Metal recycling is critical to sustainable development as it uses less energy and resources than mining raw materials. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Scrap metal is sourced from different sources, including commercial businesses such as construction sites and industrial operations like machine shops. It can also be collected from residential locations such as homes and garages.
Lead
Scrap metal pick-up Sussex County NJ collect, process, and recycle ferrous (iron and steel) and nonferrous metals (aluminum, copper, and nickel) for sale to metal smelters. These facilities include sorting, shearing, shredding, torching, and baling operations.
Occupational exposures to lead are possible at scrap metal facilities, especially during the torch-cutting process when workers use air blowers or sanding equipment that generate large amounts of dust. These occupational lead exposures are hazardous to young children and people with weak immune systems.
In the past, many metal recycling facilities required workers to use respiratory protection only when cutting painted or galvanized metals; however, personal air monitoring results showed that workers might be exposed to high concentrations of lead when cutting unpainted metal and new steel without a galvanized coating. These lead exposures are potentially fatal for workers, their families, and others around them. These exposures can also contaminate surface dust throughout the work area, exposing workers to inhalation of harmful lead particles.
Copper
For thousands of years, copper has been used to manufacture various items, from electrical wires to plumbing pipes. It is a metal that does not degrade when recycled, so it can be reused repeatedly.
Currently, copper is essential in green energy projects, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and wind turbines. Because of this environmental shift, the demand for copper is increasing.
As a result, if you have copper that has been abandoned or is no longer in use around your house, consider taking it to a scrap yard for recycling. It can lower the amount of airborne pollutants while also enabling you to save money on gasoline.
The quality of copper scrap you select will impact the pricing at your neighborhood recycler. The best grade to trade in is bare-bright copper. It is the most valuable and highest-paying copper scrap you can find.
Brass
A brass metal alloy comprises copper, zinc, and occasionally other metals. It is an alloy often used in plumbing, door handles, light fixtures, etc.
Both brass and copper can conduct electricity, so they are commonly used as wiring in electrical equipment. Both metals are highly durable and can withstand much wear and tear.
They are excellent for commonly handled surfaces like doorknobs and faucet handles since they are antimicrobial. They are rust-resistant, and you may find them in older heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
Regarding recycling, you need to know what type of metal you have to correctly sort your scrap into the suitable grade for maximum grading and value. Knowing your brass is yellow and copper is red will make a big difference in what you’ll get paid at the scrap metal facility.
Aluminum
Aluminum has played a significant role in the scrap metal industry for decades. It’s one of the most common recyclable materials and has been slowly gaining favor as businesses try to use this strong, lightweight metal instead of steel.
Recycling can reduce energy consumption in production by up to 90%. It also cuts carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
A key component in the aluminum recycling process is sorting. It removes non-aluminum materials such as glass and plastic.
In the second step, smelters group uncoated aluminum and coated (lacquered or painted) aluminum together. Magnets are used to separate the iron content from this mixed material.
Next, aluminum is liquified at temperatures over 1200degF and poured into molds to produce aluminum ingots. These are then cast into various forms. These include sheets, rods, flakes, and powder. The final product is usually used in the manufacturing of consumer products. It is also used in transportation, aerospace, railroad, and marine industries.
