Everyone knows that most metals can be recycled, but have you ever thought about what happens to them after they’re dropped off for recycling? What do these reconstituted alloys and repurposed elements become? It turns out that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to recyclables and scrap metal; in fact, as the metal recycling professionals at Metalico Rochester will tell you, the kind of metal that is brought in determines a great deal about how it will eventually be used.

So what happens to the most common recyclable metals? Let’s find out:

• Copper: Used to make plumbing pipes, jewelry, wiring and in construction, the wonderful thing about copper is that it retains 95% of its value after recycling. This means that it is a very valuable commodity; it retains many of its characteristics after being repurposed and reconstituted.
• Aluminum: One of the more common types of metal to be recycled, it only takes 5% of the energy it would take to produce it new to repurpose this material. Aluminum can effectively be recycled into the same type of material it was before, like food or beverage storage, but it’s also used to build household appliances.
• Steel: Scrap steel, and iron can be recycled into durable construction materials, and steel is often employed in the manufacture of automobiles, airplanes and other forms of transportation. According to The American Steel and Iron Institute, it’s the world’s most recycled metal with 80 tons recycled annually.
• Brass: Like copper, which brass largely consists of, recycled brass is perfect for plumbing pipes, sprinkler valves, as well as other types of household fixtures.

Clearly, recycled metals are everywhere, and the scrap yard is just the beginning of the story. If you’re in the greater Rochester, NY area, you can play your part in this story by working with Metalico. With the fairest scrap metal prices around and pickup service, this local business makes it easy to put those metals back to work.

To learn more about metal recycling with Metalico Rochester, check out their website or simply give the folks there a call at (585) 436-0713.