Recycling scrap metal is a great way to help the environment, clear out space in the garage, and make a few extra bucks. But have you ever wondered about the journey your junk cars and unused appliances take, and how they eventually become construction materials, new vehicles, and soup cans? Here’s a brief description of the process of recycling unwanted scrap metal.

How Is Scrap Metal Recycled?

Sorting

Before recycling, metals must be separated by type and composition, a process that often begins in the scrap yard. Workers might use magnets or their own expertise to identify different sorts of metal, disassemble products that use multiple materials, and separate clean products from dirty metal. These scraps are then sent to a processing center, where automated machinery uses magnets and high-tech sensors to further separate different metals.

Shredding

Recycling centers have powerful shredders capable of ripping apart even the strongest steel. Because small flakes of metal have a higher surface area relative to their volume, shredding allows recyclers to melt the material down more quickly at lower temperatures, consuming much less energy in the process.

Melting

Before being turned into new products, scrap metal is melted down in large furnaces specifically designed for that particular material. Usually, aluminum is melted down into sheets that can be used to manufacture a variety of products, while steel and iron are often cast into solid blocks.

Shipping to New Manufacturers

Once the ingots or sheets have cooled, they’re no longer scrap metal. Instead, they’re crucial raw materials ready to be shipped out to factories across the country, where they’ll be used to create brand-new products that can be recycled over and over again.

If you’ve got junk cars, old ladders, or steel doors cluttering up your home, Metalico Rochester will pay top dollar for your scrap metal, and will even pick it up for you. With three locations throughout the Rochester, NY, area and years of experience, they make recycling your scrap metal as easy and stress-free as possible. Visit their website to learn more about selling your scrap, follow their Twitter for updates and news, or call (585) 436-0713 for current pricing.