The second life of metal
Do you know what happens to metal packaging and metal waste after collection?
Some items are used to make new metals and thus obtain a new life. Other items are simply reused after reconditioning.
Rejuvenation treatment of ferrous metal and non-ferrous metal waste
Do you sort and want to have metal waste collected? Did you know that ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals can be recycled indefinitely without sacrificing quality? Discover their second or maybe even hundredth life here!
Metal and recycling, the two seem made for each other. After all, this material can be recycled indefinitely, without sacrificing quality! By the way, the collection of used metals has long been part of our daily lives: the now rather rare collection round by a scrap metal dealer was long a familiar sight in the city and countryside.
Sorting and separation
Ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals
Even when collected together, ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals are recyclable:
- Mixed metal first goes into a shredder: this immense shredder shatters and reduces the waste to small pieces the size of a fist. This shredding creates strong suction by means of which the dust particles and the non-metallic elements can be separated.
- The metal mixture then goes into a magnetic drum which separates the scrap from non-ferrous metals.
- The mixture of non-ferrous metals is then treated by means of induction (separation by eddy current) to bring the non-ferrous fraction to a purity of 95%.
- The ferrous fraction is then taken to blast furnaces to produce steel.
- The non-ferrous fraction is sorted manually or by a flotation unit to extract the various metals which will serve as raw material for the production of, among other things, copper, zinc, lead, aluminium, etc.
Ferrous metals
If collected separately, ferrous metals are cut and ground for subsequent use in the steel industry.
Metals from hazardous waste
Metals from hazardous waste can often be recycled after cleaning by a company which specialises in the processing of hazardous waste.
Everything is reused
Ferrous metals
Since the emergence of the steel industry in the 19th century, the reuse of old iron has been an integral part of the production process.
Thanks to this reuse, the energy required to produce steel can be reduced by 65%:
- Classic blast furnaces produce steel based on a mixture containing 10 to 20% old iron.
- Electric blast furnaces use 100% scrap. The steel thus obtained is of impeccable quality and can in turn be reused at the end of its life cycle.
Non-ferrous metals
The often high value of non-ferrous metals also justifies their recovery and use for the production of ‘new’ metals. As with ferrous metals, they can drastically reduce the amount of energy required to produce metal.
Reconditioning of metal drums
Metal drums of more than 200 litres do not need to be fully recycled. Usually, they can be reused after reconditioning.
Metal drums are reconditioned in various stages:
- Sorting: depending on the volume, type, thickness, quality, etc.
- Checking: damaged drums and drums with different dimensions in which a product which is difficult to wash off was transported, are incinerated (to remove the waste) and then ground into grit for use in steel production.
- Cleaning: depending on the liquids which the drums have contained, they are rinsed with water, sodium carbonate or solvents.
- Incineration: drums which have contained a product that is difficult to wash off are incinerated to remove the waste, and that includes metal lids.
- Reshaping: the cleaned and/or incinerated drums are mechanically reshaped (dents are removed, the edges are redone, etc.).
- Grit blasting: the drums are grit blasted with metal granules to remove old layers of paint.
- Then they are degreased (neutralisation) and derusted.
At each stage, it is checked whether there are any defective parts. These are converted into grit or metal chips.
Reconditioning
Once the drums have been treated, cleaned and refurbished, they are repainted both on the inside and on the outside.
- Drums with a drain hole are closed with a stopper.
- Open drums are closed with a lid and ring.
These rings and stoppers may also be the result of reconditioning themselves.
The drums are ready for a second life!