What we can recycle

 Metals recycling is an established, globally competitive industry that provides essential secondary raw material for metals manufacture, which in turn enables a significant reduction in use of energy and virgin resources.

 The metals recycling industry is a significant net contributor to UK balance of trade and contributes more than any other sector to UK ‘end of life’ targets, such as vehicles, packaging, batteries, electrical and electronic equipment. In short, metals recycling protects the environment, saves energy and supports a huge workforce.

Using scrap metal, also known as secondary raw materials, means less use of precious natural resources which would be needed to make new metal compounds – such as iron ore in steelmaking; nickel in stainless steel; or alumina and bauxite in aluminium smelting. Virtually all metals can be recycled into high quality new metal. The process varies for different metals but generally recycling produces metals of equivalent quality. Steelmaking using the electric arc furnace (EAF) method uses scrap metal as the major raw material. EAFs are typically used to produce high-quality tool steels and stainless steel. Smaller quantities of scrap – up to 35 percent – can also be used in the basic oxygen or blast furnace (BOF) method. Copper scrap is readily used by both primary and secondary producers. In EAFs, for example, around 75-80 percent of the raw material is scrap copper. Aluminium production, on the other hand, uses a single production method – the Hall-Héroult Process. While primary raw materials require temperatures of around 900°C, scrap or secondary aluminium melts at around 660°C. In environmental terms, the issue is clear. EU figures indicate that using recycled raw materials, including metals, cuts CO2 emissions by some 200 million tonnes every year. Using recycled steel to make new steel reduces air pollution by 86 percent, water use by 40 percent and water pollution by 76 percent. Good for the economy Metals recycling supplies a major worldwide industry. Despite an economic slowdown and a decline in the steel industry, manufacturing of metals continues contribute significant value to the UK economy. As the national demand slows, export markets are growing. Last year, 10 million tonnes of metal was recycled in the UK. As the UK produces considerably more scrap than is required for domestic markets, 90 percent was exported worldwide. In fact, the UK is one of the five largest metal scrap exporting countries in the world. 

On-site waste management

 We manage on-site waste through bin hire and / or on-site compactos and balers. See our equipment pages to see the full range. Our professional knowledge and trusted reputation enables us to inform and influence legislation and policy and play a vital part in shaping the future role and reputation of the sector. 

 When waste is ready for collection, we remove from your site at agreed times and deliver it to our facility where it can be accurately weighed, sorted and baled for re-processing in the UK and/or export. The whole process from start to finish is documented and traceable from waste transfer notes, weigh bridge tickets and tailored reports issued on a monthly basis. 

What we dispose

 Where we cannot recycle, we work with innovative industries, re-purposing non-recycleables.