Ferrous metal recycling

Metals containing iron are recycled, so the iron can be used again. Steel is the metal recycled the most. One way iron is recycled is by adding carbon, which can make steel.

Description

Steel containers, cans, cars, appliances, and building materials are the most recycled things in the United States. In 2008, 97% of the amount of steel used to build things was recycled. More than the amount of steel used to make cars was recycled. Most appliances are about 75% steel.

Iron is recycled because it costs less to recycle it than to mine iron and make it usable.

Ferrous Metal Recycling Media

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  Piles of scrap metal collected for the World War II effort, circa 1941

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  Collection of leftover scrap metal items

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  The "organized chaos" of a scrapyard

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  British police investigating possibly-stolen metal at a scrapyard

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  Loading scrap gondolas in Eugene, Oregon

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  Collected scrap metal on barge in Stockholm in course of water transportation and recycling (2023)

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  Pile of shredded scrap in Norway

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  Scrap railway line repurposed as farm fencing corner post

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  Scrap metal rusts in the snow (Finland)

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  A pile of steel scrap in Brussels, waiting to be recycled