Scrap consists of recyclable materials, usually metals, left over from product manufacturing and consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste , scrap can have monetary value , especially recovered metals , and non-metallic materials are also recovered for recycling. Once collected, the materials are sorted into types – typically metal scrap will be crushed, shredded, and sorted using mechanical processes.
60-454: Metal recycling, especially of structural steel , ships , used manufactured goods, such as vehicles and white goods , is an industrial activity with complex networks of wrecking yards , sorting facilities, and recycling plants. The industry includes both formal organizations and a wide range of informal roles such as waste pickers who help sorting through scrap. Scrap metal originates both in business and residential environments. Typically
120-907: A "scrapper" will advertise their services to conveniently remove scrap metal for people who don't need it. Scrap is often taken to a wrecking yard (also known as a scrapyard, junkyard, or breaker's yard), where it is processed for later melting into new products. A wrecking yard, depending on its location, may allow customers to browse their lot and purchase items before they are sent to the smelters , although many scrap yards that deal in large quantities of scrap usually do not, often selling entire units such as engines or machinery by weight with no regard to their functional status. Customers are typically required to supply all of their own tools and labor to extract parts, and some scrapyards may first require waiving liability for personal injury before entering. Many scrapyards also sell bulk metals ( stainless steel , etc.) by weight, often at prices substantially below
180-792: A Swedish government body responsible for geological survey of bedrock, soil and groundwater. Great potential exists in the scrap metal industry for accidents in which a hazardous material present in scrap causes death, injury, or environmental damage. A classic example is radioactivity in scrap ; the Goiânia accident and the Mayapuri radiological accident were incidents involving radioactive materials. Toxic materials such as asbestos , and toxic metals such as beryllium , cadmium , lead and mercury may pose dangers to personnel, as well as contaminating materials intended for metal smelters . Many specialized tools used in scrapyards are hazardous, such as
240-648: A circle and seam-welded). The terms angle iron , channel iron , and sheet iron have been in common use since before wrought iron was replaced by steel for commercial purposes. They have lived on after the era of commercial wrought iron and are still sometimes heard today, informally, in reference to steel angle stock, channel stock, and sheet, despite that they are misnomers (compare "tin foil", still sometimes used informally for aluminum foil). In formal writing for metalworking contexts, accurate terms like angle stock , channel stock , and sheet are used. Most steels used throughout Europe are specified to comply with
300-495: A construction project is begun. Structures consisting of both materials utilize the benefits of structural steel and reinforced concrete. This is already common practice in reinforced concrete in that the steel reinforcement is used to provide steel's tensile strength capacity to a structural concrete member. A commonly seen example would be parking garages. Some parking garages are constructed using structural steel columns and reinforced concrete slabs. The concrete will be poured for
360-438: A cutting torch is typically used. Oxy-fuel torches are the most common technology and range from simple hand-held torches to automated CNC coping machines that move the torch head around the structural element in accordance with cutting instructions programmed into the machine. Fabricating flat plate is performed on a plate processing center where the plate is laid flat on a stationary 'table' and different cutting heads traverse
420-415: A final decision is made. The tallest structures today (commonly called " skyscrapers " or high-rise ) are constructed using structural steel due to its constructability, as well as its high strength-to-weight ratio. In comparison, concrete, while being less dense than steel, has a much lower strength-to-weight ratio. This is due to the much larger volume required for a structural concrete member to support
480-402: A high load without excessive sagging . The shapes available are described in many published standards worldwide, and a number of specialist and proprietary cross sections are also available. While many sections are made by hot or cold rolling , others are made by welding together flat or bent plates (for example, the largest circular hollow sections are made from flat plate bent into
540-402: A magnet. Some cheaper grades of stainless steel are magnetic, other grades are not. These items are higher priced commodities for metal recycling and are important to separate when recycling them. The prices of non-ferrous metals also tend to fluctuate more than ferrous metals so it is important for recyclers to pay attention to these sources and the overall markets. This term is used to describe
600-590: A sealed source might look like. The best known example of this type of event is the Goiânia accident , in Brazil . While some lost-source accidents have not involved the scrap metal industry, they are good examples of the likely scale and scope of a lost-source accident. For example, the Red Army left sources behind in Didi Lilo , Georgia . Another case occurred at Yanango where an Ir radiography source
660-448: A structure, an engineer must decide which, if not both, material is most suitable for the design. There are many factors considered when choosing a construction material. Cost is commonly the primary controlling element; however, other considerations such as weight, strength, constructability, availability (with regards to geographic location as well as market availability), sustainability, and fire resistance will be taken into account before
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#1732801476378720-483: A time countries in south Asia carried out most shipbreaking, often using manual methods that were hazardous to workers and the environment. International regulations now dictate the treatment of old ships as sources of hazardous waste, so shipbreaking has returned to ports in more developed countries. In 2013, about 29 million tons of scrap steel were recovered from broken ships. Some of the scrap can be reheated and rolled to make products such as concrete reinforcing bars, or
780-502: A variety of shapes. Many structural steel shapes take the form of an elongated beam having a profile of a specific cross section . Structural steel shapes, sizes, chemical composition , mechanical properties such as strengths, storage practices, etc., are regulated by standards in most industrialized countries. Most structural steel shapes, such as Ɪ-beams , have high second moments of area , which means they are very stiff in respect to their cross-sectional area and thus can support
840-431: Is 1,130 °C (2,070 °F). Steel never turns into a liquid below this temperature. Pure Iron ('Steel' with 0% Carbon) starts to melt at 1,492 °C (2,718 °F), and is completely liquid upon reaching 1,539 °C (2,802 °F). Steel with 2.1% Carbon by weight begins melting at 1,130 °C (2,070 °F), and is completely molten upon reaching 1,315 °C (2,399 °F). 'Steel' with more than 2.1% Carbon
900-498: Is a raw material feedstock for nearly 60% of steel made in the US, almost 50% of the copper and copper alloys produced in the US, more than 75% of the US paper industry's needs, and for 50% of US aluminum. Recycled scrap helps keep air and water cleaner by removing potentially hazardous materials and keeping them out of landfills. Structural steel Structural steel is a category of steel used for making construction materials in
960-450: Is a simple, rectilinear shape. Structural steel and reinforced concrete are not always chosen solely because they are the most ideal material for the structure. Companies rely on the ability to turn a profit for any construction project, as do the designers. The price of raw materials (steel, cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, lumber for form-work, etc.) is constantly changing. If a structure could be constructed using either material,
1020-419: Is added, the temperature falls to a minimum 724 °C (1,335 °F) for eutectic steel (steel with only .83% by weight of carbon in it). As 2.1% carbon (by mass ) is approached, the austenizing temperature climbs back up, to 1,130 °C (2,070 °F). Similarly, the melting point of steel changes based on the alloy. The lowest temperature at which a plain carbon steel can begin to melt, its solidus ,
1080-695: Is below 400 °C. In China, Europe and North America (e.g., ASTM E-119), this is approximately 1000–1300 °F (530–810 °C). The time it takes for the steel element that is being tested to reach the temperature set by the test standard determines the duration of the fire-resistance rating . Heat transfer to the steel can be slowed by the use of fireproofing materials , thus limiting steel temperature. Common fireproofing methods for structural steel include intumescent , endothermic, and plaster coatings as well as drywall, calcium silicate cladding, and mineral wool insulating blankets. Concrete building structures often meet code required fire-resistance ratings, as
1140-423: Is economically advantageous to do so. It is cheaper to recycle steel than to mine iron ore and manipulate it through the production process to form new steel. Steel does not lose any of its inherent physical properties during the recycling process, and has drastically reduced energy and material requirements compared with refinement from iron ore. The energy saved by recycling reduces the annual energy consumption of
1200-454: Is important to making more money on scrap, tips like using a magnet to determine ferrous and non-ferrous materials can help recyclers make more money on their metal recycling. When a magnet sticks to the metal, it will be a ferrous material, like steel or iron. This is usually a less expensive item that is recycled but usually is recycled in larger quantities of thousands of pounds. Non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum, and brass do not stick to
1260-647: Is introduced by the Construction Products Directive (CPD) . The CPD is a European Directive that ensures the free movement of all construction products within the European Union. Because steel components are "safety critical", CE Marking is not allowed unless the Factory Production Control (FPC) system under which they are produced has been assessed by a suitable certification body that has been approved to
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#17328014763781320-422: Is just one possible example of many structures that may use both reinforced concrete and structural steel. A structural engineer understands that there are an infinite number of designs that will produce an efficient, safe, and affordable building. It is the engineer's job to work alongside the owners, contractors, and all other parties involved to produce an ideal product that suits everyone's needs. When choosing
1380-468: Is lost at a ferrous metal scrapyard then it is often the case that the source will enter a furnace, the radioactive metal will melt and contaminate the steel from this furnace. In Mexico, some buildings have been demolished because of the level of cobalt-60 in the steel used to make them. Also, some of the steel which was rendered radioactive in the Mexican event was used to make legs for 1400 tables. In
1440-432: Is no longer Steel, but is known as Cast iron . Steel loses strength when heated sufficiently. The critical temperature of a steel member is the temperature at which it cannot safely support its load . Building codes and structural engineering standard practice defines different critical temperatures depending on the structural element type, configuration, orientation, and loading characteristics. The critical temperature
1500-502: Is often considered the temperature at which its yield stress has been reduced to 60% of the room temperature yield stress. In order to determine the fire resistance rating of a steel member, accepted calculations practice can be used, or a fire test can be performed, the critical temperature of which is set by the standard accepted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, such as a building code. In Japan, this
1560-861: Is often used to make automotive fenders , tin cans , industrial drums , or any product with a large degree of cold working. EAF steelmaking uses almost 100% recycled steel. This steel contains greater concentrations of residual elements that cannot be removed through the application of oxygen and lime . It is used to make structural beams , plates , reinforcing bar , and other products that require little cold working. Downcycling of steel by hard-to-separate impurities such as copper or tin can only be prevented by well-aimed scrap selection or dilution by pure steel. Recycling one metric ton (1,000 kilograms ) of steel saves 1.1 metric tons of iron ore , 630 kilograms of coal , and 55 kilograms of limestone . The hulls of ships, with any usable equipment salvaged and removed, can be broken up to provide scrap steel. For
1620-500: Is usually done with a bandsaw . A beam drill line (drill line) has long been considered an indispensable way to drill holes and mill slots into beams, channels and HSS elements. CNC beam drill lines are typically equipped with feed conveyors and position sensors to move the element into position for drilling, plus probing capability to determine the precise location where the hole or slot is to be cut. For cutting irregular openings or non-uniform ends on dimensional (non-plate) elements,
1680-478: The European standard EN 10025 . However, many national standards also remain in force. Typical grades are described as the 'S275J2' or 'S355K2W'. In these examples, 'S' denotes structural rather than engineering steel; 275 or 355 denotes the yield strength in newtons per square millimetre or the equivalent megapascals ; J2 or K2 denotes the materials toughness by reference to Charpy impact test values; and
1740-913: The alligator shear , which cuts metal using hydraulic force, compactors , scrap metal shredder , and vacuum . According to the WHO (2023), “When e-waste is treated using inferior activities, it can release as many as 1000 different chemical substances ... including harmful … “ The metal recycling industry encompasses a wide range of metals. The more frequently recycled metals are scrap steel, iron (ISS), lead , aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and zinc. There are two main categories of metals: ferrous and non-ferrous. Metals that contain iron in them are known as ferrous . Metals without iron are non-ferrous . Non-ferrous metals also include precious and exotic metals: OSHA guidelines should be followed when recycling any type of scrap metal to ensure safety. Ferrous metals are able to be recycled , with steel being one of
1800-409: The baghouse to enter the air (as with iodine ). It is normal to place silicon , aluminium scrap and flux in a furnace. This is heated to form molten aluminium. From the furnace three main streams are obtained, metal product, dross (metal oxides and halides which are skimmed off the molten metal product) and off gases which go to the baghouse . The cooled waste gasses are then allowed out into
1860-525: The 'W' denotes weathering steel . Further letters can be used to designate fine grain steel ('N' or 'NL'); quenched and tempered steel ('Q' or 'QL'); and thermomechanically rolled steel ('M' or 'ML'). 1. S275JOH Specification S275JOH is steel grade in EN 10219 specification, EN 10210 standard. And the most widely used specification is EN10219 standard, which is Cold formed welded structural hollow sections of non-alloy and fine grain steels. EN10219-1 specifies
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1920-665: The European Commission. In the case of steel products such as sections, bolts and fabricated steelwork the CE Marking demonstrates that the product complies with the relevant harmonized standard. For steel structures the main harmonized standards are: The standard that covers CE Marking of structural steelwork is EN 1090 -1. The standard has come into force in late 2010. After a transition period of two years, CE Marking will become mandatory in most European Countries sometime early in 2012. The official end date of
1980-434: The US scrap price, which has become increasingly important to global export markets. Scrap yards directories are also used by recyclers to find facilities in the US and Canada, allowing users to get in contact with yards. With resources online for recyclers to look at for scrapping tips, like websites, blogs, and search engines, scrapping is often referred to as a hand and labor-intensive job. Taking apart and separating metals
2040-471: The case of some high-value scrap metals it is possible to decontaminate the material, but this is best done long before the metal goes to a scrap yard. In the case of a caesium source being melted in an electric arc furnace used for steel scrap, it is more likely that the caesium will contaminate the fly ash or dust from the furnace, while radium is likely to stay in the ash or slag . The United States Environmental Protection Agency provides data about
2100-406: The cheapest of the two will likely control. Another significant variable is the location of the project. The closest steel fabrication facility may be much further from the construction site than the nearest concrete supplier. The high cost of energy and transportation will control the selection of the material as well. All of these costs will be taken into consideration before the conceptual design of
2160-418: The concrete thickness over the steel rebar provides sufficient fire resistance. However, concrete can be subject to spalling , particularly if it has an elevated moisture content. Although additional fireproofing is not often applied to concrete building structures, it is sometimes used in traffic tunnels and locations where a hydrocarbon fuel fire is more likely, as flammable liquid fires provides more heat to
2220-423: The current steel consumption for each industry with the amount of recycled steel being produced (the late 2000s recession and the associated sharp decline in automobile production in the US explains the over-100% calculation). A typical appliance is about 75% steel by weight and automobiles are about 65% steel and iron. The steel industry has been actively recycling for more than 150 years, in large part because it
2280-708: The discretion of the steel producer. S275JOH carbon steel pipes can be made in ERW, SAW or seamless process. All S275JOH steel material and S275JOH pipes should conform to EN10219 standards. The normal yield strength grades available are 195, 235, 275, 355, 420, and 460, although some grades are more commonly used than others e.g. in the UK, almost all structural steel is grades S275 and S355. Higher grades are available in quenched and tempered material (500, 550, 620, 690, 890 and 960 – although grades above 690 receive little if any use in construction at present). A set of Euronorms define
2340-423: The environment. It is normal that good-quality scrap copper, such as that from a nuclear plant , is refined in one furnace before being refined further in an electrochemical process. The furnace generates impure metal, slag , dust and gases. The dust accumulates in a baghouse, while the gases are vented to the atmosphere. The impure metal from the furnace may be further refined in an electrochemical process. If
2400-416: The fate of different contaminating elements in a scrap furnace. Four different fates for the element exist: the element can stay in the metal (as with cobalt and ruthenium ); the element can enter the slag (as in lanthanides , actinides and radium ); the element can enter the furnace dust or fly ash (as with caesium ), which accounts for around 5%; or the element can leave the furnace and pass through
2460-450: The foundational footings, giving the parking garage a surface to be built on. The steel columns will be connected to the slab by bolting and/or welding them to steel studs extruding from the surface of the poured concrete slab. Pre-cast concrete beams may be delivered on site to be installed for the second floor, after which a concrete slab may be poured for the pavement area. This can be done for multiple stories. A parking garage of this type
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2520-460: The gamma sources used for radiography can be seen at Radiographic equipment , and it is reasonable to consider this to be a good overview of small to moderate gamma sources. The cleanup operation for the Goiânia accident was difficult both because the source containment had been opened, and the radioactive material was water-soluble. In 1983, a different incident in Mexico wherein cobalt-60
2580-930: The industry by about 75%, which is enough to power eighteen million homes for one year. According to the International Resource Panel 's Metal Stocks in Society report , the per capita stock of steel in use in Australia, Canada, the European Union EU15, Norway, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand, and the US combined is 7,085 kilograms (15,620 lb) (about 860 million people in 2005). Basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) uses 25–35% recycled steel to make new steel. BOS steel usually contains lower concentrations of residual elements such as copper , nickel , and molybdenum , and is, therefore more malleable than electric arc furnace (EAF) steel, and
2640-487: The most recycled materials in the world. Ferrous metals contain an appreciable percentage of iron and the addition of carbon and other substances creates steel . In the United States, steel containers, cans, automobiles, appliances, and construction materials contribute the greatest weight of recycled materials. For example, in 2008, more than 97% of structural steel and 106% of automobiles were recycled, comparing
2700-468: The number of thefts increasing as prices rise. Manhole covers have also been stolen. In the 1970s, the term "newsjacking" was coined to describe the theft of newspapers for sale to scrap dealers. Scrap prices may vary markedly over time and in different locations. Prices are often negotiated between buyers and sellers directly or indirectly over the Internet. Prices displayed as the market prices are not
2760-556: The plate from a gantry-style arm or "bridge". The cutting heads can include a punch, drill or torch. Radioactive scrap metal Radioactive scrap metal is created when radioactive material enters the metal recycling process and contaminates scrap metal . A "lost source accident" occurs when a radioactive object is lost or stolen . Such objects may appear in the scrap metal industry if people mistake them for harmless bits of metal. The International Atomic Energy Agency has provided guides for scrap metal collectors on what
2820-441: The prices that recyclers will see at the scrap yards. Other prices are ranges or older and not updated frequently. Some scrap yards' websites have updated scrap prices. In the US, scrap prices are reported in a handful of publications, including American Metal Market , based on confirmed sales as well as reference sites such as Scrap Metal Prices and Auctions. Non-US domiciled publications, such as The Steel Index , also report on
2880-618: The recovery of "dormant" materials that once served a purpose in society but have become disused since. For example, large amounts of metal are buried underground as part of the provision of basic services including telecoms. Infrastructure, buildings and equipment stored or lying dormant in this way accounted for 28% of Sweden's copper use in 2021. In the same period, one sixth of the cables installed in Sweden's telecoms came from harvesting via urban mining. In particular this involved copper, aluminium, iron and steel. Figures for this are issued by SGU,
2940-410: The retail purchasing costs of similar pieces. A scrap metal shredder is often used to recycle items containing a variety of other materials in combination with steel. Examples are automobiles and white goods such as refrigerators, stoves, clothes washers, etc. These items are labor-intensive to manually sort things like plastic, copper, aluminum, and brass. By shredding it into relatively small pieces,
3000-410: The same load; steel, though denser, does not require as much material to carry a load. However, this advantage becomes insignificant for low-rise buildings, or those with several stories or less. Low-rise buildings distribute much smaller loads than high-rise structures, making concrete the economical choice. This is especially true for simple structures, such as parking garages, or any building that
3060-597: The same scrap based on what the item does, regardless of what it weighs. Typically, if a wrecker cannot sell something above the value of the metal in it, they would then take it to the scrapyard and sell it by weight. Equipment containing parts of various metals can often be purchased at a price below that of either of the metals, due to saving the scrapyard the labor of separating the metals before shipping them to be recycled. Thieves sometimes sell stolen items to scrapyards. Copper pipes and wiring, bronze monuments and aluminium siding have all been targets of metal theft , with
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#17328014763783120-701: The scrap may be melted to make new steel. The scrap industry was valued at more than $ 90 billion in 2012, up from $ 54 billion in 2009 balance of trade , exporting $ 28 billion in scrap commodities to 160 countries. Since 2010, the industry has added more than 15,000 jobs and supports 463,000 workers, both directly and indirectly. In addition, it generates more than $ 10 billion in revenue for federal, state, and local governments. Scrap recycling also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserves energy and natural resources. For example, scrap recycling diverts 135 million short tons (121,000,000 long tons; 122,000,000 t) of materials away from landfills . Recycled scrap
3180-553: The shape of a set of standard structural profiles: Steels used for building construction in the US use standard alloys identified and specified by ASTM International . These steels have an alloy identification beginning with A and then two, three, or four numbers. The four-number AISI steel grades commonly used for mechanical engineering, machines, and vehicles are a completely different specification series. The standard commonly used structural steels are: The concept of CE marking for all construction products and steel products
3240-425: The steel can easily be separated out magnetically. The non-ferrous waste stream requires other techniques to sort. In contrast to wrecking yards, scrapyards typically sell everything by weight, instead of by item. To the scrapyard, the primary value of the scrap is what the smelter will give them for it, rather than the value of whatever shape the metal may be in. An auto wrecker, on the other hand, would price exactly
3300-475: The structural element as compared to a fire involving ordinary combustibles during the same fire period. Structural steel fireproofing materials include intumescent, endothermic and plaster coatings as well as drywall , calcium silicate cladding, and mineral or high temperature insulation wool blankets. Attention is given to connections, as the thermal expansion of structural elements can compromise fire-resistance rated assemblies. Cutting workpieces to length
3360-454: The structural materials for their structure, the engineer has many variables to consider, such as the cost, strength/weight ratio, sustainability of the material, constructability, etc. The properties of steel vary widely, depending on its alloying elements. The austenizing temperature, the temperature where a steel transforms to an austenite crystal structure, for steel starts at 900 °C (1,650 °F) for pure iron, then, as more carbon
3420-423: The technical delivery conditions for cold formed welded structural hollow sections of circular, square or rectangular forms and applies to structural hollow sections formed cold without subsequent heat treatment. Requirements for S275JOH pipe tolerances, dimensions and sectional s275 pipe properties are contained in EN 10219-2. 2. S275JOH Steel Pipes manufacture Process The steel manufacturing process shall be at
3480-583: The transition period is July 1, 2014. Most construction projects require the use of hundreds of different materials. These range from concrete of all different specifications, structural steel, clay, mortar, ceramics, wood, and so on. In terms of a load bearing structural frame, materials will generally consist of structural steel, concrete , masonry , and/or wood, using a suitable combination of each to produce an efficient structure. Most commercial and industrial structures are primarily constructed using either structural steel or reinforced concrete . When designing
3540-560: Was lost and at Gilan , Iran a radiography source harmed a welder . Radioactive sources have a wide range of uses in medicine and industry, and it is common for the design (and nature) of a source to be tailored to the specific application. Hence, it is impossible to state with confidence what the "typical" source looks like or contains. For instance, antistatic devices include beta and alpha emitters: polonium containing devices have been used to eliminate static electricity in such devices as paint spraying equipment. An overview of
3600-408: Was spilled in an otherwise similar exposure led to a very different pattern of contamination, since the cobalt in such a source is normally in the form of cobalt metal alloyed with some nickel to improve the mechanical properties of the radioactive metal. If such a source is abused, then the cobalt metal fragments do not tend to dissolve in water or become very mobile. If a cobalt or iridium source
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