How Much Do You Know About… Steel?

The two most common types of metal that are recycled are aluminium and steel, both of which are very easy to process. Steel is 100% recyclable and tends to retain a relatively high economic value, with prices for the scrap material hovering at around £100 per tonne. Its value and the fact that it is so easy to melt down and recycle means that the recovery rate for scrap steel in the UK are excellent.

Last week’s blog was all about aluminium and this week it’s steel’s turn to be in the spotlight.

Recycling Steel – Some Quick Facts

•    When scraps of steel are recycled in a steel mill instead of virgin materials, air and water pollution are reduced by 70%

•    More than half of the canned food we purchase is packaged in steel cans

•    Over 40% of crude steel is made by processing the waste material

•    Steel is one of the easiest materials to recycle

•    Huge magnets are used during the reprocessing stage to efficiently separate waste steel from other types of recyclable metal waste.

•    Recycling steel requires 75% less energy than the amount used in the production of new steel from primary resources.

The Composition & Uses Of Steel

Steel is an incredibly versatile metal, well suited to a huge variety of uses. Its high rates of recycling mean that nearly all of the steel that is in circulation today contains at least a small proportion of the recycled material.

Steel is produced in literally thousands of different grades, all adapted to suit different purposes and uses, depending on the product it is being created for.

The most common use for steel in the UK is within the construction industry where it is chosen for its incredible durability and high strength to weight ratio. Steel is a low maintenance material that will not burn, warp or break and the construction industry accounts for at least a third of the consumption of steel in the UK.

In the construction industry, steel is used in the creation of:

•    Buildings
•    Bridges
•    Skyscrapers
•    Reinforcement beams

Other uses for this versatile and durable material include:

•    Vehicles
•    White goods & Appliances
•    Furniture
•    Packaging
•    Tools
•    Building supplies including nails, bolts and screws

Reuse Steel For Even Greater Environmental Benefits

When steel is reused rather than recycled, a frequent possibility in the construction industry, the environmental benefits are even greater than recycling because reuse requires little and sometimes no reprocessing, resulting in very little or in some cases, zero impact to the environment. In an ideal scenario a steel item will simply be reused in its existing form rather than being melted and reformed to create a new product.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint By Reusing Or Recycling Steel

Metals including steel are a valuable resource that should always be recycled rather than sent to landfill where they will eventually pollute the soil and cause environmental damage. Like other metals, steel can be recycled an infinite number of times with no loss of quality or performance, conserving high quantities of energy when compared to the processes involved in producing new steel from natural resources.

By recycling your waste steel businesses are able to:

•    Reduce unnecessary waste
•    Conserve energy
•    Reduce the emission of greenhouse gases
•    Reduce environmental damage to our air, water and soil
•    Conserve our natural resources
•    Generate an additional stream of income!

Support For Your Company

For help and advice with any aspect of your businesses waste management strategy, why not get in touch with us here at Phoenix Compactors & Balers.