Metal
Overview
A metal is defined as 'a material of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous properties that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides'[1].
The term metal can capture a wide range of different categories/types within the waste and resources sector, but the macro split tends to be into Ferrous Metal, Non-Ferrous Metal, and Mixed Metal (which is then subsequently sorted into various categories for subsequent recycling) - the broad term normally used for waste metals is scrap metal in the UK.
Scrap Metal Grades (examples)
Whilst the macro split is into essentially three categories, scrap metal dealers and recycling business trade in the wider commodity markets which have a global influence. Grades of non-ferrous and ferrous scrap metal might include, for example:
- Mixed Brass Scrap
- Mixed Alloy Cuttings
- HE9:Clean
- Household Cables
- 18/8 Stainless Steel Solids
- 13% Chrome Iron
- 70/30 Cupronickel
- Dry Bright Wire
- Heavy Copper
- Lead Batteries
- Grade 1 Old Steel (No1 5ft)
- Grade 5C Loose Light Steel Scrap
- Grade 10 Light Cast Iron
Local Authority Descriptions
Local authorities collect materials and describe them as required by WasteDataFlow, which is based primarily on the use or origin of the metal, for example cans and fire extinguishes. The headers following are these categories with a listing of which local authorities collect a significant tonnage of these types of materials. Whereas local authorities separately identify large WEEE items such as domestic fridges, the scrap metal industry tends to classify, recycle and trade based on the metal type from these appliances.
Scrap Metal Recycling
Recycling of metals can include the following processes:
- Collection, weighing, sorting and distribution of metals: dealing with a wide range of suppliers, including engineering industries; small traders, such as plumbers or vehicle dismantlers; local authority collection sites; and householders disposing of domestic appliances.
- Shearing – reducing the size of large pieces of metal by cutting
- Baling/compacting – to improve ease of handling and transportation
- Shredding – reducing feedstock to fist-sized lumps; and separating metals from other materials using magnets and air classification methods. A large shredder can process a car in less than ten seconds.
- Media separation – further separation of any remaining non ferrous metals using liquid density and hand or mechanical sorting methods
- International metals trading – moving metals around the world[2].
Macro Tonnages
The most recent information published by DEFRA [3] [4]is summarized in the pie charts below, with 2,060,580 tonnes of ferrous, 478,855 tonnes of non-ferrous and 3,965,881 tonnes of mixed metallic wastes generated in the UK in 2016 and is part of the broader figures reported in UK Waste Tonnage:
The recording of tonnage from the following headers by local authorities in WasteDataFlow is aggregated into the household figures, as the tonnage of metals that might be extracted from Comingled Recyclate that are sorted at a MRF, although these tonnages are not reported by the local authorities in WasteDataFlow]] as segregated metals unless the MRF provides information back to them
Aerosols
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 100 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Red Industries Ltd | Sneyd Hill, Burslem, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire, St6 2Dz, | Aerosols | 502.55 |
| Glasgow City | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Not Available | Not Available | Aerosols | 194.22 |
| Flintshire County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Veolia E S ( U K ) Ltd | Rear Of Naylors Transport, Comet Road, Leyland, Preston, Lancashire | Aerosols | 111.13 |
Aluminium Cans
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 1000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
Aluminium Foil
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 100 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Smiths ( Gloucester ) Ltd | The Old Airfield, Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire | Aluminium foil | 3460.27 |
| Newport City Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Avalon Metals Limited | Eastside Recycling Facility, Fordshill Road, Rotherwas Ind Est, Hereford | Aluminium foil | 439.23 |
| Cheltenham Borough Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | P W Commercial Company Limited | Printwaste Recycling And Shredding, Units 5 & 6 The Aerodrome, Stoke Orchard, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | Aluminium foil | 139.87 |
Bicycles
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 200 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doncaster MBC | Source segregated recyclate | Reuse (qu35) | Other/Exempt | Doncaster Re-furnish, Unit15 Hutton Business Park, Hangthwate Road, Carcroft, Doncaster | Bicycles | 458.35 |
| Oxfordshire County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reuse (qu35) | Other/Exempt | W&S Recycling, Mannings Heath, Dorset BH12 4NZ (WEX117498) | Bicycles | 401.45 |
| Wokingham Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reuse (qu35) | Other/Exempt | 46-48 Portman Road, Reading, RG30 1EA | Bicycles | 371.08 |
| Lancaster City Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Other/Exempt | Vickers Industrial EstateMellishaw LaneMorecambeLA3 3EN | Bicycles | 303.67 |
| West Sussex County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reuse (qu35) | Multiple destinations | Multiple | Bicycles | 225.08 |
| Reading Borough Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reuse (qu35) | Other/Exempt | Precycle. 46-48 Portman Road, Reading, RG30 1EAExemptions WEX059051 and WEX059060Not found on selection lists | Bicycles | 224.37 |
| Buckinghamshire Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reuse (qu35) | Other/Exempt | South Bucks Hospice; Aston Clinton - HRC College Road North Aston Clinton Buckinghamshire | Bicycles | 215.40 |
| Bracknell Forest Borough Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reuse (qu35) | Other/Exempt | Precycle. 46-48 Portman Road, Reading, RG30 1EAExemptions WEX059051 and WEX059060Not found on selection lists | Bicycles | 208.18 |
Fire Extinguishers
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
Gas Bottles
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
Metals from Incinerator Bottom Ash
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
Mixed cans
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
Other Scrap Metal
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
Steel Cans
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
References
- ↑ Marriam-Webster Dictionary, 2019. Definition of METAL. Merriam-webster.com. [online] [Accessed 27 Nov. 2019].
- ↑ BMRA, 2019. Metals recycling in the UK. Recyclemetals.org. [online] [Accessed 5 Dec. 2019].
- ↑ Digest of Waste Resources 2018 reporting data from a 2016
- ↑ UK Statistics on Waste 2019 updating some of the 2018 Digest with 2017 data