As we all know, you can recycle your unwanted metal when you no longer need it or when it has reached the end of its lifespan. But, can scrap metal be recycled more than once?
In short, yes! Some scrap metal can be recycled more than once, which leads to great benefits for our planet. As our limited natural resources continue to dwindle, recycling scrap metal as many times as possible ensures we use the material to its full potential, as well as prevent mining and pollution.
Find out more about which scrap metals can be recycled more than once below.
Which Scrap Metal Can Be Recycled More Than Once?
A small selection of ferrous and non-ferrous metals can be recycled more than once, including copper, aluminium, lead, brass, and steel.
Copper
A highly sustainable metal, copper is 100% recyclable and can be recycled infinitely without losing any of its inherent properties. These properties include durability, conductivity, malleability, and ductility, as well as corrosion and heat resistance – making copper particularly beneficial for the electrical industry.
Saving up to 85% of the energy needed to mine raw copper, recycling copper repeatedly supports the concept of a circular economy in which materials are constantly reused in order to utilise natural resources in a more sustainable way.
Aluminium
Similarly, aluminium is also 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly and reused with no limitations on quality. This is due to its low boiling point, which makes it easy to melt and its malleability which makes it easy to reform into a solid state without changing any of its fundamental properties.
An especially beneficial metal for the construction industry, aluminium is lightweight, durable, and low-maintenance, as well as resistant to corrosion and thermally conductive. Using 95% less energy than producing aluminium from scratch, recycling aluminium saves 97% of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the primary production process.
Lead
Lead recycling can also occur indefinitely without a reduction in the quality of the metal. One of the most recycled metals globally, recycled lead accounts for approximately half of the total lead used to make new lead products. Lead acid batteries are a prime example of this, as they have a 99% global recycling rate!
Mechanics may come across lead frequently as it is commonly used in several types of car batteries, given the metal’s high electrical conductivity and power-to-weight ratio.
Brass
Once again able to be recycled endlessly, brass retains its antimicrobial, ductility, and conductivity following the recycling process. Recycling brass can save up to 90% of the energy needed for new production, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the need for virgin materials.
One of the most popular plumbing materials, alongside copper, brass is often used to make plumbing fixtures due to its durability, corrosion resistance, and ease of installation.
Steel
The only ferrous metal in this list, steel shares the sustainability of its non-ferrous counterparts, as it is also infinitely recyclable with no changes to its core properties once the process is complete.
The use of scrap steel saves up to 74% of the energy needed to make steel from raw materials. Additionally, recycling one tonne of steel cans saves 1.5 tonnes of iron ore! A vital material for the construction, manufacturing, and automotive sectors, steel is strong, durable, and ductile.
Scrap Metal Recycling For Trade
If you work in a trade, producing a high amount of scrap metal as a by-product of your work, you could benefit massively from selling your unwanted scrap metal to us.
While we welcome all types of customers onto our local scrap yard, the following tradespeople are likely to come across the scrap metals we mentioned earlier on a daily basis:
With scrap metal prices always based on the London Metal Exchange (LME), you’ll never fall short of making a profit at the Kas Metal scrap yard.
That’s not to mention, if you bring your scrap metal to us before 4pm, we can guarantee you a same-day payment! So you can get back to what you do best, all while carrying less weight from job-to-job, and walking away with a profit, having done your bit for the environment.
Can’t get it to us before 4pm? No problem, we’ll simply pay you the following day. Our scrap metal merchants offer a wide range of prompt and flexible payment options, including cheques, bank transfers, and our pre-paid card method.
Visit Our Local Scrap Metal Recycling Yard
So, can scrap metal be recycled more than once? Yes, it can! No matter which trade you work in, why not visit our local scrap yard to get something back for your scrap metal?
If you have any questions, give us a call, email or visit our local scrapyard today. Based in Atherton, we can also service the following areas: Manchester, Preston, Leigh, Wigan, Tyldesley, Bolton, Worsley, Lancashire, Chorley, Westhoughton and Salford. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest company updates and industry news.
