Understanding the Scrap Metal Recycling Process
Need cash? Have a pile of scrap metal? Then you’re in luck! Metal recycling facilities like Tucson Iron & Metal pay top-dollar for copper, brass, aluminum, and steel. No matter what condition the metal is in, those hunks of scrap metal around your property represent the extra cash you need to buy a new car, make home improvements, or buy gifts for your loved ones. Before you drive down to the scrap yard—or better yet, while you wait for the pickup team to come and collect your scrap metal—read through this quick post to learn more about the metal recycling process.
- Sorting – The first step is to collect and sort the scrap metal intended for recycling. A metal recycling facility will sort the materials into ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and then further sort the metals by quality. This is done by hand and with the use of specialized sorting machines.
- Processing – After similar metals are collected, they are squeezed together to create blocks or slabs or scrap metal that are easier to transport via trucks and conveyor belts. Scrap yards utilize heavy-duty machines to compress metals into manageable pieces that are ready to be processed.
- Shredding – Next, the blocks of scrap metal are further broken down by an industrial-grade shredder. Shredding the metal makes it easier to be processed, since the smaller pieces can be melted down with less energy.
- Melting – Speaking of melting, the next step is to melt down all of the scrap metal in a large furnace. Each metal has its own melting point, which is why metal recycling facilities will typically operate multiple furnaces designed for copper, brass, aluminum, etc. After the scrap metal is melted down, any impurities are removed before the finished product is transported to different mills for manufacturing purposes.
The scrap metal recycling process is interesting, but you don’t need to be an expert to participate. Tucson Iron & Metal makes it easy to turn scrap metal into cash, as we provide the most competitive pricing and even offer complimentary pick-up services. Call us at (520) 884-1554 to learn more about our metal recycling services in Tucson.