| Worldwide metal production is ascertained directly | | | | of metals in use that will be recoverable at some |
| through ore deposits from mining, smelting, and | | | | future point.Aluminum recycling is a large portion of |
| refining. What are secondary metals? They are | | | | the scrap metals industry. In 1993, in a survey of |
| metals discarded through industrial and manufacturing | | | | Western countries, 28 percent of the total recycled |
| operations or as commercial products that are now | | | | scrap materials were made up by aluminum. The |
| obsolete. The benefit that recycling provides is that | | | | others that were a significant part of the total |
| we return these waste materials back into the | | | | included copper, lead, molybdenum, tin, and zinc.Scrap |
| general manufacturing so they can be used for the | | | | recycling is the process of recovering secondary |
| production of new metal products, thus saving costs | | | | metals, and is subdivided into three different classes |
| and making things more efficient in general. The | | | | of metals. They are:Home scrap : This is what |
| secondary metals industry is involved in all aspects of | | | | remains after a primary metal product is sold and is |
| this process, from locating scrap, to getting it to a | | | | generated in a smelting or refining plant. |
| recycle facility and then re-using the material for new | | | | New or prompt scrap : This type of scrap can easily |
| metal-based products.What's the rationale for | | | | be reprocessed for use in primary metal |
| determining if scrap metal is worth recovering? Its | | | | manufacturing, it is essentially the remains of the |
| potential for profit. In terms of the basic factors that | | | | general manufacturing process. |
| determine if a particular metal should be recycled, the | | | | Old scrap : This is the type of recycling that we are |
| following areas are looked at: | | | | most familiar with. Old scrap is recovered from |
| How pure are the recovered products, what's the | | | | consumer goods that are no longer being used. This |
| market for the recycled products like, and what is | | | | could potentially include discarded, used, or worn-out |
| the true dollar value of the metal? | | | | products. Also could include metal products rendered |
| How much will it cost to collect and transport? | | | | obsolete by technological advances or production |
| How much will it cost to sort and transform it into | | | | overruns. |
| reusable metal? | | | | In terms of product applications, metals are rarely |
| How much will it cost to dispose of any residual | | | | used in their pure and absolute form. It's also tough |
| material? | | | | and expensive to remove alloy elements from |
| The advent of the industrial revolution in the late 19 | | | | metals, so usually the alloyed materials are recycled |
| th and early 20 th centuries fueled the consumption | | | | as alloyed metals only. The various metals that make |
| of metals significantly. During the 20th century, this | | | | up the alloyed metal are not taken out to be used in |
| trend continued and grew exponentially. By the | | | | their pure state.Scrap metal recycling makes |
| 1980's, the annual production of metals worldwide | | | | economic sense. It also shows our responsibility to |
| was a hundred times what it was in the 1880's. | | | | the earth and to the efficient use of our precious |
| Naturally, this incredible rise in need for metals and | | | | natural resources. If there's one positive thing that is |
| the production of metal-based products has led many | | | | happening in this area, it's that the trend to recycle |
| people to question if there is enough metal reserves | | | | more continues.Applied Recovery Systems Inc. is a |
| in the world to keep up with demand. Is it | | | | privately held company located in central Texas. |
| sustainable? Is there an unending amount of metals in | | | | They have been in the business of scrap metal chip |
| the earth? No, on both accounts. Scrap metal | | | | processing and briquetting since 1992, all to save |
| recycling is a natural part of the chain of use. Metal | | | | companies money and help the process of recycling |
| reserves are found, they are made into a usable | | | | aluminum, brass, copper, steel, and cast iron. |
| form, a product is manufactured from it, the product | | | | Research and development will continue to be an |
| is used, discarded, and then the metal is used again. | | | | integral part of the Corporation's objective so as to |
| It just makes ecological sense - it's using the earth in | | | | better serve the chip processing needs of its |
| a smart way. With recycling, there is a huge amount | | | | customers. |