Did you know that approximately 69% of steel in North America is recycled annually? In fact, so much steel is recycled that there are nearly endless uses for it. Steel has become one of the most utilized materials in many industries, including commercial and residential construction.
Here are just a few of the many ways that recycled steel makes its way back into the world after being scrapped.
Industrial Purposes
After steel has been scrapped, it most commonly goes right back into the manufacturing industry to create brand new steel products. Items such as appliances and building materials are both created using recycled steel. Some of the other items that use a large amount of recycled steel are automobiles, aircraft, industrial containers, and even duct work. Another product that uses recycled steel is strapping. This product is used to help secure industrial shipments that either need to be transported or stored. Stainless steel strapping is an important tool in the industrial shipping field.
Residential Uses
Recycled steel can be found all over the residential field, but it is most commonly used in the production of metal roofing. In addition to being used for metal roofing, steel is often re-fashioned into pieces of furniture, fixtures for bathrooms and kitchens such as sinks and faucets, and lighting fixtures as well. The home is filled with recycled steel. In fact, some people actually prefer to have some pieces in their home made of steel because they’re both durable and sleek.
Artistic Uses
If scrap steel doesn’t make it to strapping or metal roofing, odds are it may become an art project. Many sculptures in large cities are on outdoor display 24/7, which means that they need to be created using a durable material. Steel is often the material of choice for artists who work on projects like these, as it will hold up to the elements better than other alternatives.
Recycling is much more than simply sorting paper and plastic bottles into the right bins. Recycling steel can lead to near endless opportunities for multiple industries.
It’s nice that you mentioned how so much steel is recycled that there are nearly endless uses for it. It seems we have some scrap steel in our garage and I think it is time for us to dispose of it. So, I figured it would be proper for us to recycle steel instead of just throwing everything away.