Recycle your Metal
It is always much easier to put away your used & unwanted cans, cartons and paper products rather than recycling them; but if one understood the in-depth benefits of recycling these items can provide you may think differently. Statistics say that every 2 out of 3 pounds of steel made in the United States derives from ferrous metal scrap. There umpteen reasons as to why you should recycle your metal rather than trashing it away; here are our five favourite reasons in support of recycling metal and making the most of the environment.
Preservation of Resources
One of the key reasons for recycling is because by recycling you can help you preserve resources. Not only will you be aiding in the reduction of natural resources that are being used but you will also use fewer resources for your domestic purposes. If you recycle more you will inevitably use less bin bags and so in a small way you will be helping yourself whilst also helping the environment.
Emission Reduction
The deadly increase in the amount of carbon emissions that is being released each year is one of the key factors contributing to global warming. If we recycle, then we can aid in the reduction of carbon emissions which will reduce the levels of pollution in our atmosphere and although we cannot yet undo the damage that we have done to the atmosphere we could hinder any further damage from being done by recycling more and wasting less.
Management of Energy Conservation
By recycling more metal you can lessen the demand for natural resources such a sore. It also takes far less energy to process recycled metal than it does to mine ore, purify it and then shape it. If we recycled all of our metal we could save up to 92% of the energy that we currently use in regards to aluminium.
We could save approximately 90% of the energy that we use for copper and 56% of the energy that we waste on mining and creating steel. This is one of the most important reasons as to why you should recycle your metal.
Development of Economy
Recycling metal means that the government can save money in the right places, which they can then spend on improving various aspects of the economy. One way in which the government tends to improve the economy is by providing businesses with better loans so that the businesses can expand and thus provide more people with jobs.
Money Saver
One of the best reasons for you to recycle your metal is because at the end of the day you could save money by doing so. If the majority of people recycled their metal on a regular basis you could find that due to the reduction in the cost to produce metal items it could also cost less for you to purchase metal goods such as canned foods.