Steel Recycling: Processes, Benefits, and Business Solutions

Steel is the world's most recycled material. It can be melted down and reused over and over again with no loss of quality. Each year, more steel is recycled than aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic combined. And yet, less than 60% of all steel scrap is collected and recycled annually. There is still room for improvement when it comes to collecting and recycling steel. 

The first step in recycling steel is to sort the scrap steel by grade and composition. The most common grades are #1 (light) ferrous scrap, #2 (heavy) ferrous scrap, stainless steel, and alloy steels. Once sorted, the steel is then cleaned to remove contaminants such as paint, oil, or rust. After cleaning, the steel is melted down in a furnace at around 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The molten steel is then poured into molds called ingots where it cools and solidifies. These ingots can be made into new products or further processed into other grades of steel. For example, some stainless steels can be recycled back into new stainless steel while others are used to make new alloy steel. The type of ingot made will depend on the final product being manufactured.

There are many benefits to recycling steel. First and foremost, it conserves energy and natural resources. It takes less energy to recycle steel than it does to mine and process new iron ore into steel Ingots. Second, it reduces pollution by lowering emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, dust, slag, and sludge when compared to producing new steel from scratch. Thirdly, recycling requires significantly less water than producing new steel. Finally, perhaps most importantly for businesses looking for cost-effective solutions - recycling costs about 33% less per ton than making new steel does! 

Steel recycling is an important process that offers many benefits for both businesses and consumers alike. Recycling conserves natural resources, saves energy, reduces pollution, and decreases greenhouse gas emissions. If you are interested in recycling steel, Maxam Equipment offers a variety of machines that can help you recycle efficiently and effectively. Contact us today to learn more about our machines and how we can help your business recycle steel.