Is Stainless Steel Recyclable?
Stainless steel is one of the most widely used construction and manufacturing materials across various industries. Its distinctive stainless properties and exceptional endurance make it ideal in construction and medical equipment manufacturing. But what occurs when stainless steel approaches the end of its useful life? Can stainless steel be recycled? Yes, it is actually the world’s most recycled material.
Over 80 million tons of steel are recycled each year in North America, representing 69% of all steel. One ton of recycled steel saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone, according to the Steel Recycling Institute. These figures stand in striking contrast to the ecologically damaging procedures required to produce materials such as fiberglass or polyvinyl chloride conduit, which are sometimes chosen as less expensive alternatives to stainless steel in electrical conduit systems. Let’s look into how stainless steel is recycled and why it’s so important.
How is Stainless Steel Recycled?
Stainless steel meant for recycling can be categorized into reclaimed scrap and industrial scrap. Reclaimed scrap is obtained from finished items, such as chemical tanks, structural pieces, equipment, or demolition debris. Industrial scrap consists of the byproducts of manufacturing, fabrication, and construction of stainless steel. This includes reports of sheets, trimmed rods, and other scraps.
While you can recycle any quantity of stainless steel, collecting them until you have enough for a recycling service is much more cost-effective. Professionals will then take the scrap to their facility for shredding, sorting the smaller pieces by composition to form new alloys used for other purposes.
Advantages of Recycling Stainless Steel
Environmental factors or concerns play a significant role in the modern economy. Businesses and industries can reduce their carbon footprint and actively participate in environmental conservation by recycling. Using recyclable materials is not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective. In a perfect world where all stainless steel was produced from 100% recycled stainless steel, the global energy consumption for the production of stainless steel would decrease by an additional 51%.
Since the process of recycling stainless steel does not degrade the material, the recycled content in the final product is often determined by the availability of scrap. Using more recycled stainless steel means less pollution, lower energy demands, and lower costs for stainless steel producers and consumers.
Recycled stainless steel offers great social and environmental benefits. Increased adoption of stainless steel products will promote a healthier and cleaner environment. Reach out to us today to learn more about recycling stainless steel.