Metamorphosis of Metal: Unveiling the Cycles of Recycling Brilliance

sustainability in Mesa, AZ

What are the metal recycling processes

Recycling metals helps limit soil and air pollution, deforestation and other environmental damage in Arizona. It also helps save the resources and energy essential for the extraction and processing of ores. Furthermore, the recycling of scrap metals and metals can be carried out forever without losing their primary properties. This article will introduce you to their recycling process and waste management benefits.

Step 1: collection

Collecting non-ferrous metals from homes and professionals in Mesa and other cities of Arizona is the first step in recycling. Non-ferrous metals mainly come from industries, end-of-life vehicle dismantling centers and demolition sites. As for ferrous metals from individuals, they are recovered from recycling centers and bulky object collections.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, accumulators, cans and various objects are also recyclable. They most often come from industrial and commercial equipment, and are generally made of stainless steel, aluminum and lead. Some companies like Dumpster Center Mesa even specialize in the recovery and recovery of metal waste.

Step 2: treatment

It consists of fragmenting the collection using a rotating blade system as well as hammers located around an axis. The materials pass through crushers, cutting and shearing machines to reduce them into small pieces. The treatment also consists of removing various impurities such as paints, labels, varnishes and glues. At the end of this step, it is possible to obtain ferrous metals, grinding residues including non-ferrous metals, plastics, textiles, etc.

Step 3: sorting

At the end of grinding, the waste must be sorted. Sorting consists of extracting the steels by exploiting their magnetic properties. Facilities that include electromagnetic separators are responsible for the circulation of waste. For this first sorting, ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals are separated using a system of magnets. Then, a current separator separates the non-ferrous metals from the other materials.

After that, we put the different metals in large ovens to melt them. Each furnace is designed to melt a different metal depending on its properties. These devices are equipped with regenerative burners and jet agitators to guarantee the quality of the final product.

Once the metals are melted, current electrolysis purifies them. They will then be poured into molds to cool.

Step 4: compaction

Conditioning of scrap metal is necessary before industries of Arizona can reuse it. In other words, we ensure that the scrap metal can be handled before being transported by dumpster trucks. To do this, compactors press them in the form of packages called bricks or bales in order to increase their density. Now metals return to their original form and become raw materials. Steel has the appearance of plates, coils, bars or wires. Aluminum takes the appearance of plates, ingots, etc.

The life of metals after recycling

Throughout this process of recycling non-ferrous metals, there is almost no loss of their original physical properties. Then, the metals return to their previous life:

  • Aluminum is used in building, construction, transport, electricity
  • Copper is useful in roofing, piping, household items
  • Lead is necessary in the design of batteries
  • Zinc is essential for making coins and brass
  • Tin is mandatory in the creation of tinplate, automobile production, glassmaking