What happens to recycled metals?
All metal is recyclable and recycling metal reduces the energy and resources that must be spent on mining and producing more.
- Individuals and businesses send scrap metal to a metal recycling facility
- Metal is separated from any non-metal materials. Additionally, metals must be separated by type. Iron, copper, aluminum, steel, and more are all different materials with different properties. They may also be sorted based on cleanliness.
- Metal is processed, being compacted and shredded, which makes it easier to melt.
- Metal is melted, with different kinds of metal requiring their own heat level.
- Metal is purified, with different methods being used depending on the type of metal.
- Chemicals may be added to the metal depending on the intended final product.
- Metals are solidified into a form that best fits the manufacturer's needs.
- Manufacturers make new products out of the recycled metal.