How Steel Salvage & Scrap Metal Recycling Help Your C&D Project

The scrap metal recycling industry is one of the largest post-processing industries in the USA. Turning over $90 billion in revenue each year, this industry has an important role to play in the context of C&D projects.

Every demolition project stands to gain a lot from efficient metal salvage. The benefits of following the on-site junk removal efforts with scrap metal recycling programs are:

• Keeping valuable metals in use and circulation
• Saving millions of units of electricity in the process
• Keeping landfill spaces free
• Bringing down the costs of construction and demolition

Metal Salvage – A Prospect with Great Potential

Metals, along with concrete, form the backbone of modern engineering achievements. From the ever-so-soft aluminum to strong stainless steel, a variety of metals contribute during the construction process of a structure. Therefore, it’s only reasonable to expect that some of these metals can be salvaged. While it’s true that over 50% of demolition junk goes straight to landfills, the awareness about scrap metal removal and salvage possibilities is on the rise.

Commonly found scrap metals are classified into two broad categories:

1. Ferrous Metals

Ferrous metals exhibit an array of magnetic properties. The most commonly found set of ferrous metals includes all alloys/forms of iron, cobalt and nickel. For example, cast iron, stainless steel, nichrome wires, etc.

2. Non-Ferrous Metals

Non-ferrous metals lack magnetic properties. Common non-ferrous metals and alloys are: copper, aluminum, tin, zinc, lead, brass, bronze, etc.

How Does Metal Salvage Work?

Scrap metal recycling is a three-step process:

1. Site Assessment and Estimation

A typical demolition site assessment and inspection helps us decide the approximate value of recyclable metals that can be salvaged. This step involves a preliminary study of five common ferrous and non-ferrous metals, alloys and composites. These are: stainless steel, copper, aluminum, cast iron and tin.

2. Scrap Metal Salvage

Our team of experts then works on site to spot, gather and collect structural remains, debris and rubble that contain precious scrap metals. This debris is then forwarded to specialty recycling facilities.

3. Recycling

The debris arriving from demolition sites undergoes intense processing that helps us salvage much of the precious metals available. The salvaged metal weight is usually sold to various industries and contractors.

Steel Salvage – A Sure-Fire Cost-Cutter

Salvaging steel from a demolition site is a certain way for building-owners and contractors to bring the overall costs of a project down. Therefore, it becomes important to understand how steel salvage works. The process is more or less similar for other recyclable metals, as well.

1. Site Assessment

The first step in any metal removal and recycling project begins with a site inspection. Our team of experts will visit the site and come up with a preliminary metal recovery plan.

2. Steel Salvage Quote

We then estimate the extent of steel that can be economically recycled. Depending upon these estimates, we present you with a steel salvage quote.

3. Soft Sweep

Once an agreement is reached, our on-site team conducts a soft sweep to take stock of the situation. This also allows us to tweak the recovery plan as required.

4. Recovery

Using heavy machinery, we extract and recover steel from concrete, paving debris, roofing debris and other demolition junk. This step can be completed either on your site, or at one of our designated recovery locations.

5. Recycling

The recovered volume of steel is sold to our steel recycling partners and factories.

The Economics of Scrap Metal Recycling

Here’s how scrap metal recycling helps you save money:

• It helps speed up the construction and demolition processes.
• It helps you reduce the environmental footprint of your activities.
• Your project can receive a number of important licences, accreditations and certificates from the EPA and/or local authorities.
• By recycling scrap metals, you stand to offset many costs.

To get an idea of how much money can actually be saved this way, please take a look at the ongoing prices for top 3 scrap metal picks:

• Ferrous metals – Up to $200 per ton

• Bare/Brite copper – Up to $4,000 per ton

• Aluminum – Up to $900 per ton

Recycling Scrap Metals is the Way Forward!

Murray Demolition’s state-of-the-art scrap metal recycling services help your construction and demolition projects become streamlined and cost effective. We bring on board:

• Unparalleled expertise
• A range of heavy and fine equipment
• Ability to handle large debris volumes
• Same day servicing
• Thorough support and customer service
• Premium pricing for scrap metal
• Eco-friendly recycling

Give us a call today on 312-410-8314 to speak to one of our experts and schedule a site visit today!