Metals such as steel and aluminum are part of everyday life. Indeed, we find them in every action of daily life: soda cans, cell phones, electrical wires and others. Thus, these different metals are frequently recycled in order to be reused for other purposes. These metals should be recycled and not discarded with a dumpster rental service. How is steel and aluminum recycled? What are the recyclable materials?
Recycling of steel and aluminum
While many metals are feared for their geological availability and environmental problems require solutions to the extraction of these metals, it is then natural to be interested in metal recycling.
This is a delicate operation that only a professional in the field of waste management and junk disposal can carry out. Steel and aluminum follow the same recycling process. These are materials obtained after extracting different ores from the ground. Aluminum is very popular in the cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries.
It is used for the manufacture of packaging. It provides good protection against light and oxygen. Steel and aluminum are 100% recyclable. In addition, they are infinitely recyclable.
What metals are recyclable
The recycling of steel or aluminum concerns a certain number of elements:
- Tin cans
- Cans
- Metal cans and aerosol cans
- Metal boxes
- Scrap metal
All of these materials are those that can undergo a recycling process. However, there are some materials that cannot be recycled.
Non-recyclable metals
Here, the aluminum foil used in cooking cannot be recycled. Furthermore, this also applies to chocolate packaging.
Recovery of steel and aluminum waste
When it comes to steel and aluminum, we think more of cans and other metal boxes. In fact, these are the elements which are more composed of aluminum and steel. In addition, they have a fairly simple recycling process. Today, the collection of steel and aluminum in Arkansas is well structured.
However, sorting these different materials requires adjustment. In fact, individuals have the possibility of depositing them in yellow bins or bags. In addition, recycling centers also have the necessary equipment for the recovery of this category of waste.
How does recycling take place
The metal recycling process follows specific steps. First of all, the steel and aluminum are sorted for recovery. Then, sorting is done using a magnet. This sorting uses the principle of eddy current. Thus, steel and aluminum are separated.
The two materials are crushed separately and transported to the smelter. Subsequently, the materials are refined and merged. After regeneration, the aluminum and steel are molded into ingots or plates, iron bars, steel wires.
What are the materials transformed into after recycling
After recycling, the ingots, plates, bars, aluminum and steel wires are repackaged into other products by specialized companies. Thus, steel is transformed into cans, cans, metal structures, reinforcements for concrete, keys, paper clips, trolleys used in supermarkets and others.
Furthermore, aluminum is transformed into trays, aluminum foil, aerosol cans, gutters, doors, windows, kitchen utensils, household appliances, automobile parts, scooters, bicycles, etc.
Why is it important to recycle metals
Recycling and recovery of waste have become necessary to provide sustainability, because these practices make it possible to prevent possible environmental problems (air pollution, soil pollution and deforestation).
These waste management practices also help preserve resources and save the energy used to extract and process minerals, reducing the need for dumpster rentals. Valuing metals through recycling makes it possible to produce new products more quickly and which can be found immediately on the market.