Metal recycling: An industry that became a magnet to thieves

Metal recycling is a significant contributor to the UK economy, generating more than £7 billion a year, according to the British Metals Recycling Association.

The industry employs around 15,000 people and recycles a whopping 10 million tonnes of metal annually.

Due to its strength, durability and the fact that it conducts electricity and heat, metal is an especially valuable material for the production of electronics, tools and vehicles. Plus, it can be recycled indefinitely, reducing both the need for raw materials to be mined and the energy generation required to produce it.

But with highly valuable materials comes those looking to make some quick cash through illegal activities, and it’s costing the metal recycling industry – and the economy – dearly…

Types of metal recycling

Unlike the complex grades of plastic and wood that need to be separated and processed differently, there are actually only two types of metals that can be recycled: ferrous and non-ferrous.

Put simply, ferrous metals contain iron, while non-ferrous metals don’t. And it’s the latter that particularly catches the eye of sticky-fingered opportunists…

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Ferrous metals

Ferrous metals include steel and cast iron. Recycling it is a straightforward process that involves melting down the metal and reshaping it into new products.

Steel is one of the most recycled materials globally – and the process is incredibly beneficial to the environment. Recycling steel reduces CO2 emissions by 58% compared to making steel from scratch.

MORE: How glass recycling works: From sorting to new products

The carbon in ferrous metals makes them susceptible to rusting, with the exception of wrought iron, which resists rust due to its high iron content.

Ferrous metals are usually magnetic, so are commonly used in the automobile industry and for electrical appliances.

Non-ferrous metals

Non-ferrous metals include aluminium, copper, brass, and lead. Recycling this type of metal is a bit more complex because unlike ferrous metal, it isn’t magnetic, making it harder to sort.

However, the lack of magnetism makes non-ferrous metal perfect for electronic products and wiring.

MORE: How paper and cardboard recycling works

Copper is an especially valuable non-ferrous metal due to its durability and conductivity. According to the BMRA, 60% of copper produced in the 1990s is still in use today.

In fact, it’s so valuable that keeping it where it should be has proved quite difficult once unscrupulous types learned of its worth…

Metal theft: A menace to the recycling industry

In England and Wales, there are three metal thieves for every 10,000 people.

Thieves often target valuable metals, such as copper, brass, and lead, from construction sites, railways, and other infrastructure.

In 2006, the price of copper increased by three times, sending rates of copper theft from railway signalling sky high.

Church roofs, electricity substations, railway signalling cables, telephone cables, and catalytic converters in cars are all targets for metal thieves.

Metal theft is a major threat to the recycling industry, the circular economy, and the environment, leading to stricter regulations for dealing in scrap metal.

In 2013, the Scrap Metal Dealers Act was introduced and requires all scrap metal dealers to hold a licence and check the ID of anyone selling to them. It also brought in harsher penalties and prohibited the use of cash for the sale of scrap metal.

With a closer eye on illegitimate traders, the future of the metal recycling industry is a little brighter, with companies like SunSkips investing in modern methods for sorting and processing this valuable material.

Metal recycling: The process

To get the most value of the UK’s metal, both ferrous and non-ferrous metals go through a stringent process to eliminate contamination and achieve the best possible end product.

Collection and sorting

Waste transfer sites like SunSkips, scrap yards, construction sites, and Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) are all common places for metal recycling to be collected from.

Metals are sorted into ferrous and non-ferrous categories, as well as by weight and size. Especially valuable metals like steel are often set aside so they can be sold on to scrap metal dealers.

Contamination is a big concern in metal recycling. At SunSkips, metals are sorted via a meticulous screening line that separates by manual picking, flip-flow screens, and overband magnets.

MORE: How SunSkips’ recycling screening line works

Preparation

Most of it will be taken to a metal recycling facility to be processed, while complex items like fridges (which need to be specially handled in order to strip them of valuable metals while preventing leakage of hazardous chemicals) are sent to specialist sites.

The metal is processed using various methods, such as shredding and crushing to make it easier to melt at lower temperatures. For example, aluminium is squashed into sheets.

Melting

The prepared metal is taken to a furnace to be melted into molten metal.

Different metals have different melting points. Zinc has a low melting point of 419.5°C, while iron has to be heated to 1,510°C. The process can take a few minutes to several hours.

Purification

With the metal now malleable, it’s ready to be purified.

The metal ingots that come out of the furnace are purified with processes such as electrolysis or magnetic treatments.

Shaping and cooling

After they’ve been purified, the metal is transported to buyers in the form of bars, liquid or powder.

The metal is then made into new products. When they reach the end of their life, the whole process starts again in an infinite loop.

Metal recycling in domestic collections

A lot of household metals are easily recycled in your domestic collections.

Aluminium drink and food cans, aerosol sprays, clean foil and metallic takeaway containers are all suitable for recycling at home.

Suffolk residents can learn exactly what types of metal can be recycled at the Suffolk Recycles website. Larger metal items can be taken to your local HWRC.

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Recycling metal has huge benefits for the economy, local jobs and the environment. It preserves our natural resources, reduces greenhouse emissions and keeps waste out of landfills.

Do your part in keeping the metal recycling industry well-oiled and report any incidents of metal theft to the BMRA, which works closely with the British Transport Police and other authorities to put a stop to stolen scrap.

SunSkips accepts both ferrous and non-ferrous metal in its skips and uses overband magnets as part of the screening process to separate smaller pieces of metal from mixed waste. Give our friendly team a call to discuss how SunSkips can help make your metal recycling run more smoothly.