Recycled Metals

Which metals can be recycled?

  • 28 Apr 2016

Craddock Metal Recycling is a specialist recycler of domestic and scrap metal, renowned for the extensive number of materials it accepts at its yard.

Here is a breakdown of some of the metals it recycles:

Stainless Steel

The process of recycling steel can achieve an energy saving of up to 72 percent, according to statistics from the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA). 

Stainless steel holds an ‘end of life recycling’ ratio of 80-90%, meaning objects manufactured from stainless steel will rarely become waste. This is due to the fact it contains many valuable raw materials, including chromium, nickel and molybdenum, which make recycling the metal economically viable.

Aluminium

Aluminium can be repeatedly recycled again and again, as the metal does not transmute. This means that it will not change form, nature or substance. 

The process of recycling aluminium simply consists of melting the metal down; requiring only 5% of the energy needed to create brand new aluminium. 

Copper

Research has found that only 12% of town copper sources have been mined. However, it is important to remember that copper is a finite resource and that it is important to conserve copper ore through recycling.

Recycling copper uses significantly less energy than what is used in extracting copper from copper ore – 10% of the energy used in fact.

Brass

Manufacturing brass from zinc and copper is both uneconomical and wasteful, therefore the survival of the brass industry relies heavily on recycling.

Like aluminium, brass is a sustainable material that can be repeatedly recycled. In the UK, brass products are made from almost 100% recycled material.

Lead

Lead’s corrosion resistance enables it to be recycled decades or even centuries after it was originally produced, meaning it has the highest recycling rate of all metals.

Just less than half of the world’s lead production is made from recycled and scrapped materials.

Ferrous Metals

Ferrous metals are commonly composed of iron or steel and are highly magnetic. By using recycled ferrous scrap, CO2 emissions are reduced by 58%, making scrap metal an integral part of many industries.

Car frames contain an estimated 25% recycled steel, and most electrical appliances are made up of approximately 75% recycled ferrous metals.

In addition to its list of accepted metals, Craddock Metal Recycling also recycled everything from scrap cars, vehicle batteries and catalytic converters to large domestic appliances.

View its full list of accepted metals

Leave a Reply

Latest news

Abloy
Renderplas

Renderplas shadow gap beads throw shade

For architects and designers looking to avoid traditional skirting boards, architraves and cornices, Renderplas offers its range of PVC plasterboard shadow gap beads for dry lining systems.

Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Floors, Interior Design & Construction, Interiors, Posts, Render, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Walls

MCRMA

First MCRMA members’ roadshow takes place at Siderise

Members of the MCRMA, the trade association for the metal cladding and roofing industry, had an exclusive opportunity to explore and discuss the changes affecting the construction sector at the first of the association’s roadshow events hosted by Siderise at its HQ and manufacturing facility in South Wales.

Posted in Articles, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry Events, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Cladding, Exhibitions and Conferences, Health & Safety, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Seminars, Walls

BMBI