With Earth Day just behind us, it’s important to focus our efforts on reuse and sustainability. Here’s everything you need to know about recycling when it comes to steel and aluminum products.
Can Steel Be Recycled?
Steel is the most recycled material on the planet, exceeding the recycling rates of all other materials combined. Steel is extremely versatile, and its thousands of compositions can be recycled by blending steel scraps to produce a variety of repurposed grades and products.
Since the onset of steel’s mass production beginning in the late 1800s, the metal has always been highly recycled. In fact, most of the steel products in use today are some form of previously recycled grades reused through incarnations. Certain steel mills use only steel scrap, and even those that produce new products consist of anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of recycled steel.
How to Recycle Steel
Curbside recycling programs, drop-off collection centers, certain supermarkets as well as scrap-metal dealers accept steel can products.
Steel-made appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens can be dropped at a local scrap-metal dealer. (Interesting trivia side note: most refrigerators manufactured before 2001 contain over 100 lbs of steel.)
Can Aluminum Be Recycled?
Did you know aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled beverage packaging product in the U.S., averaging an industry recycling rate of nearly 67 percent? And did you know it can take as little as 60 days from the time you drop off an aluminum can for recycling for its metal to show up in the store as a new can? In 2013, the energy saved from producing recycled aluminum versus new aluminum was enough to fuel over one million cars on the road for an entire year.
How to Recycle Aluminum
Your curbside recycling program should accept aluminum cans, however, you may need to visit a drop-off center if you’re trying to recycle thoroughly cleaned aluminum foil.
Related article: The Benefits of Using Recycled Steel
Visit Tampa Steel for Quality Metal Products
Tampa Steel & Supply has proudly served Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, and the surrounding areas with quality steel and metal products since 1974. If you’re a contractor with questions regarding our inventory and different grades of steel or working on an independent home renovation project, contact us today or stop by our showroom to see our vast inventory selection. We are here to provide the right metal material, at the right time.
Request a Quote Online
Or Call Tampa Steel & Supply at (813) 241-2801