Scrap metal recycling is the process of recovering, separating, cleaning, and processing metal so it can be sold & reused to make new products. Scrap metal can be sourced from a wide variety of things, including metal appliances, equipment, tools, and almost anything else that is primarily made of metal. Almost all types of metals can be recycled, including aluminum, steel,brass, iron, bronze, silver, gold, copper, and much more. In this article, we’ll give you some information on what happens to scrap metal after it is sold to a recycling facility! If you’re looking to sell scrap metal in Southeastern Massachusetts, Middleboro Recycling in Middleborough purchases almost all kinds of scrap metal for the best prices in the region! Contact us today to learn more!

Sorting

After you drop off scrap metal, the first step toward repurposing it into new products is sorting it into different categories. The scrap metal is sorted into piles of each individual type of metal (copper, brass, aluminum, etc.) and weighed. This is when you’ll receive payment for recycling your scraps. The scrap metal sometimes undergoes additional cleaning at this stage. 

Melting Down

Once the pieces are sorted and the scrap yard has a full load of one type of metal, the scraps are delivered to a metal furnace or smelter. The scraps are melted at very high temperatures (several thousand degrees Fahrenheit) until they are liquified, then they are poured into molds. 

Ingot Creation

After the pieces are melted but before they cool, they are poured into molds to create ingots, or metal bricks. The ingots are labeled and sold to companies that use the materials to make various products. 

New Product Creation

The purchasing companies melt the ingots and mold or form them into the shapes they need for their products, such as cans, mechanical parts, piping, wires, containers, and more. Recycling your scrap metal not only benefits you financially; it’s also good for the environment. By selling your scrap metal, you make it possible for old metal parts to be turned into new products instead of ending up in landfills.

Contact Middleboro Recycling!

If you have any questions about scrap metal recycling or are interested in selling scrap metal in the Southeastern Massachusetts region, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Middleboro Recycling! A member of our team would be happy to help you in any way that we can. Give us a call today at (508) 946-2383 or fill out the contact form on our website! If you’re wondering what your scrap metal might be worth, check out the pricing page on our website!