Recycling in the metals industry

Abstract

In 1990, scrap was a major feedstock component of U.S. metals production. Steel scrap represented 56% of raw steel production, old lead scrap was 66% of total lead production, and purchased aluminum scrap represented 37% of total production. Copper scrap makes up 44% of total U.S. copper consumption annually. Although some recycling operations, such as past (but now obsolete) lead-acid battery breaking and the use of high salt fluxes on aluminum drosses have created environmental problems, the recovery of obsolete autos, cast or extruded products, appliances, lead-acid batteries, beverage containers, and drosses represents major environmental benefits in terms of reduced litter, landfill wastes, and energy savings. Evolving technologies, marketing concepts, and regulations promise even higher levels of recycling in the future. The cumulative amounts of aluminum, copper, lead, and ferrous scrap that would have had to be absorbed by our environment as discards during the period 1965–1990 had they not been recycled totaled more than 2.2 billion tons, just for the four metal groups. Concurrently, huge energy savings were realized and environmental benefits achieved through reduced emissions associated with generating that energy.