Have you ever wondered how metal is recycled? Whether you regularly recycle or you’re skeptical of the practice, recycling metals is both cost-effective and energy efficient. By reducing carbon dioxide emissions, energy and water consumption and pollution, metal recycling efficiently re-uses the earth's natural resources.

How do these metal recycling plants process scrap metal into usable products? Byer Steel Recycling, Cincinnati, OH’s premier metal recycling center, explains:

• Ferrous Metals (iron-based, magnetic)
  
  • Sorting: Ferrous metals are sorted from other materials by using magnetic belts.
  • Shredding: Machines called shredders use magnetic rotating drums to reduce size and recover steel and iron.
  • Separation: After sorting and shredding, materials are further separated by the use of electrical currents, high-pressure airflow and liquid floating systems.
  • Shearing: If needed, machines that utilize hydraulics cut steel that is too thick or heavy to separate otherwise.
  • Bailing: In order to better handle materials and prepare them for transportation, products are compacted.
• Non-Ferrous Metals (non-iron-based, non-magnetic)
  
  • Sorting: Non-ferrous metals are separated from ferrous metals. Then, the different types are separated from each other.
  • Bailing: In order to better handle materials and transport them, metals are compacted.
  • Shearing: If needed, machines that utilize hydraulics cut steel that is too thick or heavy to separate otherwise.
  • Separation: After sorting and shredding, materials are further separated by the use of electrical currents, high-pressure airflow and liquid floating systems.
  • Melting: Metals are melted down with a furnace, and then poured into casters and shaped into ingots that can be used to create new materials.

Once recycled, ferrous materials can be used in construction, appliances, containers, cars, hardware, and office supplies. Non-ferrous materials, including aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, and tin are usually used in construction, piping, batteries, brass, and cans. From industry to homemaking, we all depend on recycled metals.

Do you have some metal to recycle? Call Byer Steel Recycling at (513) 223-2274 today. They’re also a rebar mill and metal manufacturer, so check out their web site for more information.