How Are New Products Made From Recycled Scrap Metal?
Scrap metal recycling is a huge industry and a major part of our economy, but many people do not know the ins-and-outs of how a piece of recycled metal eventually becomes a new product! The good news is that our team at Second Street Iron & Metal is here to educate you on the subject! Below, we’ll go over the primary steps of the scrap metal recycling process, from the collection of scrap metal to the creation of new products. If you have any questions about scrap metal recycling or if you’re looking to sell scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, please contact our team at Second Street Iron & Metal today!
1. Collection
The first step in the scrap metal recycling process is the collection of scrap metal. Scrap metal can be found almost everywhere; aluminum cans, junk vehicles, discarded appliances, broken electronics, demolition sites, home renovations, and so much more. The collection of scrap metal is highly dependent on regular people who collect scrap metal from wherever they can find it, then sell it to their local scrap metal recycling facility.
2. Sorting
Once a scrap metal recycling facility has received any amount of scrap metal, the next step is to sort the metals into categories based on metal types. Aluminum will be sorted into one pile, copper into another pile, brass into another pile, and so on. If you’re looking to sell your scrap metal, you can assist with this process by sorting your metals ahead of time. Doing so will often result in you being paid more for your scrap metal.
3. Processing
Next, the scrap metal will be processed. This step involves compacting and shredding the scrap metal so that it takes up less space and is prepared for the next step in the process, which is melting the metal down.
4. Melting & Purification
Once the meal has been shredded into smaller pieces, it is then passed through a furnace to be melted into molten metal so that it can be molded and reshaped. The furnace is set to different temperatures depending on the metal. The size of the metal and the rating of the furnace will determine how long the metal takes to melt. The melting process also allows you to separate impurities from the molten metal.
5. Molding
Once the scrap metal has been melted down, it will be poured into molds where it can cool and solidify into the desired shape. Typically, the metal is molded into bars, bricks, or ingots.
6. Transportation & New Product Creation
After the metal has been molded into bars or ingots, it’s time to transport them to manufacturers who will turn them into new products. Metal that has previously been recycled can be made into virtually anything, including vehicles, aircrafts, building materials, food packaging, furniture, and so much more!
Contact Second Street Iron & Metal!
If you have any questions about the scrap metal recycling process or if you are looking to sell scrap metal in the Greater Boston area, Second Street Iron & Metal in Everett, MA, is here for you! We strive to provide our clients with the best prices for all kinds of scrap metal, including copper, brass, steel, iron, aluminum, and more! Give us a call at (617) 387-1188 or fill out the contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
